South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging people to ‘Make the right call’ this winter by only calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
The Trust is expecting a significant increase in 999 calls over the Christmas period and beyond, due to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic alongside normal winter pressures.
It expects to deal with almost 3,000 incidents a day during the next month, an increase of around 20 per cent compared to normal, with demand expected to be highest at weekends and on bank holidays.
The charity saw more than 50 animals a day reported abandoned last Christmas and is braced for more this winter after pet ownership surged this year
The RSPCA received more than 4,600 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales last winter* and is worried a surge in pet ownership could result in more unwanted animals this year.
Last winter, the charity received 4,650 reports of abandoned animals including 68 in Devon.
Already this November, there have been 985 reports of dumped and unwanted animals to the RSPCA’s cruelty line including 22 in Devon. The...
With the drop in temperature and millions encouraged to stay at home, many of us will want to turn the heating up but may be worried how much this will affect our pocket.
This is why the experts at BestHeating , one of the leading suppliers of affordable, luxury designer radiators have put together ten do’s and don’ts to help you save money on your heating and to heat smarter:
Do:
Buy thick curtains – having thicker curtains helps both reduce the amount of colder air coming in and hot air escaping. The thicker the material, the more heat will be
A LEADING south Devon home care provider is offering advice to the elderly this month (October 2020) to help prevent them from suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
The team at HomeLife Carers say SAD becomes more widespread when the clocks change this month and in the run-up to the year’s shortest day in December.
Katie Jewell, Regional Manager for HomeLife Carers, which has teams covering mid and south Devon, says: “The majority of our service users are elderly and, as we enter autumn and go into winter, our carers are trained to keep a much closer eye on them...
A SOUTH Devon home care provider says its carers offer vital emotional support to those who can’t get out due to the coming cooler weather combined with the ongoing COVID-19 threat.
Guardian Homecare says once the clocks change, elderly and vulnerable people will stay inside more, and its carers are sometimes their only link to the outside world.
Catherine Porter, Manager at Guardian Homecare, which delivers personalised home care in Exeter, said: “The days are now getting darker and cooler, and this can often limit the amount of time our service users can get outside, if...
Wintry showers could make conditions on Devon’s roads hazardous overnight and into tomorrow morning, Devon County Council is warning.
While most of the county is likely to see rain and hail showers over the next 24 hours, up to 3.5cm of snow is forecast for higher ground such as Dartmoor, with less expected on Exmoor and the Blackdown Hills.
Devon County Council’s fleet of gritters will be treating all of Devon’s main gritting routes between 8pm until 6am, with multiple treatments in some areas. They will be monitoring conditions throughout the night and the County Council...
Devon County Council’s winter service teams are prepared and ready if they are called into action over the Christmas holidays and throughout the rest of the winter season.
The authority has upgraded six gritters to replace older vehicles in its winter fleet of 37 frontline gritters.
So far this winter, around 3,000 tonnes of salt have been used on Devon’s roads. The Council starts the winter season with around 24,000 tonnes of salt in its depots.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “Our gritter drivers have a...
People lead busy lives and need to access services at times that are convenient for them. This December, the NHS is reminding people through a short film that there are plenty of innovative new ways to access their GP this winter.
Many GP practices across Devon offer their patients the choice of online consultations, saving time waiting and travelling. The online consultation service, eConsult, was introduced in Devon GP practices last year and growth in the use of the technology has been more than 500% in the last 12 months.
More than 600,000 patients in Devon are now able...
TUI, the world’s leading holiday company and the UK’s number one holiday provider, has announced its winter 2020 programme with the reintroduction of holidays to Sharm El Sheikh.
From the 4th November 2020, weekly TUI flights to Sharm El Sheikh will be operating on a Wednesday from Exeter airport.
Famous for the glistening red sea and amazing sandy beaches, customers can expect high quality hotels and the year round sun the region is known for. Four hotels including old favourites along the beautiful Red Sea coast are now on sale, with even more in the pipeline.
A DEVON care provider says it needs more staff to help look after the county’s elderly and vulnerable during the festive season, which is the most demanding time of year (December 2019).
Guardian Homecare, which delivers home care in the Exeter area, says the winter months can be the most hectic, as the cold weather can adversely affect service users.
Manager at Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter says: “Pre and post-Christmas is our busiest time of the year, so we’re urging anyone out there, who is looking for a new career and is kind, honest and reliable, to get in touch...
