Category: News

28 February 2024

Since Symphony Healthcare Services informed us that they would no longer be running the Lynton Health Centre after 30 April 2024, we have been actively pursuing a suitable alternative to ensure GP provision remains available locally. This involves working with local system partners to determine the best way to maintain high quality GP services.

As the commissioner for local GP services, NHS Devon recognises the service is well-respected and well used by people from the Lynton area and there are no plans to close the practice in April.

Similarly, there are no plans to change the funding available for provision of GP services to the local population.

Our hope is that a new provider will run the service from May when the Symphony contract ends.

We know local people are concerned about the long-term arrangements. As this involves negotiations and potential impacts around procurement regulations, we cannot at this time discuss potential providers or further details, but we will update the community once we have new information.

We hope to be able to share more details in the next few weeks about the expressions of interest received to run the service and what the arrangements will be from May 2024 once the Symphony contract comes to an end.

Advertising and recruitment

We have been actively supporting the patient participation group at Lynton with their advertising and recruitment campaign, including providing funding for the advert to be included in national medical journals, and following up with any interested parties who contacted the PPG following their appeal with more detailed information.

We have, following both local and national advertising, identified some local providers who are interested in taking over the running of the service and are in the process of identifying a preferred provider, ready to take over in May 2024.

There has also been no decision made by NHS Devon to reduce the service compared to what is currently available. Unfortunately, the providers who have expressed an interest so far have been unable to commit to a five-day service due to their own staffing and financial limitations. However, final bids have not yet been reviewed and we are still exploring all options for a full service should a suitable GP and/or organisation apply to run the service.

Funding

Funding for GP practices is set nationally based on registered patient numbers. This is not something we can influence locally and we have made no local changes to this. There is a set envelope of funding for Lynton Surgery, and there has been no reduction to funding available for the GP service for the population of Lynton and surrounding area.

We are aware that there is a concern circulating locally that there is a plan to reduce the funding available, but this is not the case. The available funding has not and will not in any way be reduced.

There is also some concerns circulating that the NHS is refusing to pay a ‘golden handshake’ fee or incentive to GPs interested in working in the area. There is a national scheme, run by NHS England, that offers a new partnership payment for GPs who are entering in to their first partnership. If someone was eligible to apply for this, they could. However, no one who has expressed an interest in running the service so far has been eligible for this payment.

People in Devon are being asked to help the county’s NHS during the upcoming strike action and on-going critical incident in support the unexploded bomb response, by continuing to choose the right service for their needs.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) have announced junior doctors will take strike action from 7.00am Saturday 24 February – 11.59pm Wednesday 28 February 2024.  The HCSA industrial action will continue until 7.00am Thursday 29 February 2024

The county’s main hospitals – in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple – are likely to be under severe pressure over the next week. 

NHS Devon has declared critical incident status for health in Devon as a precautionary action so the system can mobilise and take the necessary steps in response to the unexploded bomb in Plymouth, as well as for managing ongoing operational pressures in our busy hospitals.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “It is critical that those needing emergency or life-saving care contact 999 or attend ED but we ask everyone else to choose the best service for their medical need. If your condition isn’t life-threatening, consider 111, your GP or local pharmacy first. We are counting on the understanding of local people at this difficult time and we encourage everyone to follow the advice we are giving today.”

Local people can do their bit to help NHS services by:

  • Continue to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk
  • Go to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111
  • Please check local hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be found here: Health Pressures – One Devon
  • Play your part by taking simple steps to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. A first step is making sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked.
  • Please pick up loved ones who are ready to be discharged from hospital.
  • Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details about local pharmacies be found via the interactive map here: Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
  • If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:
  • 24/7 urgent mental health helpline 0808 196 8708
  • Mental Health Matters helpline (24/7) 0800 470 0317
  • Mental Health Crisis Line Plymouth is open 24/7 0800 923 9323
  • Samaritans 1116 123
  • Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support

The NHS in Devon has reduced the number of patients waiting a long time for spinal surgery by nearly 80% between May 2023 and January 2024 by revolutionising the approach to caring for patients. 

