Community invited to free health and wellbeing event at Paignton Library

The event, organised by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Healthwatch, will take place at Paignton Library from 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday 30 September and brings together NHS teams, community organisations and residents for an afternoon of information, support and conversation.

NHS staff and community organisations will be offering a range of health and wellbeing advice, information and support. Visitors will be able to learn more about services including The Harbour frailty service, Torbay Carers Service, Talkworks, community services, NHS screening programmes and the Torbay Sensory Team, alongside advice on healthy ageing, oral health, NHS Health Checks and support available in local communities.

Trust governors will also be hosting an informal drop-in session during the afternoon for anyone who would like to share feedback, ask questions or learn more about the role of governors. 

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's Annual Members' Meeting will take place from 3-3.45pm and people can either watch the meeting in person, subject to room capacity, or online. A separate viewing room will be available in the library for anyone unable to be accommodated in the main meeting room.

Alongside the event, the Trust will be hosting a series of small-group neighbourhood conversations from 12noon to 3pm. These discussions form part of an early listening and learning phase of work to help us understand people's experiences of health, care and community support, what matters most to them, and what helps people stay healthy, independent and connected within their communities.

Each conversation will last around 45 - 60 minutes and will use a fictional case study to prompt discussion. These are early listening conversations, not a consultation on a set of proposals or a fixed plan. People will be asked to share thoughts, ideas and experiences about what works already, what could be improved and what support people need to live well in their communities to help shape a future neighbourhood model.

The discussions will focus on six themes:

• frailty and falls
• cardiovascular health
• diabetes
• end of life care
• respiratory health
• children and young people with long-term health conditions 

Places for the neighbourhood conversations must be booked in advance and will not be available as drop-in sessions on the day. 

People wishing to take part should register their interest by 5pm on Friday 18 September by emailing tsdft.communicationsteam@nhs.net, stating which discussion group they would like to attend and a brief explanation of why the topic is important to them. As there are limited spaces available in each themed group, places will be allocated to ensure a broad range of lived experience and viewpoints.

Chair of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Martin Beaman said: 

"This event is a great opportunity for people to access practical health information and support, meet the teams and organisations working in their communities, and learn more about the services available across Torbay and South Devon.

"We also want to hear from people with a wide range of experiences, whether as patients, carers, family members, volunteers or members of the community. Listening to people's experiences and understanding what matters most to them will help inform our thinking as we continue to develop our neighbourhood approach alongside our partners."

Dr Kevin Dixon, Chair of Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, said: 

“We’re pleased to support this event, which is a valuable opportunity for people to access practical health and wellbeing advice, meet local services and share what matters to them. Holding conversations like this in community spaces such as Paignton Library and Paignton Community Hub helps make it easier for people to have their say, especially those who may not usually attend formal NHS meetings. 

“We would encourage residents across Torbay and South Devon to come along, ask questions and help shape how care closer to home develops in their communities.”