It’s been a year since services at the Budlake Outpatient Hub in Exeter Community Hospital (Whipton) were expanded, and this is already making a difference to our patients.

Since last summer, a number of medical and surgical outpatient services have been running at Budlake and have been providing valuable care to a large number of our patients, with the centre recently seeing 236 patients in just one day.

These services, run by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, provide cardiology, heart failure, colorectal, gastroenterology, neurology, renal, upper gastrointestinal, and vascular appointments, which have traditionally been done at the acute Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Hospital.

The decision to move these services to the community hospital was made as a result of the ongoing refurbishment work to our Emergency Department, and also to allow us to provide social distancing in clinics and waiting areas, particularly for our vulnerable patient groups.

Dr Anthony Hemsley, Medical Director for the Royal Devon’s Eastern services, said: “All of the services at the Budlake Outpatient Hub allow our patients to get the acute care they need without having to come to our main RD&E Hospital in Wonford. This often makes things a lot more convenient and quicker for them, as they’re able to avoid a lot of the anxiety that can naturally come when visiting a larger hospital.”

To help make patients feel more welcome, local artist Steve McCraken was asked to paint a large canvas for the centre, which incorporates his recognisable bird motifs alongside NHS themes. Steve donated the finished painting to the hospital free of charge, and it is now proudly displayed in one of the reception areas. Another local artist, Mike Sharland, has also donated some of his artwork to the centre as well, and 11 of his watercolour landscapes are now brightening up one of the waiting rooms.

Both Steve and Mike visited the Budlake Centre recently to see their artwork on display and were joined by several members of staff, include Tracey Reeves, Director of Nursing for the Royal Devon’s Eastern services, and Outpatient Sister Megan Freeman, who first commissioned Steve to paint the canvas for the reception and organised for it to be displayed.

After seeing the artwork, Tracey said: “I’d like to thank both Mike and Steve for not only taking the time to paint these wonderful pieces of artwork, but for also generously donating them to the Outpatient Hub here at the Budlake Centre. The artwork makes the whole place feel so welcoming and bright, which is so important to help our patients feel comfortable and at ease when they come here for an appointment.”