News

To support local residents and visitors in North Devon to access urgent care more easily we are pleased to confirm that the weekend MIU service in Ilfracombe will be continuing through to September 2023.

Until 30 September 2023 the following will be in place:

• A weekend MIU ser...

If you or someone you know needs ophthalmic treatment, our ophthalmology team may be able to see you sooner at Axminster hospital.

Our expert ophthalmology team at Axminister Hospital, who also work at the RD&E Wonford, offer:

• age-related ...

The NHS has experienced unprecedented challenges in recent years and the effects of these continue to be felt, not only at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, but across the country.

The results from the 2022 NHS Staff Survey reflect these challenges and despite som...

The British Medical Association (BMA) is taking strike action at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, from 06:59 on Monday 13 March to 06:59 on Thursday 16 March.

The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trades Unions about terms and conditions.<...

Over a thousand volunteers have signed up to provide friendly phone calls for patients in England who are vulnerable, isolated or lonely, as the NHS Volunteer Responders programme reintroduces its Check in and Chat service.

GPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers are being encourage...

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is encouraging school pupils, college and university students who are considering their future career choices, and anyone thinking about a career change to come along to their Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) careers insight event on Saturd...

Update (22/02/23, 10am):

On Tuesday 21 February, the Government and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) agreed to enter a process of intensive talks. The RCN will pause their planned strike action during these talk, which means that the below strike action will not go ahead...

Cases of norovirus are rising across the country and local people are urged to take steps to prevent the spread.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is urging the public to help stop the spread of norovirus by not visiting if they have symptoms of the virus and washi...

A 19-month-old baby girl called Teddi has become the first child in the UK to receive a life-saving gene therapy treatment for a fatal disorder. Doctors caring for Teddi and her sister suspected the children were affected by metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

The diagnosis was provided by...

The next major milestone of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s Wonford Emergency Department (ED) redesign will soon be reached, with its new main entrance area and waiting areas opening on Monday 13 February. 

From 13 February, the entrance will no longer be through the main hospital si...

Each year, health care regulators, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), run a survey which looks at the experience of women accessing our maternity services.

The Survey involved 121 NHS Trusts in England and is designed to build an understanding of the risk and quality of maternity services ...

His Majesty King Charles III and The Queen Consort Camilla hosted a reception last week, Wednesday 1st February, at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the contribution of East and South-East Asian communities to the United Kingdom, to the arts, media, fashion, business, and healthcare. 

Among ...

From Monday 6 February, work to install new bus shelters across the RD&E Wonford (RILD, PEOC, and the main entrance) will start. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of March 2023.

During this time, temporary bus stops will be in place, with clear directions of how to fin...

A new campaign launched by NHS Devon explains how people can treat themselves for minor illnesses and injuries from the comfort of their own home.

“Treatment Starts at Home” gives details of what to do if you have minor health problems such as an ear or eye infection, insect bite, cuts or ...

To ensure new mums and their partners have plenty of time to bond with their baby and can receive feeding support and rest we have reduced the Bassett Ward visiting times with immediate effect. 

Two people can now visit from 3pm-6pm only, plus siblings of the newborn. 

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is taking strike action at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February 2023.  

The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and trades unions about terms and conditions.

The safety of ...

The NHS in the South West is encouraging people to come forward for their COVID-19 booster before the offer ends next month.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has today advised that, thanks to the success of the programme, the offer of an initial booster dose shoul...

Reflecting the reduced number of patients with COVID-19, flu and norovirus across our Northern services, from tomorrow, Wednesday 25 January 2023, we will be easing visitor restrictions for Northern services sites only.

There is no change to visiting across our Eastern services.

Fro...

In light of the reduced number of flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases cases across our services, visitors, staff and patients are no longer routinely required to wear face coverings unless it is their personal preference.

To help keep our most vulnerable patients safe and to help ...

The patient and visitor car park for the Centre for Women's Health (Car Park C) will be closed from the late afternoon on Friday 13 January through to the early afternoon on Saturday 14 January. This is so survey work can take place. 

Any vehicles already parked in the car park when it clo...

There are Walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites near you, and you can get a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from a walk-in site without an appointment. You do not need to be registered with a GP. 

These are some of the upcoming walk-in vaccination cen...

The PRC Exeter (Based on the Wonford site at the Royal Devon) are currently looking for participants for a clinical research study to assess the effectiveness and safety of an investigational vaccine in the prevention of bloodstream infections. 

People aged 60 years or older with a history...

We are currently looking at options for a future patient entertainment system on inpatient wards at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) and North Devon District Hospital.

To help inform these options, we would like to understand what patients and carers think about what’s current...