health

Keep your New Year resolution with the help of One Small Step

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 01/09/2023 - 7:02am

The beginning of a new year can be a great opportunity to create a new habit. One Small Step has many options for support to help you keep your resolution in 2023, or to inspire you to make the change.

Studies have found some of our New Year resolutions will struggle to make it past 12 January, but with the support of others, we can make them last much longer.

One Small Step is a free lifestyle service, funded by Devon County Council to support the health and wellbeing of Devon residents.

We have friendly advisors who can help you plan lifestyle changes and...

Devon's NHS under extreme pressure

Local people urged to choose the right service for their needs Devon’s acute hospitals and ambulance service are extremely busy, with people waiting a very long time in emergency departments to be seen and treated.

The local NHS, including South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, is appealing for people to choose the most appropriate service for their needs – to ensure people who need life-threatening and critical care can be treated as quickly as possible.

Speaking on behalf of Devon’s acute hospitals, Prof Mark Hamilton, Medical Director at University Hospitals...

Pub, Exminster, Exeter, Royal Oak

Exminster pub puts on a right royal Christmas spread for local charity Westbank

Exminster public house The Royal Oak provided a festive community lunch for up to fifty guests as part of its year-long commitment to Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care.

The pub will be supporting Westbank throughout 2023 after choosing the local organisation as its Charity of the Year.

The pub closed its kitchen to the public to lay on a complimentary two-course lunch for some of Westbank’s regular users and volunteers - and the festive fare went down a treat.

Pauline Dinnis, who was driven to the venue by Westbank volunteer Mark, said: “I’m...

Public urged to take steps to prevent spread of winter illnesses

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 12/23/2022 - 2:30pm
Cases of winter illnesses like covid-19, flu and norovirus are rising in the South West and people are urged to take steps to prevent the spread

NHS Devon is reminding people to stay safe and well this winter by wearing a face mask in healthcare settings, washing their hands regularly and practicing social distancing whenever they can.

Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nurse at NHS Devon said: “We are seeing a worrying increase of flu, Covid-19 and norovirus cases in Devon this week and high numbers of patients being admitted to Devon’s hospitals with potentially infectious respiratory...

A SWASFT ambulance responding to a call in the snow. SWASFT is urging people to stay safe in the col

Access the right emergency care for you this winter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 12/14/2022 - 11:38pm

Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) ­– and we need continuing support from the public.

Ambulances must be available for patients who are facing a life-threatening medical emergency. To help with this, we are asking for the public’s support to ensure the service is used correctly.

You can help by choosing the right service to get the care you need:

  • Use your own medicine cabinet for self-care for issues like grazed knees
  • Visit your local pharmacy to ask for medical
  • ...

Mental Health Matters and Devon Partnership NHS Trust expand The Moorings mental health support service

Authored by Carmel Smith
Posted: Mon, 09/05/2022 - 12:21pm

The Moorings, run by Mental Health Matters, is being expanded to offer additional hours of support.

The service provides free mental health support to anyone aged 18 and over from three locations in Barnstaple, Exeter, and Torquay. Staffed by a team of highly skilled Support Workers, the service offers one-to-one emotional support to individuals in mental health crisis, as well as a space for people to access advice, guidance, and information.

The expansion will see the Exeter and Torquay sites offering daytime support (10am-6pm, Monday-Friday) in addition to the out-of-...

New course of highly popular Let’s Talk Teenagers sessions starts this Autumn

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 08/31/2022 - 11:40pm

The second series of highly successful webinars for parents of teenagers is set to kick off this autumn, covering a range of new topics.

Let's Talk Teenagers is a series of online support sessions and an opportunity for parents and carers of teenagers to hear about the challenges young people are facing today and discover ways to help them navigate their way through them.

The sessions have been running throughout 2022 and discuss the tools and techniques that can be used to support young people and their community. The latest sessions, starting on Tuesday 13 September...

Got an urgent health need? NHS 111 can help

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 08/02/2022 - 10:57am

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.

NHS Devon’s Clinical...

Volunteers needed for Return Journey of the Chatty Bus

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Sat, 07/30/2022 - 11:31am

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...

Wellbeing facilitator Charlotte delivering a face-to-face session

Small lifestyle improvements make a big difference to those at risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Wed, 06/01/2022 - 12:53pm

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.

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