The number of patients in Devon waiting 78 weeks or more for spinal surgical treatment was 31 at the end of January 2023.  This is 79% lower than May 2023 when that number stood at 131.

NHS organisations in Devon have worked with the NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) team lead by Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England South West regional colleagues and the Peninsula Spinal Operational Delivery Network (ODN), to implement the One Devon Elective Pilot programme for spinal surgical services in the county to improve the ways of working.

Mr Henry Budd, Consultant Spinal Surgeon at the Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust and System Clinical Lead for Spinal Services for the Devon Integrated Care System, said; “Spinal conditions have a huge impact on people day-to-day who suffer from back pain.  Although the volumes of patients we are treating in this pilot aren’t as large as for other conditions, such as cataracts, the surgery required is complex. The impact we are making on our patients’ quality of life is huge which is why spinal surgical services has been one of the areas that the One Devon Elective Pilot has focussed on.   

“The One Devon Elective Pilot has addressed the challenges causing long waits for patients by adding surgical resource, supporting clinical and management collaboration and establishing a single point of access system across the region, ensuring equity of access to services and streamlined decision making.”

“This new way of working is offering a clinical dividend to patients. We are now entering a new phase of delivering joined up spinal services that provide the some of the best quality care available anywhere in the UK, in a timely manner.” 

For a number of years elective spinal services in Devon have seen increased demand and reducing capacity.  This has been due to growth in emergency trauma demands on the NHS and workforce challenges experienced by the hospitals. It was exacerbated by the lack of routine, elective services that NHS Trusts in Devon were able to provide during the covid-19 pandemic.

NHS England helped to drive a culture change for surgical teams across the NHS in Devon to work differently to maximise activity within clinic and theatre times, enable as much work as possible to take place in a day case settings and to ensure surgeons can work across multiple hospital sites to maximise the use of all of Devon’s theatres.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, concluded; “The progress the teams have made for spinal patients in Devon is incredible.  I am so proud of how everyone has worked together to do the best for our patients.  A huge thanks must go to all the staff involved and the efforts put in by all teams.  All the health professionals, operational teams and support staff have worked extra hard to allow the additional activity to happen.

“I know we still have work to do but in a year of unprecedented pressures, it is amazing to see what has been achieved by doing things differently and working in a truly collaboratively way.”

The improvements to the spinal waiting lists under the One Devon Elective Pilot were undertaken using the recommendations highlighted in the GIRFT review of spinal surgery in March 2023.

Professor Tim Briggs, Chair of the GIRFT programme and NHSE’s National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery, said: “This is a unique pilot that shows the art of the possible when clinical and operational teams work collaboratively across multiple providers to maximise capacity and productivity within a healthcare system.

“The GIRFT team have worked in partnership with One Devon and I am delighted to see the results. All those involved are to be highly congratulated on this significant achievement to reduce spinal surgery waiting times and ultimately deliver an improved service for spinal patients across Devon and Cornwall.”

Off the back of the GIRFT review recommendations, a number of changes and improvements have been made:

  • NHS Devon has funded two additional surgeons who work for both University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (RDUH) in the spinal centres at Derriford Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. 
  • There is a multi-disciplinary team meeting between the trusts where they can collaborate on how to treat complex patient cases.
  • The spinal centres in Devon have also adopted best practice in terms of productivity for running outpatient clinics and operating theatre lists.
  • There is now a streamlined process for patients to access the spinal care they need through single point of access (SPOA).  This pathway developed between One Devon and the Peninsula Spinal ODN follows a single, streamlined pathway ensuring patients are seen by the right person, in the right place, at the right time. All patients across the Devon and Cornwall peninsula will have consistent access to spinal care.
  • In October 2023, a dedicated spinal surgical service was established at the Exeter Nightingale Hospital and made available to all appropriate patients on spinal referral pathways across Devon.

