THE Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has invited local people and organisations to express an interest in providing services in the new Moretonhampstead Hospital Health and Social Care Hub.

The invitation asked for interest in running services out of the newly developing hub, including audiology, podiatry, counselling and voluntary sector support for the frail and elderly.

Several local organisations responded and a panel, which included a local GP and people from the Moretonhampstead area, met in October to review the applications.

Richard Foxwell, parish councillor in the Moretonhampstead area, said: 'Evaluating the Moretonhampstead Ex-pressions of Interest as a member of the six strong panel was an interesting and challenging task.

'Weight had to be given to a number of factors such as the need for the particular service being offered, space and equipment available in the hospital building and of course, with non-NHS services, rental income.

'It seems that we have now a very good spread of potential services from the hospital which will be of huge benefit to the community when up and running.'

The next steps will involve reviewing the space available at the hospital and practicalities of how services and clinics could be run from the building and talking to interested providers about their individual requirements.

It is hoped new clinics and services will be in place within the next few months.

Clinics and services currently available from the hub include dermatology, rheu-matology, chiropody, leg ulcer clinic and physio-therapy.

Additionally, Moreton-hampstead Health Centre is providing minor surgery and family planning clinics in the hospital for patients of its practice.

During September and October a series of 'tour and talk' sessions were also held to give people an opportunity to visit the hospital and find out more about how it could function as a health and social care hub.

Numerous people attended the sessions, including some from beyond Moreton-hampstead and its surrounding parishes, all interested to hear about the new possibilities for the hospital.

Residents are also invited to a Wellbeing Drop-in Session at the hospital on Thursday, December 4 from 10am to 1pm, when they can meet the local NHS community nursing and therapy team and find out how the staff support people to live healthily and independently at home.

People can take a basic health check and balance test and get advice on a range of issues including mobility aids, equipment to assist daily living, exercise, nutrition and stopping smoking.

Anyone wishing to keep up to date with developments at the hub can access the website at http://www.healthypeoplemoreton.co.uk">www.healthypeoplemoreton.co.uk