Dartmouth Clinic opened its doors on Saturday to show people in the town and in the surrounding villages the range of health care services available.

Frontline clinical staff from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust were joined by volunteers from Dartmouth Caring and the League of Friends plus staff from Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust on Saturday, September 29.

Together these professionals and volunteers showed how people from different organisations work together to wrap care around individuals.

Staff offered free health checks and demonstrated some of the equipment used to help people at home. They also showcased new technology being used within the NHS such as virtual reality and virtual meetings.

Staff offered advice to attendees on wellbeing, mental health, planning for older age and coping with dementia.

Dartmouth residents, Sally and Michael Oliver visited the clinic to find out what is available now the cottage hospital has closed.

Sally said: “We wanted to come today because we’re worried about what’s happening to services in Dartmouth.

“When we first moved to the town, there were lots of banks, the hospital, the clinic and the GPs. Things are changing and we wanted to find out about what is still here.

‘It’s been really good talking to some of the staff and finding out about all the different services available in Dartmouth.”

Tom McEwan, community nurse lead, spoke to Sally and Michael about how the NHS Foundation trust is working with Rowcroft Hospice and others to support those who are terminally ill to remain at home rather than being admitted to hospital.

He said: “It has been great today to meet with local residents and have some really in-depth conversations about their worries and their needs.

“It has made me realise that many people aren’t aware of the range of services we are now running within their local community.

“For some, the closure of Dartmouth hospital was a sad day, marking the end of an era, and I do understand that. But we’re supporting so many more people at home now than when I first started working here 15 years ago – and I’m really proud of that.

“Our nurses and therapists work as a team with Marie Curie, Rowcroft, Dartmouth Caring, GPs, mental health staff, Devon County Council  and pharmacists to put together packages of care that meet people’s individual needs.

“Now we only send people to hospital if we can’t look after their needs in their own community, and I believe that’s the right thing to do.”