Devon

Show of support for ‘true stars’ – more than 100 businesses across Devon share spare Personal Protective Equipment

More than 100 organisations across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay have shared personal protective equipment (PPE) to strengthen the supplies available to frontline carers in the county.

Last week, NHS and social care leaders in Devon wrote to businesses and organisations across the county encouraging them to share PPE they don’t need to bolster the national supplies that are being delivered to the area.

Among the businesses to step forward is Theatre Royal Plymouth, which has given items including gloves, splash suits and facial protection.

Adrian Vinken, Chief...

National Express suspends all services

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/02/2020 - 12:23pm

National Express will fully suspend its national network of scheduled coach services with effect from midnight Sunday 5 April 2020.

Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach: “We kept a limited coach network running to be able to help those individuals with essential travel needs but it is no longer viable to continue to do this.

“Passenger numbers continue to fall as the public rightly follow government advice to avoid non-essential travel. The decision to temporarily suspend all services is the right one based on the current unprecedented...

Expanding choice for women in Devon

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Thu, 04/02/2020 - 10:23am

As coronavirus restricts our ability to travel and piles pressure on the health system, Marie Stopes UK is opening three new clinics in Devon offering women increased access to NHS-funded early medical abortion.

The leading safe abortion provider opened a new clinic in Exeter on April 1, with another to follow in Paignton in the coming months. It is also taking over an existing clinic in Plymouth, offering evening appointments giving women greater choice and flexibility in both the timing and location of their appointment.

Richard Bentley, Marie Stopes UK’s Managing...

Leading housebuilder donates hundreds of PPE masks to the RD&E hospital and social care

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 04/01/2020 - 5:52pm

Leading developer Barratt Developments Plc has this week donated more than a hundred items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS Royal Devon & Exeter hospital and social care workers to help in the fight against coronavirus.

Barratt Homes & David Wilson Homes Exeter have provided 60 high quality FSP3 masks, usually used on the house builders' construction sites, along with several large bottles of sanitiser to NHS Hospice Care at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. They have delivered a further 60 masks plus sanitisers to Plymouth City Council's adult...

Devon needs you: Get a job in health and social care

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 04/01/2020 - 5:29pm

Devon residents including job seekers, students back from university, college leavers and former care and health staff are needed now to support the county’s most vulnerable.

Healthcare Assistants are a frontline role to support Devon's NHS and social care as coronavirus puts even greater pressure on existing services and staff.

Both temporary and permanent workers are needed to fill a variety of shift work, including evenings and weekends, in residential homes, hospitals and in people's own homes.

You may need to support people with their personal care needs...

Redstone Rail enhances driver safety

Redstone Rail Ltd, a market leader in the supply of specialist engineering resource to the Rail industry, has announced that it has installed Lightfoot’s award-winning in-cab technology across its fleet of 30 commercial vehicles. Introduced to ensure enhanced safety, Lightfoot’s driver behaviour technology has seen an immediate improvement in driver awareness and performance, while increasing MPG by 5.3%.

The specialist provider of blue- and white-collar engineering resources, Redstone Rail is committed to improving working conditions so their drivers operate a safe and secure...

Freemasons keep the blood bikes on the move

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 03/31/2020 - 10:05pm

At a dinner and dance which in masonic circles is known as a ladies night was held just before the coronavirus stopped us all meeting up in public, Per Mare Per Terram Lodge, the Royal Marine Lodge that meets in Exmouth raised £500 in aid of the Devonshire Blood Bikes, also called the Devon Freewheelers.

The Families and friends were entertained in the Sergeant’s Mess at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, a building full of Royal Marine history and historical artefacts, somewhere normally inaccessible to non-military personnel, all those present agreed that...

Housebuilder donates protective kit to local NHS

Regional housebuilder Persimmon Homes South West has stepped in to help the NHS by donating much-needed gloves and safety glasses.

Staff at Persimmon’s local office in Exeter have gathered all of the spare PPE normally used on building sites and handed it over to be utilised by doctors and nurses on the frontline as the battle against Covid-19 intensifies.

The equipment has been donated to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The NHS is in desperate need of all safety gear due to a global shortage, forcing some hospitals to try and source equipment independently...

Rising research star at Exeter secures prestigious Biochemical Society award

A rising research star at the University of Exeter has received a prestigious national award, it has been announced.

Dr Kirsty Wan, a Research Fellow at the Living Systems Institute (LSI) has received the Early Career Research Award from the Biochemical Society - one of just 10 scientists and researchers nationwide to be honoured in the annual award scheme.

Each year the Biochemical Society presents a series of prestigious awards that recognize excellence and achievement in both specific and general fields of science.

Candidates are nominated by their peers and...

Film fans can explore Hollywood icon Vivien Leigh’s South West links thanks to major new study

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 03/31/2020 - 3:29pm

She achieved global stardom thanks to iconic roles in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire. Now the public can explore how Vivien Leigh had strong links to the South West as well as Hollywood as part of a major new project.

University of Exeter researcher Dr Lisa Stead is working to trace Leigh’s legacy. The work will illuminate new, unseen histories of Leigh's life and career as one of the twentieth century's most iconic female stars and show her connections to Devon. This includes a new interactive website.

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum (BDCM), Exeter City...

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