GETTING the views of staff and patients — really sitting down and talking to each one — is the key to future healthcare provision in Tavistock, says Steve Waite, chief executive of the company planned to take over the management of Tavistock Hospital in 2016.

Mr Waite, a former nurse, is the leader of Plymouth Community Healthcare, the preferred provider of the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to run both Tavistock and Kingsbridge community hospitals and community nursing services in a new contract under the CCG's Transforming Community Services programme.

PCH is a community interest company which means it is set up with the specific aim of providing services that are an integral part of the community, for the community and as such, it takes no profit but any made is re-invested.

As a provider commissioned to deliver NHS services free at the point of delivery, the organisation is required to work to the same standards as apply throughout the NHS. The arrangement is similar to the one between the NHS and GPs.

This year £150,000 was re-invested into additional community nursing in Plymouth and last year PCH donated £50,000 of its surplus to community groups.

The company would be looking to allocate a future surplus to community groups within the South Hams and West Devon should it win the contract to deliver community services in these areas.

Mr Waite said: 'There is certainly a commitment to Tavistock and Kingsbridge Hospitals from our perspective — if we win the contract we will be looking to deliver as many services as we can from these locations in a similar way to what we have done at Mount Gould Hospital in Plymouth.'

In the last three years PCH has been working with Derriford Hospital very closely to deliver more services in a community setting. Pain management services have been transferred to Mount Gould and there are more outpatient clinics.

'We want as many services as we can delivered from a local setting and we believe hospitals like Tavistock and Kingsbridge offer really good facilities to do that,' he said.

'We work closely with the voluntary sector in Plymouth which we have invested surplus money into and we support each other's services.'

Mr Waite said PHC had extended opening hours for the minor injuries unit at the Cumberland Centre in Devonport, which sees around 30,000 people each year, X-ray provision had been extended and community nursing services were now 24-hours a day. Changes had been made to mental health provision with many services now being provided at the Glenbourne Unit. Glenbourne is an acute hospital for people suffering from mental health problems aged between 18 - 65 who cannot be supported at home.

He said the development of staff was a core theme and there were opportunities for enhanced apprenticeship schemes, supported scholarships schemes and registered nursing training.

'I know staff are naturally worried about the changes but we want to address their issues and concerns,' he said.

'Once we agree the way forward with the CCG we will make arrangements for as many face to face sessions to talk through what is going on and how to deliver services in the future.

'When we left Plymouth Primary Care Trust and became Plymouth Community Health in 2011 we spent six months speaking to virtually every member of staff — and that was just over 2,000 people.

'The key to getting the best healthcare provision is talking to the people who deliver it and the patients. Only those who are involved can know what can be improved or changed.'

Mr Waite said he hoped more services could be provided at Tavistock for X-ray provision and ultra sound, blood tests and tele medicine where people could talk to consultants via a video link.

The NEW Devon CCG is currently going through a verification process with Plymouth Community Healthcare to make sure the CIC can deliver what it says it can. After that time the contract will be announced.

The new contract will begin in April 2016.