While patients can choose where they would like to have their treatment, the Nightingale service provides additional capacity for the treatment of lower complexity cases (i.e. sciatica due to disc prolapse). It also benefits from being located within an elective hub centre, eliminating the impact that urgent care pressures present on acute hospital sites with emergency departments. The spinal service at the Exeter Nightingale Hospital is hosted by the RDUH but operates as a Devon-wide asset. The commissioning of this service was a joint venture across Devon.

Mr Greengrass, the first spinal patient to be operated on at the Exeter Nightingale Hospital, said; “I was in at 7.30am and home by 2pm. The hospital is well set up, very efficient and the staff were all lovely.”

  • Visitors and local people are being encouraged to make best use of health services over the break to help the NHS cope with the challenging period ahead.
  • Devon’s hospitals are currently extremely busy and health chiefs are urging local people to seek advice and support from alternative services for less urgent issues over the busy half-term period.

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 treatment centres and minor injury units this half-term.

Emergency Departments (EDs) at all the county’s hospitals are currently seeing very high demand, and many have ambulances outside waiting to handover patients.

Other parts of the NHS healthcare system have capacity to look after people with less severe needs to allow EDs (also known as A&E) to focus on those who need help the most.

Staff at NHS111 can direct people to Minor Injuries Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. This will ensure that people get to the right place for treatment quickly and may reduce their waiting times.

Parents can get advice on common childhood illnesses on the HANDi paediatric app and are being urged to download the app to access quick and convenient advice.

Many minor conditions and symptoms can be managed at home without seeking further advice. Visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk for a complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Our hospitals have been seeing extremely high numbers of people attending this week and this is putting pressure on our emergency departments.

“With half-term coming this week, we know that families may be out doing more outdoor activities and enjoying everything Devon has to offer. But if you get sick or injured, there are other services available to help locally, saving our busy EDs for the most serious cases.

“Help us to help you. If you need urgent medical advice when your GP practice is closed, visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111. 111 can refer into Emergency Departments or direct to Urgent Treatment Centres/Minor Injury Units if needed.”

Some hospitals in the county are also experiencing challenges due to norovirus and other viruses. Local people are being reminded not to visit friends and relatives in hospital if they have norovirus (an illness that causes vomiting and diarrhoea) or Covid-19 symptoms. For more details on how to treat norovirus, which usually goes away after two to three days, see the NHS website.

Many minor conditions and symptoms can be managed at home without seeking further advice. Visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk for a complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.

Dr Matt Thomas, Executive Medical Director the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re urging local communities to use our services responsibly this February half term, and choose the right care for them.

“We want to be there for everyone that needs us in a medical emergency, to ensure this, we need to have crews available for patients with the most life-threatening conditions. Please only call 999 if someone is seriously injured or ill, for anything else, please contact NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacy where appropriate.

“I would like to thank our people and NHS colleagues who continue to work hard to help keep us all safe and well. Should you need their support, please be kind to them, they are working under huge daily pressures.”

You can find information about local Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injury Units on the websites of local NHS trusts in Devon:

Mental health support

People are also being reminded that anyone experiencing a mental health crisis no longer needs to visit an Emergency Department for advice. Local mental health services provide a 24/7 First Response Service for anyone experiencing a crisis. 

  • Devon and Torbay – call 0808 196 8708
  • Plymouth (18 years and over) – call 0800 923 9323
  • Plymouth (under 18s) – call 01752 435122

Pharmacy

Pharmacists are qualified experts in treating minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, stomach upsets and aches and pains. They are also able to assess and treat patients, without the need for a GP appointment, for seven common conditions:

  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Earache
  • Infected insect bite
  • Impetigo
  • Shingles
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65).

Find your nearest open pharmacy.

Patients in England will be able to get treatment for seven common conditions at their high street pharmacy from today without needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.

More than nine in ten community pharmacies in England – 10,265 in total – will be offering the ground-breaking initiative, with the health service making it easier and more convenient for people to access care.

