Health & Beauty

MP Meets Exeter Teams Expanding Cataract Care

MP for Exmouth and Exeter East visited SpaMedica Exeter to discuss how independent sector capacity is supporting NHS ophthalmology services across the country.

SpaMedica is one of the UK’s largest independent providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology care, specialising in cataract surgery and YAG laser capsulotomy.

Our efficient model integrates advanced technology and clinical expertise to deliver high-quality outcomes and best in class patient satisfaction, whilst also playing a vital role in advancing the Government’s mission to cut waiting times and improve access to...

Full story

Sun safety advice as temperatures set to soar

The NHS is advising people not to get caught out by potential hot weather across the South West early next week. The Met Office predicts Monday to Wednesday may be dry, sunny and possibly hot across the South West. As part of its Cover Up, Mate campaign, NHS England South is advising the public to wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. NHS England South Medical Director Nigel Acheson said: “We all like to joke about the Great British Summer, but as July’s mini heatwave showed, just a few hours of unexpected hot sun can be really intense. “The dangers are all too clear, not only getting...

Barratt supports sun awareness campaign

Housebuilder Barratt Homes has thrown its weight behind an awareness campaign to ensure its construction staff in Exeter stay safe in the sun.

Barratt managing director Paul Moran said that it was vital to ensure that its construction workers on sites in the area are aware of the dangers of the sun and take all possible precautions.

“Cases of skin cancer are on the rise and while many people may usually associate this with sunbathing there are real dangers to anyone working outside and we want to make sure our staff and contractors are properly protected,’’ said Paul....

Measles vaccination advice for young adults

Public Health England (PHE) is reminding teenagers and young people to make sure they are vaccinated against measles after new cases were reported across England.

A significant number of cases, linked to music festivals and other large public events, have been reported since June. This follows an increase in measles over the year with 234 cases confirmed between January and June, compared with 54 for the same period last year. There have been 36 suspected measles cases reported in people who attended events in June and July.

Teenagers and young people who are unsure if they...

Help test new online depression therapy

People who are feeling low or depressed are being offered the opportunity to take part in a study exploring the effectiveness of a simple new therapy online. Behavioural Activation (BA) was recently found to be as effective as the “gold standard” talking treatment of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Now, researchers at the University of Exeter are seeking participants from across the South West to help them assess BA’s effectiveness when accessed online. The programme consists of a series of eight weekly modules which aim to help people re-engage in positive. These activities can...

Study sheds light on link between cholesterol and diabetes

The slight increase in risk of developing type 2 diabetes during statin treatment may actually be a consequence of having lowered cholesterol, rather than a direct effect of the drug, according to research funded by the British Heart Foundation.

The genetic study found that people with genes predisposing them to having lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, had a decreased risk of heart disease and an increased risk of diabetes.

The researchers, from UCL and the University of Oxford, used large data sets of genetic information to investigate the possible...

Change to Honiton MIU opening times

The opening hours of Honiton minor injuries unit (MIU) are to be temporarily reduced from Sunday 31 July 2016.

The MIU is currently open from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.

From 31 July, it will be open from 8am to 8pm every day.

Rob Sainsbury, director of operations for Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are experiencing some difficulty in staffing the unit and have made the decision to reduce the opening hours temporarily, to make sure the service is resilient and consistent.

“We are sorry for any disruption this may cause, but our top...

Award-winning project marks World Hepatitis Day

A ground-breaking project to eliminate a deadly virus in Devon has received a national award.

Addaction’s hepatitis C work has received national recognition by The Communique Awards, which look for initiatives that lead to real improvements in healthcare locally and internationally.

Addaction is the lead partner in the local drug and alcohol partnership RISE Recovery. With The Hepatitis C Trust, Addaction formed the project to bust the myths, misconceptions and stigma surrounding hepatitis C and encourage people at risk through injecting drugs to be tested and consider...

Study recruits volunteers to trial new treatment for alcoholism

A study which aims to evaluate the use of the drug ketamine as a treatment for people with severe alcohol disorder, or alcoholism, is currently recruiting volunteers in the South West.

‘KARE’ (Ketamine for reduction of Alcoholic Relapse) was awarded funding through the Biomedical Catalyst, a joint initiative between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Innovate UK to support translational research that will benefit human health.

The study aims to recruit 96 recently abstinent* volunteers with severe alcohol use disorder, a condition which affects nearly four million...

Find out about transportable dialysis treatment

Kidney specialists at the RD&E are putting on a series of public information events about a transportable dialysis treatment that could give renal patients a new lease of life.

The events will demonstrate how a transportable haemodialysis machine can be easily installed at home or even taken on holiday or in a camper van-style vehicle – freeing-up dialysis patients from the burden of frequent and time-consuming hospital visits and allowing them to win back more control over their lives following the trauma of kidney failure.

Three events are being held this month in...

New technique could revolutionise surgical treatment of epilepsy

Scientists at the University of Exeter have developed a pioneering new technique that could revolutionise the surgical treatment of epilepsy.

The team of scientists, led by Dr Marc Goodfellow and Professor John Terry, have developed the ground-breaking new method that can identify the specific regions of the brain that trigger seizures in people with epilepsy.

The new technique is designed to help surgeons and neurologists measure the relative contribution to the occurrence of seizures made by different brain regions, and so determine the brain regions to remove that will...

Health & Beauty

MP Meets Exeter Teams Expanding Cataract Care

Sun safety advice as temperatures set to soar

Barratt supports sun awareness campaign

Measles vaccination advice for young adults

Help test new online depression therapy

Study sheds light on link between cholesterol and diabetes

Change to Honiton MIU opening times

Award-winning project marks World Hepatitis Day

Study recruits volunteers to trial new treatment for alcoholism

Find out about transportable dialysis treatment

New technique could revolutionise surgical treatment of epilepsy

It's your Daily

You make the news

Top video

Selco Builders Warehouse | England Rugby star Jack Nowell visits Exeter Saracens junior teams

Exeter Weather

Search form

Health & Beauty

Top video

Exeter Weather