Graham Ray told Dart Patients that they can now get an appointment to see a doctor within five working days compared to an average of 12 days nationally. This was a key message from the new Practice Manager at the Dartmouth Medical Practice addressing the annual meeting of Dart Patients on Tuesday night, 6th June.

Dart Patients was established in 2014 as a way to give voice to local people’s concerns about their health care. All patients of the Dartmouth Medical Practice are represented by a Patients Participation Group consisting of 15 to 20 volunteers who meet regularly with the Practice to discuss ways to improve health care for those living in Dartmouth and nearby villages.

The PPG also represents patients in discussions with NHS officials on plans to create a new Health Centre at River View.

The PPG Chair, Pierre Landell-Mills, outlined the Group’s main achievements over the past year and explained what the Group planned to focus on in the months ahead.

The most important of these were to work with the Practice on reducing waiting times, improving communications between patients and the Practice and making sure the NHS delivered on its promises to improve home care.

There was a lively discussion of the progress being made in establishing new health facilities at River View.

Lee Baxter, Assistant Director of Health and Social Care at the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, reassured the meeting that this important project is still on track. Baxter is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the River View project.

A speaker at the meeting argued that Dartmouth Hospital should not have been closed until the new River View centre was up and running.

Another speaker wanted to know whether buses would take elderly patients close enough to River View and whether there would be sufficient parking there.

The delay in finalising the lease for River View was also causing concern. Others questioned whether the care home at River View was viable and able to provide satisfactory care.

Andie Day and Jo Anthony from Rowcroft explained that anyone who was dying and needed specialist palliative care could get it simply by asking for it. Palliative care was not limited to cancer patients or any other group. It was agreed that ways to access end-of-life care needed to be better publicised.

The meeting ended by re-electing Pierre Landell-Mills as Dart Patients’ Chair, and electing Iain McCall as Vice-Chair, and Nick Hindmarsh as Secretary.

More information is available at www.dartpatients.co.uk

Those interested are encouraged to volunteer to join the Patients Participation Group by emailing [email protected]