A NEW surgery support group has been set up ahead of the opening of a £2.8-million health centre in Tavistock in late spring.

TPA (Tavyside Patients' Association) is the amalgamation of the support groups of the Wharfside and Stannary surgeries.

Chairman Barbara Greig said the objects of the two previous associations — PAWS (Patients' Association of Wharfside Surgery) and FOSS (Friends of Stannary Surgery) were almost identical and were set out in the merged TPA constitution.

Both groups had been committed to supporting the surgeries and patients and to the raising of funds to provide extra facilities and equipment for them.

Barbara Greig. said: 'We are planning to continue to raise funds and co-operate with the partners and staff in any way we can.

'We not only plan to improve our fundraising activities but to set up a patients' forum where we can investigate and share concerns, ideas and experiences with all the patients of the surgery.

'For instance, the knotty problem of communicating with patients about general topics and activities can be a very expensive business and we want to research which ways are most cost-effective. The website http://www.tavyside.org">www.tavyside.org can address many issues where patients have access, which could be one way forward.'

There are 12 members on the management committee at the moment and three more registered patients are needed, plus extra help with fundraising activities.

'As the new surgery has dedicated children's facilities, it would be nice to think that we could find someone with children to join us,' said the chairman.

'The duties are not onerous, we meet up to six times a year and share the tasks between us. When it comes to stuffing envelopes etc we welcome any extra volunteers we can find.'

Mrs Greig said the practice managers of both surgeries had always been very supportive of the patient associations and represented the practices at the association's meetings.

The TPA were sorry to hear that Lyn Baker, the practice manager of the Tavyside Health Centre (formerly of Wharfside Surgery) was leaving and moving away.

'The help and advice that Lyn gave to the association over the years has always been first class she always made the group feel needed and useful,' said Mrs Greig.

'On behalf of the committee, I wish her every happiness in her future life.'

At the meeting on January 18 the committee presented Lyn Baker with a bouquet of flowers and two Dartington Glass vases to mark their appreciation of her efforts on their behalf.

The Tavyside Health Centre will deliver a range of additional services and evening and weekend clinics.