We were delighted to welcome Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to North Devon District Hospital today to demonstrate how two new facilities are helping us to recover our waiting lists and improve the care we provide to patients. 

The Prime Minister was taken to our Jubilee Ward, which opened in July 2022 and cares exclusively for inpatients having elective orthopaedic surgery such as knee and hip operations, allowing us to protect the clinical space for this type of care. The Ward saw 850 patients in its first year and provides support to patients across Devon.  

He also visited our Coronation Suite discharge hub, which opened in July 2023, and provides a space for patients to wait to go home when they no longer need a hospital bed. The Suite, which was built as part of a national package to support hospital discharge, has been a huge success, seeing more patients in its first week of operation than we saw in a month in the previous temporary discharge lounge.  

The Prime Minister spoke with staff and patients in both areas, and heard more about their experiences of care. He was joined on the visit by our Chair, Dame Shan Morgan, our Chief Medical Officer, Professor Adrian Harris, and North Devon MP Selaine Saxby. 

As well as demonstrating the impact of these new facilities, the visit was an opportunity to highlight our plans to redevelop North Devon District Hospital as part of the New Hospital Programme.  

Dame Shan Morgan, Chair of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister to our hospital to recognise all of the incredible work of our colleagues, and we are hugely positive that he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to our hospital, so it can continue to provide excellent care to local people in the years to come.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with staff on Jubilee Ward at NDDH

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with a patient in the Coronation Suite at NDDH

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arriving at NDDH with Dame Shan Morgan, Chair of the Royal Devon, and North Devon MP Selaine Saxby