News

From 1 April 2026, the RSV vaccine is now available for free on the NHS for adults aged 75 and over, adults living in a care home for older adults, and pregnant women.

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. RSV is a common virus, and a…

If you’re 16–49 and living in an EX postcode, you can receive a free, confidential home test kit for ongoing abdominal pain, diarrhoea or blood in your poo. If your home test is positive, you’ll be seen in a specialist NHS clinic within 2 – 3 weeks.

The study has already hel…

The British Medical Association (BMA) is taking strike action involving resident doctors at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 7am on Monday 13 April 2026.

The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and tra…

Easter in Devon is one of the busiest times of the year as thousands of visitors arrive to enjoy the county’s beaches, countryside and attractions.

As suitcases are packed and holiday plans finalised, the NHS in Devon is reminding both visitors and residents to plan ahead for the…

A team based at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust helped lead ground-breaking research that could revolutionise testing for colorectal cancer.

The research highlighted a new, minimally invasive bowel test designed in Devon that uses a simple swab to check…

Construction has officially begun at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) to create urgently needed new accommodation for staff and students.

The Royal Devon has secured £22.7million from the government’s New Hospital Programme to create modern, on‑site living facilities that wil…

Families living in or visiting the South West who are also planning a trip to an open farm or farm attraction this Easter half-term, are being urged to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals, and to remain tick aware when spending time outdoors.

Da…

The University of Exeter’s alumni magazine has shone a spotlight on our award‑winning NHS Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing Service and the impact it is having for families across the UK.

In the article, we hear more about how our partnership with the University of Exeter is transfor…

The Royal Devon has started work on phase one of their Pathology Consolidated Services Laboratory (CSL) at Gadeon House, Exeter.

Phase one of the programme will see Blood Sciences and Microbiology services move from the RD&E (Wonford) and NDDH to the new CSL from March 2027. …

An exciting project helping to build a stronger, more confident cancer research workforce in the South West has earned recognition for its impact.

The 'From Trials to Talent: Strengthening the Cancer Research Workforce' project received the Outstanding Network Initiative Award at…

The Royal Devon has recruited the first participant in Europe to a new international study for people living with Alport syndrome, a rare inherited kidney condition.

Dr Coralie Bingham and her team at the Royal Devon University recruited the first European participant to the stud…

Nightingale Hospital Exeter is helping to see, diagnose and treat more patients with scoliosis, a debilitating medical condition where the spine develops an abnormal sideways curvature. 
 
To date, 473 patients have been seen through the scoliosis pathway, with around 360…

Newly published research aims to help tackle antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health emergency that contributes to over 35,000 deaths in the UK each year. 

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when a medicine is no longer effective against a microorganism that causes di…

In this month’s behind the scenes we meet the theatre assistants from the South West Ambulatory Orthopaedic Centre (SWAOC) at our Nightingale Hospital Exeter. Making more productive use of our theatre space will help us tackle our challenges, and the SWAOC team are already d…

Patients at Royal Devon can now book community blood tests online using MY CARE – our online service and app that allow you to securely manage your appointments, view test results and more. 

The online booking system is available for community blood tests that have been requ…

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is launching a pilot to evaluate the use of Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) in its emergency departments (ED), supported by NHS England.

The 12-month pilot will assess how AVT – which uses speech to text artificial intelli…

We know that no-one wants to make a complaint about their care with us, but sometimes that's the right thing to do. When you share your feedback, we want to do right by you. Whatever the outcome, you should feel that we have listened, treated you with compassion and responded to …

Five‑year digital integration journey delivers care closer to home, puts patients in control and will soon be part of the first county-wide electronic patient record.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Devon) has published a review of its achievemen…

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching people are being encouraged to look after their heart health this half term by getting their blood pressure checked and taking simple steps to stay well.

High blood pressure, if left untreated, can damage blood vessels and increase the risk o…

Devon Sexual Health has launched a new website to help people living in Devon & Torbay make informed decisions about their sexual health.

April Brooks, Lead Nurse at Devon Sexual Health said: “Sexual health is just as important as our mental and physical health, yet it is so …

Diagnostic services for communities across Devon have been significantly enhanced following major investment in a new MRI suite at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH). 

The Atlantic MRI Suite will reduce the need for costly and inconvenient travel to Exeter, Taunton, or Bri…

A pilot project to help GPs spot early warning signs of cancer from routine blood tests has now rolled out to 60 GP practices in Devon, and has also launched in Liverpool.

Led by the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the High or …

Many patients are waiting too long for outpatient appointments. We’re working to fix that. We’ve made a number of transformational changes so that we can see more patients each day.

Since October, 20% less patients are waiting 52 weeks or more and 45% less patients are waiti…

A cutting-edge collaboration, including experts from the Royal Devon and the University of Exeter, has been recognised for its contribution to stroke treatment and care.

The Thrombolysis in Acute Stroke Collaboration (TASC) were awarded the HSJ Patient Safety Award in November fo…

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is inviting people of all ages to discover exciting career opportunities at its Apprenticeship Careers Fair, taking place in Exeter on Tuesday 10 February, from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Held as part of National Apprenticeship We…

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, working in partnership with the South West Probation Service and One Northern Devon, is delivering a health and justice pilot in Ilfracombe that aims to address health inequalities experienced by people on probation.

The ini…

Thousands of cases of bowel cancer will be diagnosed earlier or even prevented in England, as part of major NHS plans to increase the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening to save more lives.

NHS England today announced it is to lower the threshold for a home-screening kit to tri…

The South West Ambulatory Orthopaedic Centre (SWAOC) and the Centre of Excellence for Eyes (CEE), both part of Nightingale, have been welcoming visitors from other healthcare organisations to learn more about the hospital’s unique ways of working and how it’s helping patients.

Fe…

By the end of 2026 MY CARE will be available to everyone across Devon. 

We are working in partnership with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust to introduce a single Devon-wide electronic patient record (EPR). This uses the …

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity supports the Trust’s two acute hospitals,17 community hospitals and a range of community, specialist and primary care services across north, mid and eastern Devon. The Charity plays an important role, providing people with a way to give back to the N…

Across Devon, around 130,000 people, or one in six residents, provide practical, emotional and often expert support for individuals living with frailty, long-term conditions, rehabilitation needs or acute illness.

We recognise the essential contribution family members, frie…

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has secured £18million in national funding to expand the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the Nightingale Hospital Exeter. This investment means patients will have quicker…

Over the past year we’ve been working hard to make improvements to MY CARE, but what do you think?

MY CARE is our patient app and online service that gives patients access to their Royal Devon medical information.

Last year we carried out a survey with thousands of MY CARE users …