Residents and visitors to Devon are being reminded that if they have an urgent health issue this summer they can access medical advice online or by phone 24 hours a day at NHS111 .
Anyone contacting 111 who needs emergency medical care from a hospital Emergency Department (also known as A&E) will be given direct access to the department. Staff at NHS111 can also refer patients through to Minor Injuries Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. This will ensure that people get to the right place for treatment quickly and may reduce their waiting times.
A Devon health and wellbeing charity is seeking ‘chatty’ volunteers to come on board once a week to provide friendly conversation, information and support to local people on the number 57 bus between Exmouth and Exeter. The Chatty Bus, organised by Westbank Community Health and Care, relaunched on Thursday, 28th July as part of an initiative to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
Westbank’s Chatty Bus route initially began in November 2019 but was put on hold because of Covid restrictions. The route is being relaunched with new funding from Devon County Council’s Connecting...
People at high risk of Type 2 Diabetes who make small changes in their everyday habits over up to two years are much less likely to develop the disease, according to a project run by the Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care.
Westbank’s Healthier Devon Diabetes Prevention Programme supports adults aged 18-90 years who want to improve their overall health and fitness. Many are patients referred by a GP or clinician because they are at high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes - a serious, debilitating and often lifelong condition. Individuals can also self refer.
We all love a bask in the sun from time to time — especially if it's on a warm beach or in your garden on a summer's day. But when you work outdoors, overly warm weather may not be ideal for your health or for the projects that you're working on.
Knowing how to protect yourself from sun damage is important at any time of year. Not only can too much time in the sun harm your eyesight and put you at risk of dehydration, but it can also cause severe health problems in the long term, like skin cancer and a suppressed immune system. Heat can affect your work area too, for example by...
Devon-wide health and well-being charity Westbank Community Health and Care is delighted to welcome personal injury lawyer James Wood as its newest Trustee. His appointment was confirmed by the board on Wednesday (27th April).
James, who’s a paraplegic following a motorcycle accident as a young man, lives in Exeter and is a former Managing Director of a unique legal service called Aspire Law. Set up as a joint venture between Aspire Charity and a leading UK law firm, it made significant gains in the personal injury market under James’ stewardship - resulting in a lucrative extra...
Wetter weather earlier in the year followed by warmer, sunnier spells this month in Devon may make pets and people more prone to ticks when walking in woodlands or long vegetation, Public Health Devon warn .
“Ticks thrive in warmer weather and in lush vegetation,” says Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon. “And with warmer weather and people taking to the outdoors for recreation, woodlands and overgrown paths are likely to have ticks living among them.”
There are approximately 1,500 cases of Lyme disease, commonly spread by ticks, in England and Wales each year...
The Naturally Healthy Campaign Encourages Everyone to Enjoy Nature This May
It isn’t a myth – spending time in nature is proven to help improve people’s health and wellbeing*.
To celebrate these amazing benefits, Active Devon and Devon County Council, on behalf of the Devon Local Nature Partnership, have launched their annual campaign, Naturally Healthy May. The campaign encourages people of all ages to step outdoors together, connect with nature and breathe in the best of Devon’s fresh air.
During the month, events and activities have been arranged across the...
With Easter fast approaching, Devon’s NHS leaders are calling on people to be prepared ahead of the bank holidays and the two-week school holiday period.
The long Easter weekend traditionally puts extra pressure on health services when most GP practices are closed and more people are outdoors enjoying everything Devon has to offer.
Most GP practices will be closed for Easter for four days from Friday 15 April to Monday 18 April, with normal opening hours resuming on Tuesday.
Each Easter sees many patients calling the NHS 111 helpline because they have run out of...
Health officials are warning that cases of COVID-19 – and other diseases that normally circulate in winter – are rising.
Increased social contact is thought to be one of the factors behind an increase in illnesses, which include flu and norovirus, sometimes known as the “winter vomiting bug”.
Although most of England’s Covid-19 restrictions have ended, the health and care system in Devon remains busy, with continued high numbers of people in hospital with COVID-19 and staff absent due to the virus.
Flu and Norovirus cases are increasing, although still currently...
