A NEW service officially launched in Mid Devon on Friday aims to put patients at the centre of healthcare in the region.

The Patient and Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) will provide confidential on-the-spot advice, support and help for people who have concerns about NHS care with the aim of improving services.

It has been set up by the Mid Devon Primary Care Trust following a number of pilot programmes throughout the country.

PALS will be available to the 103,000 residents living in Mid Devon which includes Chagford, Okehampton, Hatherleigh and North Tawton.

Co-ordinator Carmel Fanconi said PALS was about putting people at the centre of healthcare.

?It?s about planning for the future, listening to people and encouraging them to be confident and talking to healthcare professionals about what they want,? she said at the the PALS launch in Moretonhampstead Hospital.

?We are not replacing the complaints system but hopefully we can sort out people?s issues and concerns before they gets to a point where they become frustrated.?

She said many patients, especially the elderly, were not good at coming forward if they had a problem or concern, but PALS would be making it easier for them.

?I am specifically there to advise and support, provide information on NHS services, listen to concerns or queries and help sort out problems quickly,? said Mrs Fanconi, who used to be manager of Okehampton and District Council for Voluntary Service and has a nursing background.

?I can be contacted by anyone using local NHS services in hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, community healthcare, dental practices and in the home.?

The main queries which had come to the attention of PALS so far were about transport ? getting people to hospital and meeting the criteria for the hospital car, mobility issues such as providing temporary wheelchairs for people who were borderline disabled and a breakdown in communications which was by far the biggest area.

The service will ensure patient issues are taken on board when changes are being introduced and plans being discussed for the NHS.

The Freephone Number for PALS is 0800 0730792 and the co-ordinator can also be reached on her office line (01392 449774), mobile phone (07980 735096) or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]

Leaflets are being distributed to all NHS outlets and organisations such as Age Concern.

Practice manager at Chagford Health Centre Judy Fowler said this was an excellent service which was long overdue.

?Patients need this level of backup because sometimes they feel they have nowhere to go if they have a concern,? she said.

?On the issue of hospital transport we have a lot of patients who fit the criteria but do not seem to be able to access the patient transport system.

?As a practice we try to point them in the right direction but PALS is an easy-to-contact, one-stop shop for sorting out these type of problems.?