The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is urging anyone who has suffered from symptoms of the highly infectious Norovirus bug to stay away from the hospital until they have been free of the symptoms for at least 48 hours. Cases of Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is more common in the winter months, have been rising at the RD&E over the Christmas and New Year period, placing extra pressure on hospital bed capacity at a very busy time for the hospital. At the current time the hospital has closed Lowman and Okement wards and isolated areas in three other wards – Torridge,...
Exeter’s hospice was full over Christmas as doctors and nurses cared for 12 people needing acute specialist help. Dawn Berger, pictured, who lives in St Thomas spent a very enjoyable Christmas Day at the hospice after being admitted a week ago.
She said: “My husband and friends visited, I had a wonderful Christmas lunch sitting in my bed, there was a visit from Santa who gave me toiletries and chocolates and like everybody else does at Christmas I fell asleep.” Dawn’s dog Darcy enjoyed spending the day on her bed.
Hospiscare staff helped three patients to go home before...
There are many people who work over the Christmas and New Year period, due to the nature of their job. Devon Air Ambulance crews, along with all other ambulance and emergency services are no different.
Heléna Holt, Chief Executive of Devon Air Ambulance Trust said: “I would like to thank Matt Collins and Michael Caines of ABode who have gone that extra mile and are cooking and delivering our Exeter on duty crew with a special festive lunch on Christmas Day. This is an amazing and generous thing to do and really does encompass the true spirit of Christmas, where we have the chance...
Millions of UK workers are putting their health at risk by postponing important medical appointments because of their work, according to new research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The BHF polled over 1,300 UK workers and found more than two thirds of workers (71%) had gone to work despite being too unwell to do their job. Two fifths (40%) had put off going to the doctors because of their job while almost two in ten (19%) had postponed a scheduled hospital appointment.
The findings showed two fifths (41%) of workers felt their job has had a negative impact on their...
The drive for energy efficient homes could increase asthma risks, according to new research.
Led by a team at the University of Exeter Medical School, the research has found that a failure by residents to heat and ventilate retrofitted properties could lead to more people developing the respiratory condition.
Working with leading UK social housing provider, Coastline Housing, the research team assessed data from the residents of 700 properties in Cornwall. They found that people living in more energy efficient homes had a greater risk of asthma, and that the presence of...
The decision announced by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to only provide one hearing aid for people who have hearing loss in both ears has caused concern at the National Deaf Children’s Society.
As the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people, the National Deaf Children’s Society is raising concerns today around the lack of consultation and evidence base being used before the CCG made their decision.
Speaking on behalf of the National Deaf Children’s Society, Sarah Collinson...
Devon Air Ambulance Trust is delighted to be reopening their Heavitree, Exeter charity shop on Saturday 6 December at 10am.
Martin Bell, Retail Director of Devon Air Ambulance Trust said “We are often asked why we spend money on refurbishing our shops. There are many reasons for this. In the case of our Heavitree shop we are at the end of the current lease so we are obliged to ensure that the premises are fit for purpose. We plan to continue trading from these premises for many years to come. Therefore at the same time replacing the lighting and heating to low running cost...
As temperatures start to fall PHE is urging people to think now how the onset of cooler weather could impact their health. Every year more than 25,000 extra people die in England over the winter period and many of these deaths are, experts say, preventable.
The Met Office warned that later this week we will get our first taste of cooler weather and temperatures are expected to fall to about what we’d expect for this time of year.
Mark Wilson, a meteorologist Met Office, said: "This week looks likely to see temperatures falling closer to the early December average. This...
People who live in or near Moretonhampstead are being invited to the first of a series of wellbeing drop-in sessions at the town’s hospital.
The sessions will give the public an opportunity to meet the local NHS community nursing and therapy team and find out how the staff support people to live healthily and independently at home.
Local people can discuss any health, wellbeing or fitness concerns they may have, relating to themselves or someone else.
The first event takes place on Thursday 4 December, from 10am to 1pm.
Innovative projects in Devon and Cornwall will receive a share of a £2.5m fund to help change patients’ lives and improve care through innovation.
A total of eight projects in the area were announced as winners of the NHS England’s Regional Innovation Fund which was launched in April to support and promote the adoption and spread of innovation across the NHS. It provides opportunities for clinicians to work in new ways driving innovation which can change patients’ lives.
Organisations could apply for sums up to £50,000 for individual applications and up to £250,000 for...
