Our Future Hospital northern Devon

Our Future Hospital (OFH) is the Royal Devon's long-term plan to create safer, modern hospital services for northern Devon by building estate that is modern, fit-for-future and supports services that meet the needs of local people now and for decades to come. It began when North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) was included in the government’s New Hospital Programme.   

As the most remote acute hospital in mainland England, NDDH is a lifeline for many people - but much of the site is in critical need of investment to renew, refurbish and replace buildings that now struggle to support modern NHS services.   

Although this need has been recognised nationally, the government’s 2025 New Hospital Programme review delayed progress on our major new clinical building. As a result, construction of new operating theatres, an intensive care unit, and enhanced women’s and children’s services is now unlikely to begin before 2035.   

Despite this, we are not standing still. We are being proactive, nimble and ambitious — pushing hard for targeted investment in areas where we can make real progress sooner. By staying ready and making the strongest possible case for northern Devon, we aim to secure the funding needed to deliver essential improvements and move forward with the wider redevelopment as opportunities arise.