Highly trained pharmacists will be able to assess and treat patients for sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65) without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.

The major expansion of pharmacy services will give the public more choice in where and how they access care, aiming to free up 10 million GP appointments a year.

The scheme is part of the NHS and government’s primary care access recovery plan, which committed to making accessing healthcare easier for millions of people.

It builds on the successful expansion of the contraceptive pill service in December 2023, with more than 5,300 pharmacies [5,367] in England now offering women the chance to get a supply of oral contraception over the counter from their pharmacy without needing to first see their GP.

In future, the NHS expects almost half a million women a year to receive their contraception from their high street pharmacist.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “GPs are already treating millions more people every month than before the pandemic, but with an ageing population and growing demand, we know the NHS needs to give people more choice and make accessing care as easy as possible.

“People across England rightly value the support they receive from their high street pharmacist, and with eight in ten living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy and twice as many pharmacies in areas of deprivation, they are the perfect spot to offer people convenient care for common conditions.

“This is great news for patients – from today you can pop into one of more than 10,000 high street pharmacies in England to get a consultation on seven common conditions including ear-ache, a sore throat or sinusitis at a convenient time, with many pharmacies open late into the evening.

“This is all part of major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care, with the health service determined to giving people more choice in how they can access treatment.”

Community pharmacies already play a vital role in keeping their local communities healthy and well. And Pharmacists are now ramping up the number of life-saving blood pressure checks given to at-risk patients over the next year with a commitment to deliver 2.5 million a year by Spring 2025 – up from 900,000 carried out in 2022. It is estimated this could prevent more than 1,350 heart attacks and strokes in the first year.

The Government has made £645 million of new funding available to support the continued expansion of community pharmacy services.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said: “Community pharmacies already do a tremendous job at treating minor conditions and with the Pharmacy First service – backed by £645 million – we’re determined to go further and unlock their full potential to deliver routine care.     

“Patients who need treatment or prescription medication for common conditions like an earache will now be able to get it directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment.

“This is about ensuring people get the treatment they need closer to home, while crucially helping deliver on our plan to cut waiting lists, by freeing up 10 million GP appointments a year, so people get the care they need more quickly.”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins, said: “I’m determined to deliver faster, simpler, fairer access to care for patients, and the expansion of Pharmacy First will mean patients can get treatment for common conditions without needing to see their GP first.

“This is good news for patients and good news for the NHS. It will free up millions of GP appointments per year and mean that patients can get quick and effective treatment from their local pharmacy.

“As four in five people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, for many seeing their local pharmacist will be the easiest option – so this initiative will have real benefits for patients and help cut NHS waiting lists.”

Dr Claire Fuller, NHS medical director for primary care and the NHS’ lead GP in England, said: “This is a wonderful move to increase accessibility to healthcare for patients.

“We all live increasingly busy lives, and this gives people more options on how and where they access care. This will also relieve pressure on our hard-working GPs, freeing up millions of appointments for those who need them the most.”

 A recent Ipsos survey showed nine in ten people who used a pharmacy in the last 12 months to get advice about medicines, a health problem or injury had a positive experience.

David Webb, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, said: “Pharmacy teams play a very important role in the community as part of the integrated NHS primary care team, and this expansion of clinical services means patients will have more choice in accessing the care they need. This will give people more convenient options at the heart of local communities, without needing to book an appointment.”

Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom, said: “When suffering from conditions like sore throat or earache, we know that patients want to be able to access the care they need quickly.

“Pharmacy First gives you choice, and the ability to be seen faster to get the care you need, providing easier and quicker access.”

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, Ms Tase Oputu, said: “Pharmacy First is a leap forward in improving patient care by making treatments for a range of conditions more accessible from community pharmacies.

“The expansion of clinical services not only empowers patients with greater choice on where and how they receive care, but also makes the most of the valuable skills of pharmacists and their teams. Pharmacy teams have made an incredible effort to get the service ready alongside all the additional pressures they face. It’s an exciting transformation, helping to reshape the landscape of primary care.”

