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...
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urgently appealing to the public to think carefully before dialling 999 due to the extreme demand it is currently facing following the four-day Christmas break.
At 11:30 on Wednesday 28 December there were 482 patients waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals across the South West.
And SWASFT has today (Wednesday) declared a Critical Incident because the extreme pressures it is experiencing are affecting its ability to respond to patients.
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...
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
People are being urged to have their flu and Covid-19 jabs, as an increasing number of children and adults are admitted to intensive care in the south west with flu.
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England has risen by 40% in the last week, as cases in the community rise.
NHS Devon’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nigel Acheson said: “In the last week here in the south west, there’s been a steep rise in people admitted to hospital with flu and sadly there has also a steep rise in both adults and children in intensive care units with flu.
People working in frontline health and care jobs in Devon are being urged to have the Covid-19 autumn booster and flu vaccination to protect themselves and the people they care for.
Existing COVID-19 vaccinations do not protect against two highly transmissible new variants which are currently circulating. We are also seeing a sharp rise in the number of people requiring hospital admission across the UK and an increase in the number of colleagues absent from work due to COVID-19.
This year, all frontline social care workers are being offered the free flu and COVID-19...
Do you care for a loved one who is vulnerable to flu or Covid-19? Would the person you care for be at risk if you were unwell? If so, and you are aged over 16, you are eligible for free seasonal flu and Autumn booster Covid-19 vaccinations.
As a carer, whether paid or unpaid, you’re more likely to be exposed to the flu and Covid-19 viruses.
If you care for someone who may be at greater risk, it’s easy to pass these viruses on without knowing.
NHS Devon’s Deputy Chief Nurse, Susan Masters said: “Both flu and Covid-19 can...
The number of patients in Devon’s hospitals with Covid-19 has risen substantially over the last month. Around 250 people in hospital have tested positive for the virus, roughly five times the number in early September.
Higher covid rates add to the pressures that already exist in the local health and care system. People across Devon are being urged to support the NHS by helping to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 and flu viruses.
NHS Devon Chief Medical Officer Dr Nigel Acheson said: “Many people will be well aware of the pressures affecting the NHS and will want to do...
People in Devon, who are most vulnerable to flu and Covid-19, are being encouraged to book in for their autumn booster vaccines.
Having the Covid-19 autumn booster and seasonal flu vaccines will help to protect people from becoming seriously ill this winter, which in turn will reduce pressure on the NHS during, what is expected to be, a very challenging winter.
Clinics offering the latest vaccine are being held at supermarkets, sports grounds, pharmacies and places of worship. People in north Devon with mobility problems can also make use of drive-thru vaccine clinics,...
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-...
