A NEW service for Mid Devon residents, including people living in the Okehampton and Moretonhampstead areas, is to be launched by the local primary care trust.
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) will be a listening ear for any issue concerning local primary and hospital care service and is the first of its type specifically for people living in mid Devon.
Launched at Moretonhampstead Hospital on Friday 1 November, the PALS service is part of Mid Devon Primary Care Trust?s programme of helping local people contribute to and comment on NHS services. The PALS free phone number is 0800 073 0792.
Carmel Fanconi, PALS co-ordinator, said: ?We are here to listen to what people have to say about local NHS services and sort out the problems that concern them, which they don?t want to make a formal complaint about.
?Additionally, we can help direct people to the NHS services they need or other local facilities such as health charities or voluntary groups. We have a wide network and if we don?t know the answer, we?ll often know who does.?
The PALS service will cover the 19 GP surgeries, five local community hospitals, 19 dental practices and eight opticians in mid Devon, in addition to the wide range of community health services which, along with the hospitals, form part of Mid Devon Primary Care Trust.