health

Devon’s health and social care system is under extreme pressure due to high demand for services, sustained demand for Covid beds, pressure on staffing and the need for social care exceeding the available capacity.

Pressures are being seen across the system, in mental health care, primary care (GPs) and adult social care as well as our acute hospital trusts.

Dr Paul Johnson, Chair of NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We really need you to support us. Please ask yourself whether you have a genuine life-threatening emergency before attending an Emergency...

People across Devon are being warned about six subtle signs that show their ears and eyes are telling them something serious about their health.

Just as simple headaches and sudden weight fluctuations can reveal deeper health concerns, eyes and ears can also give some clues that a potential health concern is happening in the body.

To help Devon people look out for the tell-tale signs, Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical services director, and chief audiologist, Gordon Harrison, are sharing the top six ‘watch-outs’ that could denote a problem.

Eye floaters –...

Exeter Leisure, which is part of Exeter City Council, has launched a number of innovative ways to get people in Exeter fitter than ever before.

The flexible membership option has been launched just in time for the reopening of Riverside Leisure Centre on 24 July, and the brand-new St Sidwell’s Point, which will open to the public later this year.

And the council has embraced technology with the development of a dedicated app and wearable tech, in the form of a wristband which provides access to facilities and allows the user to make payments.

The membership model ‘...

The long awaited and much talked-about Euro 2020 tournament - yes, 2020 - starts today ( 11 June).

The games that keep their 2020 badge and title, have been postponed until this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

51 matches over 31 days at 11 venues including London and Glasgow with football betting odds available too. The games that keep their 2020 badge and title, have been postponed until this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And yet amid the excitement, we're still very much in the midst of that same pandemic, with case numbers across the...

Reassurance for women on pregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding

The NHS in Devon is offering reassurance to women that they can have the Covid-19 vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding and that it will not impact on their fertility.

Government advice states that:

• There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have any effect on fertility or your chances of becoming pregnant.
• COVID-19 vaccines offer pregnant women the best protection against COVID-19 disease which can be serious in later pregnancy for some women.
• The JCVI has recommended that the
...

The NHS in Devon has received a funding boost from a national programme to support its work in tackling long waiting lists for eye and joint surgery caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health and care partners in the county are receiving £11.3million from the new national Accelerator Systems Programme (ASP) to spend on three initiatives aimed at further reducing waiting times for certain types of operation in Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset.

Learning from what works well in Devon and other sites nationwide will then help form a blueprint for the recovery of elective...

Being able to regisister with a NHS dentist in Exeter is now a thing of the past with the Barnfield Hill Dentist Surgery being the latest practise to dispense with its NHS patients.

The nearest dentist offering to treat new NHS patients is now in Taunton some 28 miles away.

How on earth are the elderly, infirm and less fortunate members of our community supposed to access this vital care.

Please take the time to contact and complain to the Health Secretary, your MP and your local councillors.

Diabetes UK, in partnership with Sport England, has launched an initiative to encourage and support people living with diabetes across Devon to get more active.

Moving more when you have diabetes is an important way of managing your condition and making a few small changes in your daily life can give your health a real boost.

Some of the many benefits of physical activity include helping the body use insulin better; helping to look after your blood pressure, as high blood pressure increases your risk of diabetes complications; and helping you lose weight if you need to...

With Easter fast approaching, Devon’s NHS leaders are calling on people to take preventative measures ahead of the bank holidays and after as lockdown restrictions start to ease and ‘staycations’ start.

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 2 April to Monday 5 April, with normal opening hours resuming on Tuesday.

Each Easter sees many patients calling...

Devon’s Naturally Healthy May campaign is all about harnessing the power of nature and physical activity to improve our health and wellbeing. It’s a fantastic time to head outside and enjoy some fresh air and Spring weather.

It’s all part of Devon’s Naturally Healthy initiative, led by Active Devon and Devon County Council on behalf of the Devon Local Nature Partnership (DLNP).

It brings together a wide range of partners from health, wellbeing, community and environment sectors to encourage Devonians to be happier and healthier through increased connection to nature....