Paul Rees, Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies are the front door to the NHS so it’s good news for communities across England that pharmacies will be treating millions more patients with common ailments through Pharmacy First.

“Pharmacy First will improve access to healthcare, play to the strengths of pharmacists as medicines experts and free up GPs for other work that requires their particular skills. Patients will get convenient clinical advice, close to where they live, work and shop.

“The pharmacy sector is under great pressure but, despite this, pharmacy teams will step up and successfully deliver this highly beneficial service.

“This could be a stepping stone to the development of other NHS clinical services in the future, as patients become familiar with going to their local pharmacy for primary care.”

Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “Today is a big day for community pharmacies who have been working incredibly hard to get ready for the launch of Pharmacy First. The service marks a step-change for pharmacies, patients and the public, and one that we hope to build on for the future. By choosing to go to ‘Pharmacy First’ for the seven common conditions, people can get help faster, freeing up GP appointments for those who really need them. We strongly encourage the public to make full use of this service for convenient, easy access to healthcare advice, support and appropriate treatments from expert pharmacists and their teams.”

Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said: “Pharmacy First will enable patients to receive advice and, if required, treatment for seven common healthcare conditions from 10,000+ pharmacies across England without the need to visit their GP.

Offering this free NHS care from community pharmacies will dramatically help improve access for patients and will free up GP capacity at a critical time for the NHS. We are confident that as this service launches, the community pharmacy sector will deliver for patients and the NHS, just as it did during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck CEO of Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies said: “Community pharmacies’ unique and unequalled access is the best option for delivering better and more convenient care for patients and improve compliance, outcomes and wellbeing. We are pleased that pharmacy first service is now available to patients in England and we look forward to delivering these services.”

 Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “We welcome Pharmacy First, an expansion of community pharmacy services. Giving pharmacists the right to provide more medicines and initiate treatments, expands choice for patients. We believe Pharmacy First will increase access to care for many patients who need help with common health problems.”

 Jacob Lant, Chief Executive at National Voices, said:  “We often hear from our members, over 200 health and care charities about the importance of community pharmacy in helping people to access help and support at a time, in a location and in a way which works for them. In offering more meaningful choices, and therefore helping to break down some of the barriers to access, our hope is that the launch of Pharmacy First will be a positive move for everyone, especially people living with long term health conditions and for people at risk of experiencing health inequalities.”

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England, said: “As with access to the contraceptive pill announced last month, patients will welcome the extension of pharmacy services to include common conditions. It will offer them greater flexibility and provide a safe alternative to seeing a GP, which we know remains a real challenge for many people across England.

 “It will, however, take time for pharmacists to get trained and ready for change. Patients and GP services need up to date information on which of their local pharmacies are offering direct supply of medicines for one, some, or all seven of the new conditions. Investment in a national campaign to raise awareness of the new services and build trust in pharmacists will also be essential and, crucially, this will need to reach all communities to be effective.”

One in ten 5 year olds are not up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations across the South West

Parents in the South West are being urged to book their children in for their missed measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of a major NHS drive to protect our children and communities from becoming seriously unwell, as measles cases continue to rise in parts of England.

Dr Emma Kain, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Screening and Immunisations Lead, NHS England South West advises, “Vaccination is the best way to protect you, your family and the wider community against measles. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and just two doses will give you and your family lifelong protection.

“Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious illnesses that can easily spread between unvaccinated individuals, and with measles cases potentially requiring a 21-day isolation period, people’s lives can be seriously impacted.

“If caught during pregnancy, measles can be very serious, causing stillbirth, miscarriage and low birth weight. Young adults are therefore urged to catch up on any missed doses before thinking about starting a family.

“Please don’t put this off, check now that you and your children are fully up to date with both MMR jabs and all childhood routine vaccines, and take up the offer as soon as possible if you are contacted by your GP practice or the NHS for your child to arrange catch up doses.”

