Dawlish residents are being urged to make their views known on the proposed reorganisaton of local NHS health and care services.

The public consultation on the future of these services in Dawlish and Teignmouth runs until October 26, and the last in a series of live video meetings takes place on Saturday, October 17.

The plans will see a new health and wellbeing centre built in the centre of Teignmouth, accommodating GP surgeries and other health and care services including those provided by community groups and charities.

The consultation focuses on proposals to move the most frequently-used community clinics – podiatry, physiotherapy and audiology – from Teignmouth Hospital to the new centre, along with consultant-led ear, nose and throat clinics. These currently make up 73 per cent of all outpatient appointments at Teignmouth Hospital; all other clinics and day case procedures will move to Dawlish Community Hospital.

The consultation also asks for people's views on the change of plan relating to 12 rehabilitation beds at Teignmouth Hospital. The local NHS believes its investment in community care means the hospital beds will no longer be necessary. If this part of the proposal is approved, Teignmouth Community Hospital will be sold off and the proceeds put back into local NHS services.

Dawlish Town Council is submitting its own response to the consultation. At their meeting on October 7, councillors agreed to draw up a document outlining their concerns. They are worried that, if Teignmouth Hospital does close, the increased demand for services at Dawlish Hospital will cause problems with parking and traffic management.

At the meeting, Cllr Rosie Dawson said: "I really hope local residents will be engaging with this process and that we as their elected representatives can highlight areas of need and concern at this point, to ensure that we have a robust local health service ready for future challenges."

Cllr Rosalind Prowse added that the town council's response should also call for the reopening of Dawlish's minor injuries unit, which closed in March this year in order to prioritise emergency services for the Covid-19 pandemic. This issue is not covered in the consultation.

For details of the consultation, and to take part in an online survey on the 'Modernising health and care services in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area' proposals, visit the Healthwatch Devon website

Details of the final live video meeting, taking place on October 17 from 11am until 12.30pm, can also be found on the site.

A planning application for the new health and wellbeing centre in Teignmouth is due to be submitted at the end of October or early November. If the governing body of the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group formally approve the proposals in December, work is expected to start on the centre in January.