The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is encouraging people to use the right healthcare for them this May bank holiday weekend as the region prepares for a further influx of visitors.
Residents and tourists to the South West are reminded to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Bank holiday weekends can be a busy time for 999 services, especially if the weather turns out to be warm and sunny – whether in the garden, doing DIY at home, visiting family and friends, or exploring the region’s beauty spots.
The NHS in Devon has reduced the number of patients waiting a long time for spinal surgery by nearly 80% between May 2023 and January 2024 by revolutionising the approach to caring for patients.
The number of patients in Devon waiting 78 weeks or more for spinal surgical treatment was 31 at the end of January 2024. This is 79% lower than May 2023 when that number stood at 131.
NHS organisations in Devon have worked with the NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) team lead by Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England South West regional colleagues and the Peninsula...
People in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay are being urged to do their bit to relieve pressure at busy hospitals by making use of NHS 111 and local urgent treatment centres and minor injury units this half-term.
Emergency Departments (EDs) at all the county’s hospitals are currently seeing very high demand, and many have ambulances outside waiting to handover patients.
Other parts of the NHS healthcare system have capacity to look after people with less severe needs to allow EDs (also known as A&E) to focus on those who need help the most.
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging communities across the region to use its services responsibly this festive period, as it prepares for a challenging and busy time.
The Trust is expecting a period of significant and sustained demand across its 999 services - a position that is reflected across other health and care organisations locally, regionally, and nationally. Boxing Day is traditionally the busiest day over the festive break for the service. In response to this, Trust leaders are asking communities to ‘help us to help you’ by...
Equipped with Aplio i800 / Prism Edition , the Devon hospital – a Covid-19 response unit turned community diagnostics hub – has helped reduce the local NHS patient waiting list from six weeks to less than two weeks.
With a quarter of the population now on the NHS waiting list, reducing the backlog is critical. To ease the pressure on acute care, Professor Sir Mike Richards published a report in November 2020 calling for community diagnostic centres (CDCs) to be made available across England.
Utilising a share of £11.3 million funding awarded by the National Accelerator...
Doctors in Devon are reminding parents to consult the HANDi paediatric app if they aren’t sure what to do when their child is unwell.
The free app, available to download onto any Apple or Android device, was launched specifically with children in mind and is loaded with expert advice, support and guidance for parents with concerns about their children.
The easy-to-use app was designed with local paediatric consultants to provide clear, concise information for parents and carers.
It covers a range of common conditions such as high temperatures, chestiness,...
Thousands of people across Devon can now book their flu and covid-19 vaccines online, as the NHS booking system opens ahead of what could be a challenging winter for the health service.
As part of the NHS’s commitment to make it ever more convenient for people to book in for their winter vaccines, all eligible adults can book their vaccination appointment through www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/keep-warm-keep-well , by downloading the NHS App or by calling 119.
New figures show more than 127,000 people in Devon have already received their flu jabs since the start of...
Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) has appointed Taps Mutakati as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Taps will assume his position in the early autumn, bringing with him a wealth of experience. He joins the organisation from NHS Kent and Medway, where he is the Director of Mental Health System Collaboration. He has previously held posts including Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and he has senior experience in a number of areas, including out-of-hours services, NHS 111, primary care and secondary care. He also has significant...
Residents and tourists to Devon this summer are being asked to Help Us To Help You by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).
The Trust serves a population of over 5.5 million people and every year, the South West of England is estimated to receive an influx of over 23 million visitors - with a large proportion of them coming during the summer months.
SWASFT is encouraging residents and tourists to plan ahead by following these 10 steps to a safe and healthy summer by:
Knowing how to describe their exact location in a remote or
EXETER'S high street is set for boost with the arrival of a new retailer.
CBD and vaping specialists Evapo is opening a new store in the City's Fore Street on Friday (28 July).
The company is committed to help people quit tobacco smoking with all its staff qualified NHS stop smoking advisors.
Evapo is also leading the way when it comes to ending underage vaping with owner Andrej Kuttuf having recently lobbied parliament in a bid to see the industry tighter controlled.
He is calling on MPs to regulate the sales of disposable vapes, thus putting an end to...