Professor Dominic Mellon, Deputy Director for Health Protection at UKHSA South West, adds: “Measles is not ‘just a harmless childhood illness’. It spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases increasing.

“MMR vaccine uptake in the South West is generally high, with 9 out of 10 children protected, but with vaccine uptake in some of our communities being lower than this, particularly in our cities and urban areas, there is now a very real risk of seeing the virus spread in these areas.

“Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles, mumps and rubella and to help stop outbreaks occurring in the community.

“The vaccines are free on the NHS whatever your age. If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch up.”

The first MMR vaccine is given at age one year and the second at age 3 years and 4 months old. If you or your child have missed any doses, it’s not too late to catch up.

However, if you are unsure if you or child are up to date, check your child’s red book or GP records and make an appointment to catch up any missed doses. Anyone can catch up at any age on any missed doses.

Health and care workers should also check if they have had both doses of their MMR vaccine and book an appointment as soon as possible with their GP practice to get vaccinated if they have missed a dose.

Data shows the MMR vaccine is safe and very effective. After 2 doses:

  • around 99% of people will be protected against measles and rubella
  • around 88% of people will be protected against mumps

People in Devon are being asked to help the county’s NHS bounce back from the longest ever period of strike action, by continuing to choose the right service for their needs.

All of the county’s main hospitals – in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple – are likely to remain under severe pressure all week, even though industrial action by junior doctors came to end at 7am on Tuesday 9 January.

To prevent the spread of winter illnesses, some hospital wards in Devon are still closed, which further reduces capacity at an already exceptionally busy time.

Local people can do their bit by:

  • Continuing to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk
  • Going to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111
  • Checking local hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be found here: Health Pressures – One Devon
  • Taking simple steps during the cold weather to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. A first step is making sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked.
  • Picking up loved ones who are ready to be discharged from hospital.
  • Making use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details about local pharmacies be found via the interactive map here: Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
  • If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:
    • 24/7 urgent mental health helpline 0808 196 8708
    • Mental Health Matters helpline (24/7) 0800 470 0317
    • Mental Health Crisis Line Plymouth is open 24/7 0800 923 9323
    • Samaritans 1116 123
    • Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support

Anthony Fitzgerald, Chief Delivery Officer for NHS Devon, said; “It is still critical that those needing emergency or life-saving care contact 999 or attend ED but we ask everyone else to choose the best service for their medical need. If your condition isn’t life-threatening, consider 111, your GP or local pharmacy first.

“Just because this period of strikes by junior doctors have ended, it doesn’t mean we are back on track – the usual January pressures are still in full force.  We have entered a period of extremely cold weather which means winter illnesses and infections are spreading quickly.”

To prevent the spread of winter illnesses people should:

  • Not visit loved ones in hospital if you have symptoms of a cough, cold, respiratory illness, diarrhoea or vomiting
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water as this is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus
  • Try to stay at home and avoiding contact with other people if you come down with a winter bug and do not feel well enough to do your normal activities. Follow simple self-care tips from www.nhs.uk 
  • Get your flu vaccine from your GP practice or local pharmacy. Some people are eligible for the free vaccine, including over-65s, people with long term conditions like stroke or heart disease and pregnant people
  • Get the COVID-19 vaccine. People who are eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to attend one of the many walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics across Devon. No appointment is needed.

People should also be prepared that they may be asked to do something different this week, as a patient or a visitor. Measures such as some hospitals reducing visiting hours or re-directing people from hospital emergency departments to other services which are more appropriate for their medical needs, if it is safe to do so, may be kept in place. 

The level of escalation for the NHS in Devon has today been lowered, after reaching the highest level last Friday 5 January.  Despite this, all four acute hospitals in Devon remain under a significant amount of pressure.

The NHS in Devon has today entered the highest level of escalation in light of the continued pressures on health services in the county.

