RESIDENTS of North Tawton and users of the town's medical practice are being asked to come forward and share their views on the future of the town's healthcare provision.

The contract for the provision of services at North Tawton Medical Practice is currently held by the Wallingbrook Health Group, which also runs practices in Okehampton, Winkleigh, and Chumleigh.

The group has announced that it will be terminating its contract on March 31, 2015, due to insufficient funding from the NHS to run a safe and efficient practice.

Services will continue as they are up until March 31. After this date, NHS England will be legally responsible for ensuring continuity and provision of medical services to patients previously registered under the terminated contract. How exactly that will be achieved is yet to be decided.

The medical practice's patients' participation group has combined with some members of North Tawton Town Council to form the North Tawton Engagement Group. Its purpose is to take account of local opinion and pass it on to NHS England to ensure it hears the concerns of the community.

The group has organised a public meeting on November 28 so that the view of the community can be shared with contracts manager at NHS England Caroline Stead.

Bill Dean, chair of the engagement group, said: 'The engagement group met with Caroline Stead, NHS contracts manager, on November 13 and she advised us that the process has started to source a GP services provider for one year, to ensure continuity of service when the existing contract finishes on March 31, 2015.

'Once this is completed then the more complex process will begin to source a provider for a long term contract. We plan next to meet with Caroline during January 2015 and share the view of the North Tawton community.

'Anyone is welcome to come to the meeting and share their views on what they think is important about healthcare in North Tawton.'

Possible topics being discussed at the meeting are the range of services on offer, the provision of a minor operations service, availability of a nurse practitioner, the style of appointments, and access to counselling and advice on dietary issues and stopping smoking.

The meeting takes place in North Tawton Town Hall on Friday, November 28 at 7pm.