THE letter written to the Times on October 9 by the three chairs of the locality groups from the new Devon Commissioning Council (CCG) makes some very important points for the future of health in our area. The CCG's document 'Transforming Community Services — in the Western Community' makes it clear that in the immediate future Tavistock Hospital's Inpatient Beds Unit (15) will remain, as will the Minor Injury Unit.  Clearly the needs of the West Devon area have been recognised. The document explains that it sees an expansion in services that can be delivered to patients at home.  It must be remembered that our area has a large proportion of elderly patients who may have no family locally who could support them after hospitalisation.  We must be careful that finances do not take us from 'the cooking pan to the fire'.  Care in the home must be provided by properly qualified staff, and the temptation for contractors to cut corners must be avoided.  After all poor care at home can only lead to more hospitalisation.  Considerable thought will have to be included in tender documents to ensure adequate training and retraining. No decision has so far been made on who will be the provider for services in Tavistock Hospital.  Currently the Torbay and South Devon Care Trust has this responsibility.  Over recent years the Hospital's League of Friends has been working with the trust to enhance facilities in the Hospital, eg the revamped Tavistock Clinic, up-to-date wards, and recently the provision of an updated operating theatre.   Over £500,000 has been provided on these services and the League of Friends will want to know how any new provider can help develop the infrastructure costs before they commit funds to them. The CCG recognises the importance of advances in medicine and the associated technologies.  We believe that the CCG need to embrace the wider use of technology and use our community hospitals as a hub that includes technology developments.  Recently the LOF commited itself to assisting with the Plymouth University Medical School as it developed a Skype project. We would hope that the CCG may support these type of ventures, perhaps even with finance. Tavistock Hospital now has an up-to-date theatre for day patients and it is hoped that a wider use of these facilities can be made in the future.  Patients tell us that it is easier to have day treatments nearer home.  The LOF welcomes a clinically-led CCG, and hopes that the hospital services can continue to be developed hand-in-hand with the GPs and our major acute hospital. I would urge those interested to read the consultation document as there is no question that the CCG will have to make savings in the future.  Your last week's article showed how the Document can be obtained (New Devon CCG, Windsor House, Tavistock Road, Plymouth PL6 5UF or email [email protected]">[email protected] R Nand-lal Chairman Tavistock Hospital League of Friends