All partners across Devon’s health and social care system have been working hard to take action to mitigate the disruption during a period of winter pressures, staff sickness and industrial action and are now preparing to deploy further measures.

These measures include some hospitals reducing visiting hours or re-directing people from hospital emergency departments to other services which are more appropriate for their medical needs, if it is safe to do so.

Dr Nigel Acheson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “It’s vital that those who need medical help come forward as they usually would – using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else alongside their GP practices and pharmacies.

“However, people need to be prepared that they may be asked to do something slightly different this weekend. I recommend that people should check their local hospital’s website and social media for the latest updates.”

Devon’s acute hospitals in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple are also seeing increased cases of norovirus this week; a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

To prevent the spread of infection, some hospital wards in Devon have had to be closed, which further reduces capacity at an already exceptionally busy time.

Norovirus can spread very easily, for example through:

  • Close contact with someone with norovirus
  • Touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
  • Eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus

Staff at Devon’s hospitals are working hard to treat people as quickly and safely as possible. 

Local people can help the NHS by:

  • Not visiting loved ones in hospital if you have symptoms of a cough, cold, respiratory illness, diarrhoea or vomiting
  • Washing your hands frequently with soap and water as this is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus
  • Getting your flu vaccine from your GP practice or local pharmacy. Some people are eligible for the free vaccine, including over-65s, people with long term conditions like stroke or heart disease and pregnant people
  • Getting the COVID-19 vaccine. People who are eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to attend one of the many walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics across Devon. No appointment is needed.

Dr Acheson continued; “We absolutely understand that people want to see their loved ones when they are in hospital but it’s really important that visitors don’t come if they themselves are ill. Our hospitals are already very busy and it can make it more difficult for staff to care for those in need.”

Record strikes by junior doctors are also taking place amidst one of the most difficult starts to the year for health services in Devon. The current period of industrial action ends at 7am on Tuesday 9 January and is the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the NHS.

Dr Acheson concluded; “January is always one of the most pressured times for the NHS in Devon. Six days of industrial action on top of an already busy time is making it extremely challenging for hospitals to maintain safe services this week.”

The message from the NHS in Devon is that urgent and emergency care will be there for you during the strikes, but please choose the right service for your needs. The advice for patients is to:

  • Continue to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk
  • Go to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111
  • Please check local hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be found here: Health Pressures – One Devon
  • Anyone with a hospital appointment should continue to attend as planned, unless they’ve been contacted to rearrange
  • If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from a number of places:
    • 24/7 urgent mental health helpline 0808 196 8708
    • Mental Health Matters helpline (24/7) 0800 470 0317
    • Mental Health Crisis Line Plymouth is open 24/7 0800 923 9323
    • Samaritans 1116 123
    • Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support
  • Play your part by taking simple steps during the industrial action to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. A first step is making sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked.
  • Please pick up loved ones who are ready to be discharged from hospital.
  • Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details about local pharmacies be found via the interactive map here: Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Hospitals across Devon are urging people to help prevent the spread of infections, as cases of flu, norovirus and COVID-19 rise.

People are being particularly asked not to visit loved ones in hospitals if they themselves have any symptoms of coughs, colds, respiratory illness, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Despite the increasing rates of illness, anyone who needs medical help is urged to come forward for the care they need – using 111 online in the first instance but continuing to use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies.

People should also continue to use their GP services and local pharmacies in the usual way.

The rise in respiratory illnesses comes at a time when the NHS is already under significant pressure managing winter pressures as well as the junior doctors strike.

The strike began at 7am on Wednesday 3 January until 7am on Tuesday 9 January.

The most recent national data shows that people in hospital with flu has jumped to an average of 942 each day last week – almost six times the number compared to the week before.

Cases of COVID-19 in the community also remain high, where there were an average of 2,597 members of staff across England off due to the virus every day in the last week of December. This was 51% more than the 1,715 people off at the end of November.

