PLANS for delivering a more joined-up and sustainable health and care system in Somerset were on display in Berrow Village Hall.

On October 15, residents were invited to attend a drop-in session, hosted by Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (Somerset CCG), to see the plan, known as ‘Fit For My Future’, and discuss the reasons why the county’s health service needs to change to keep up with increased demand.

The plan makes a case for change around six key health service themes:

n Urgent and emergency care

n Planned care

n Proactive care for long term conditions and frailty

n Mental health and learning disabilities

n Maternity and children’s services

n Promoting health and wellbeing

Speaking about the plan, Dr Alex Murray, a Bridgwater GP and clinical advisor on mental health issues to Somerset CCG, said: “The NHS is still largely delivering healthcare based upon a model of service created in 1948.

“We need to modernise and embrace new ways of delivering health care if we are to keep up with demand.

“As a doctor, I see the impact every day upon people’s health from a lifetime of smoking, drinking to excess and lack of exercise.

“We have got to learn to value our health and realise that unless we help everyone in our communities to stay healthy, and use the NHS responsibly, it will not be able to keep up with the demand from treating people, largely living with preventable health problems.

“We want to hear the views and experiences of local people as part of our ‘Fit For My Future’ events and explain why we must change health care in coming years.”

Somerset CCG said demand on the health service is increasing due to a growing elderly population and people living with long-term health conditions.

And they said a ‘severe shortage’ of GP’s, nurses, hospital specialists and therapists compounds the problem.

NHS, local authority staff and clinicians are currently holding a number of public ‘drop-in’ events across the county and are inviting people to share their views and experiences of local health and care service.

The next drop-in event is at Axbridge Town Hall on Thursday (October 25) from 10am until 2pm.

For more information about the plan visit fitformyfuture.org.uk or email somccg.fitformyfuture@nhs.net.