A MEETING is taking place next week that will give ­people the opportunity to share their views on proposed changes to the NHS.

The consultation event, which takes place in Kingsbridge Market Hall between 4pm and 6pm on Tuesday, November 18, will be hosted by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group.

A spokesman said the ­meeting is designed 'for local residents to hear about the proposals to transform community health services and for them to give feedback'.

In September, the CCG ­published its proposals for the future of community health services and is now in a period of consultation.

The proposals stated clearly that Kingsbridge Hospital, its inpatient beds and minor injuries unit would remain open.

Other plans were less clear, but include delivering 'seamless' and 'joined-up' care; offering care in, or as close as possible to, people's homes; increased 'personalisation' of healthcare; and equal access to services throughout the area.

The meeting comes after a series of announcements in recent weeks related to the CCG's dire financial situation, although it said the proposals are unaffected

In October the group said 'urgent and necessary measures', including denying routine surgery to smokers or obese people, would be brought in this winter to try to cut costs.

Last week the CCG put out a press release discussing how it intends to address a projected £430m shortfall in the future, as an ageing population places increasing demands on the health service and central government funding fails to rise.

Also last week, the GP-led group said that it wanted

to change the provider of ­community services in the Kingsbridge area, despite the concerns of staff, from Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust to Plymouth Community Healthcare.

The Western Locality Commissioning Intentions document, which sets out the proposals, can be seen on the organisation's website at http://www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk">www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk.