GMB members in the NHS walked out this morning in a dispute over pay alongside members from other unions.
They returned to work at 11am but the strike action will be followed by an overtime ban in the ambulance service from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th inclusive, with other NHS employees working to their contracted hours during the same period.
GMB conducted an official ballot of 22,000 members in the NHS in England and Northern Ireland. There was overwhelming support for industrial action against the government and employers pay policies.
Devon residents susceptible to the effects of flu because they have long term health conditions, are pregnant, 65 or over or live or work in a care home are being reminded to get their annual vaccination to protect them against the illness this winter.
Flu can be a serious illness, particularly for those in the ‘at risk’ groups, so Devon County Council’s Public Health team is reminding everyone who is eligible for vaccination to get their free flu jab from their GP early in the season. The vaccination is the most effective form of protection against flu.
The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust and Devon County Council are urging smokers to try to give up the habit by taking on the national Stoptober challenge.
Stoptober, run by Public Health England, aims to encourage as many smokers as possible to attempt to give up the habit for 28 days through October.
The Trust is supporting people to quit through its weekly stop smoking clinics across the county, led by specialist advisers in its Health Promotion Devon team.
The advisers form part of the Devon Stop Smoking Service, which is based at the Culm Valley Integrated...
With the August bank holiday upon us doctors in Devon have reminded people where they can find medical help if they need it.
Dr Tim Burke, a family doctor from Devon and chair of the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said people should choose the most appropriate NHS service so they can get fast and effective advice and treatment for their health issue.
Every year emergency departments (A&E) at hospitals in Devon see approximately 300,000 patients, a number of which have common illnesses or ailments, which may be better treated elsewhere...
Assistant director for health and social care, Keri Storey was crowned a national winner at the NHS Leadership Academy’s recognition awards in February, winning the category of NHS Partnership/System Leader of the Year 2014. Her win followed on from success in the same category at the South West regional awards.
The National NHS Leadership Recognition Awards celebrate leaders at all levels of the health service, and where they have ultimately improved patient care and patient experience of the NHS. Entrants were nominated in nine categories, with 83 regional winners then going...
THE Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has been shortlisted twice for a national award for its excellent use of resources to drive service improvements.
The Trust is a finalist in the Value in Healthcare Awards, which seek to recognise and reward outstanding efficiency and improvement by the NHS.
The awards, led by flagship publication the Health Service Journal, attracted a record number of entries this year.
The finance team is one of three to be shortlisted in the Value and Improvement in Financial Services category.
A study led by the University of Exeter Medical School has concluded that the NHS strategy to shift primary care to telephone consultations “does not save money or reduce practice workload.”
The study found that patients who receive assessments via telephone, known as ‘telephone triage’, following their request for a same-day consultation with a GP are more likely to require further support or advice when compared to patients who see a doctor in person.
Telephone triage has becoming increasingly popular in general practice as a response to managing patient care. Overall,...
Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park is holding its annual Emergency Services Weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June. The Park is inviting employees of the Emergency Services and NHS to visit and experience all the fun and adventures it has offer. Employees of the Fire Service, Police and NHS, can enjoy free admission and immediate family, including parents, partners and children, can visit at a discounted rate of £9.95.
Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park organises the annual event as a sincere thank you for the tireless and selfless work carried out by the Emergency...
The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust is in line for a prestigious national award for its work to promote the highest standards of patient safety and care.
The Trust has been shortlisted four separate times for the Patient Safety and Care Awards 2014, led by flagship publications Nursing Times and the Health Service Journal.
The Trust’s project to reduce the number of cardiac arrests on wards at North Devon District Hospital has been shortlisted in three categories – Education and Training, Changing Culture and Clinical Leadership.
Sexual health staff from the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust played their part in Exeter Pride, an annual festival aimed at the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.
Staff from The Centre – the sexual health service based at the NHS walk-in centre in Sidwell Street – linked up with The Eddystone Trust to run a stand outside the Exeter Phoenix on Saturday.
Situated in the Health Zone, the staff gave out information about The Centre’s services, answered questions, distributed free condoms and other freebies and carried out on-site blood tests...
