News

NHS Devon is issuing an urgent reminder to the public that the Spring booster programme for COVID-19 vaccinations will be concluding in just three days.

Eligible individuals, including those aged 75 and over, as well as individuals aged 5 and over who are immunosuppressed, are strongly enc...

Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when the weather is warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

People in Devon are being advised to treat the symptoms of hay fever at home. General advice is available on the NHS website (...

An innovative new service developed in Exeter which allows people to take blood tests at home has won a prestigious national award to celebrate its positive benefit for patients.

Professor Tim McDonald and his team have been awarded the Impact Award for their outstanding work on the develo...

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is piloting a remote monitoring system for selected patients with heart failure in Northern Devon over the next six months. Through this exciting project, the Trust is aiming to improve outcomes for patients with heart failure, avoid unnecess...

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce that it is expanding its North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) service providing care for children and young people who have been referred for treatment and diagnosis with non-complex ADHD.

The team at NDDH alread...

The NHS is encouraging eligible people to come forward for their spring booster ahead of the seasonal campaign coming to a close on Friday 30 June.

The NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Devon has provided more than 124,100 people with a spring booster to date, which is over 65% of thos...

The British Medical Association (BMA) is planning to take strike action involving junior doctors at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, unless there is an intervention.

This 72-hour strike action will run between 7am on Wednesday 14 June and 7am on Saturday 17 June.

T...

On Thursday 8 June, the Trust will be celebrating Biomedical Science Day and the vital role it plays in healthcare.

Lee Luscombe, Pathology Service Manager at the Royal Devon, said: “I’m proud to be a Biomedical Scientist and be part of the dedicated workforce in our labor...

On Wednesday 5 July, the NHS is turning 75! Providers and partners nationally will be celebrating by showcasing the best of the NHS and encouraging as many people as possible to join in with NHS@75 activities.

Here's how we're celebrating at the Royal Devon: we want to hea...

From the 1 to the 7 June Volunteers Week was an opportunity for us to celebrate the many volunteers who work alongside us and our partners to make a difference for our patients. Our social media channels have been full of pictures and inspiration from some of the volunteers who help across our se...

The South West Ambulatory Orthopaedic Centre (SWAOC) has hit another major milestone today, as it completed its 1,000th knee/hip replacement since opening at the Nightingale in March 2022.

Frankie Wilson from Sidmouth, who received the 1,000th replacement, said: “I feel honoured to have he...

The Care Quality Commission has today published a report following its short-notice inspection of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s diagnostic imaging, medical and surgical care services at both acute hospitals at the end of 2022. This was in response to the Trust repor...

On Wednesday 17 May we held a Members’ Event at Barnstaple Library and on MS Teams. This was the first event we hosted in North Devon and we were delighted to see lots of people come along to hear what’s happening at the Trust.

You had some great questions for us and it was a valuable oppo...

The Royal Devon Estates team is to replace the flooring in the main concourse to Wonford Hospital, which will take place over three weekends in May. The area affected is between the front entrance and the Savour Café/Fine Fillings area.

Work will be carried out on the following dates:

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce that the South Molton Eye Centre was formally opened this week. Patients with eye conditions in Northern Devon and Torridge will now benefit from reduced waiting times and access to state-of-the-art equipment.

Th...

A leading Exeter diabetes nurse has scooped the international $250,000 (£200,000) Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, surpassing over 50,000 fellow applicants.

Professor Maggie Shepherd of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and University of Exeter has been honour...

We’re pleased to confirm the featured speakers for our upcoming members’ event at Barnstaple Library on Wednesday 17 May from 1.30pm-4.30pm. All are welcome.

If you can’t make our event face to face, don’t worry. You can take part online in...

We are working with NHS Rainbow Badge to assess, understand and improve barriers to healthcare for LGBT+ people. As part of this we’re looking for input from anyone who has had an appointment at the Trust within the last 12 months.

Please let us know your experience of LGBT+ inclusivity, a...

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is opening its doors at Tiverton & District Hospital on Saturday 13 May to showcase the wide range of registered nursing roles available in its community team.

There will be a chance to take a tour of the hospital, meet the team, u...

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is planning to take strike action at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, from 8pm on 8pm Sunday 30 April to 11.59pm Monday 1 May 2023

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

From Monday 1 May, changes will be made to the hourly parking fee options for patient and visitor car parks at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH).

We have reviewed our parking fees in order to bring our charging approach in line with other hospitals in the South West and to ensure that w...

Data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that uptake of the adolescent vaccines offered to 13 and 14 year olds who were in school year 9 during the 2021 to 2022 academic year has fallen, leaving many young people unprotected from life-threatening diseases.

The teenage ...

Reflecting our ‘low’ Trust COVID status, from today, Wednesday 19 April 2023, we will be easing visitor restrictions across our Eastern services.

Visiting restrictions were eased across our Northern services earlier this year, which means that across our whole Trust, the following is in pl...

The NHS spring COVID-19 vaccination programme has now launched and the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to be expanding the areas in which they provide vaccinations for this campaign, to include Mid-Devon as well as East and North Devon.

The spring campaign...

We are pleased to announce that the Sidwell Street Walk-in Centre has now returned to a seven-day a week service and is open Monday to Sunday from 8am-8pm.

Choosing a walk-in centre for non-life threatening conditions will help you to receive the best possible treatment, but if you do need...

The NHS began its spring COVID-19 vaccination programme on Monday to protect the most vulnerable, starting in care homes.

Around five million people in total will be eligible for a spring COVID-19  jab, including over 75s, those with a weakened immune system and older adult care home resid...

The NHS in the South West is preparing for the start of the holiday season, as the first of an expected 16 million-plus visitors start to arrive, increasing demand for services.

Tourists and local people are being encouraged to make best use of health services, especially as the Easter ban...

Our next members’ event is being hosted for the first time in North Devon, at Barnstaple Library on Wednesday 17 May from 1.30pm-4.30pm.

All are welcome – come along for a chance to hear about our latest and biggest developments, first-han...

The British Medical Association (BMA) is planning to take strike action involving junior doctors at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon, from 6:59am on Tuesday 11 April to 6:59am on Saturday 15 April.

The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and Trad...

111 phone or online service can refer into Emergency Departments or direct to Urgent Treatment Centres/Minor Injury Units if needed.

People in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay are being urged to do their bit to relieve pressure at busy hospitals by making use of NHS 111 and local urgent treatmen...

Staff caring for children at the Royal Devon University Healthcare Foundation Trust’s Eastern services are celebrating after picking up a whopping nine out of 13 awards in a prestigious competition for healthcare professionals.

Of the categories available in the PAFTAs (Paediatric Awards F...

The Royal Devon’s Exeter vaccination centre is moving from its current location at Greendale Business Park to a smaller unit at Greendale Farm Shop.

The vaccination centre will be closed from Thursday 30  March and will re-open in its new location on Monday 3 April.

The last day it ...

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...

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...