CONCERNS that some mental health services in Tavistock will be lost were this week allayed by the Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The trust, however, did confirm that changes taking place in order to improve the services will be delivered in the area. At Tavistock's Bedford Hotel last Thursday, the trust held its first listening event in the town, when local people had the opportunity to share their views about mental health services and how they might be improved. Trevor Snowden, the trust's general manager for South and West Devon, said the event was also an opportunity to share changes the trust was introducing during 2008 to improve the way services would be delivered, enabling people to receive care and treatment as early and quickly as possible. This will be done through geographical network areas — one being South and West Devon (covering Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon) — and network functions, like mental wellbeing and access, urgent and inpatient care and recovery and independent living. The new way of delivering services follows a review carried out in 2005, following local consultations. Mr Snowden said: 'Working in this way will enable us to use the skills and talents of our own staff more effectively and to also work more closely with our health and social care partners. 'We will no longer have as many separate services. Instead we will have more integrated, multi- disciplinary teams working across boundaries to deliver joined-up care which is focused on recovery. 'Many of these changes are already happening and the transition to the new arrangements will be carefully managed. 'This means that some of our staff across South and West Devon will move to different bases depending on what function or team they work in. 'However, we will continue to provide local services, seeing the majority of service users in their local area, be it at their home, GP practices or other community facilities. Mr Snowden said staff would still operate from their building in Tavistock and part of the new way of working will mean simpler access to the service and longer opening hours. 'As mentioned, we are still in the process of managing the changes and will keep our staff, service users, carers and network partners up-to- date with what is happening as we progress with our plans,' said Mr Snowden.