Devon’s acute hospitals in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple are also seeing increased cases of norovirus; a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

To prevent the spread of infection, some hospital wards have had to be closed, which further reduces capacity at an already exceptionally busy time.

Norovirus can spread very easily, for example through:

  • close contact with someone with norovirus
  • touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
  • eating food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus

Staff at Devon’s hospitals are working hard to treat people as quickly and safely as possible. 

Local people can help the NHS by:

  • Washing your hands frequently with soap and water as this is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus
  • Not visiting loved ones in hospital if you have symptoms of a cough, cold, respiratory illness, diarrhoea or vomiting
  • Getting your flu vaccine from your GP practice or local pharmacy. Some people are eligible for the free vaccine, including over-65s, people with long term conditions like stroke or heart disease and pregnant people
  • Getting the COVID-19 vaccine. People who are eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to attend one of the many walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics across Devon. No appointment is needed.

Thousands of people were in hospital with winter viruses last week, including over 940 patients with flu, as staff contended with significant winter pressure on top of the impact of industrial action.

The latest figures for the week to Christmas Eve show there were an average of 942 patients with flu in hospital each day last week – including 48 in critical care.

That is almost six times higher than the 160 patients four weeks ago (w/e 26 Nov) and double the number a fortnight ago (402 w/e 10 Dec).

Norovirus is also continuing to have an impact with an average of 452 patients in hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms each day.

That is 61% higher than the 281 patients the same week last year.

There were also 3,620 patients with Covid in hospital on 24 Dec, up 59% from 2,275 the month before (26 Nov).

As cases of Covid in the community remain high, there were an average of 2,597 members of staff off due to the virus every day last week, which is 51% more than the 1,715 people off at the end of November.

Last week hospitals contended with three days of industrial action by junior doctors with 86,329 appointments and operations having to be rescheduled.

A further six days of strikes will take place between 3 January and 9 January 2024.

Despite the added disruption and the highest number of ambulances arriving at hospitals so far this winter (93,454), only 14,262 hours were lost to handover delays – half as many as the week before (28,966) and 61% lower than 36,292 the same week last year (w/e 25 Dec 2022).

As part of its early and robust winter planning, the NHS had 98,114 permanent ‘core’ beds and 2,626 ‘escalation’ beds – which are opened in times of high pressure – open last week.

In the run up to the holidays, staff did all they could to get as many patients as possible home for Christmas.

There was an average of 11,439 people each day in hospital who could not be discharged despite being medically ready, however this was almost 1,300 fewer patients than the week before (12,728 for w/e 17 Dec).

Last week, despite answering more calls than any other week this winter (388,674) NHS 111 staff answered well over twice the proportion of calls within a minute compared to the same week last year (63.4% vs 24.9%).

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “It is great to see the hard work of NHS staff paying off with hundreds more beds in place than last winter, 111 call handlers answering twice as many calls within a minute as last year and despite the highest pressure from ambulance arrivals so far this winter, the shortest time lost to delays getting patients into hospitals – 61% lower than the same week last year.

“These figures demonstrate the storm of pressure the NHS is facing however, with huge rises in flu patients over the last few weeks and many more norovirus cases than we saw last winter, as well as the ongoing impact of Covid – all on top of the added pressure of industrial action.

“We know that last week more than 86,329 operations and appointments had to be rescheduled due to the three days of strikes, and unfortunately the impact is likely to be much more severe next week with six days of industrial action planned by junior doctors, the longest in NHS history, at a time when hospitals usually experience the most pressure with high demand and higher levels of virus admissions.

“So as always I would urge the public to get their Covid and flu vaccines if they are eligible, make sure you order repeat prescriptions in advance of the upcoming bank holiday weekend, and as ever only use 999 or A&E in an emergency, with 111 online the best place to go for any other conditions.”

Background

  • The latest weekly winter situation reports can be found here.
  • The Yorkshire contract area was unable to submit 111 data this week so direct comparisons of raw numbers should not be made with previous weeks or years.