Category: News

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the advice is to:

• Order and collect any repeat medicines
• Make sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked
• Make use of community pharmacies
• Look after yourselves and loved ones – check in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.

Visitors and local people are being encouraged to prepare well and make best use of health services over this May bank holiday weekend between 24 – 26 May 2025.

Patients can get treatment for common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. Pharmacy First enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP. These are:

• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Earache
• Infected insect bite
• Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection)
• Shingles
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

You can get treatment for these conditions by walking into the pharmacy or contacting them online. People are advised to check the opening hours of pharmacies in their local area on the NHS England South West website

Dr Peter Collins, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “We have seen some lovely warm days throughout May but conditions can change quickly so we ask everyone to make simple preparations to keep themselves well, whatever the weather. 

“Call 999 in a life-threatening emergency but for non-urgent care look at what other services you can access for help if you need it.”

The message is that urgent and emergency health care will be there for you, but please choose the right service for your needs.

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the advice is to:

• Make sure you have collected any repeat medicines, especially if you are travelling
• 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
• Play your part by taking simple steps to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
• Makesure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked
• Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Local opening hours can be viewed on the NHS England South West website
• If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from 111.

Visitors to Devon are also reminded that their first port of call for GP care is their home practice, which will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations as well as arranging for prescriptions to be sent to any pharmacy you choose.

Dr Collins concludes: “Thank you to the many dedicated individuals working in the NHS over the bank holiday weekend to keep our local communities safe and well.”

Further information

• For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.
• For local healthcare information, visit the One Devon website https://onedevon.org.uk/our-work/services-and-support/health-pressures/

Proposed changes to Integrated Care Board (ICB) functions and geography are being discussed as part of a wider NHS reform programme, to reduce management costs and focus more money on the front line. 

All ICBs in England are being asked to significantly reduce running costs and shift to a more strategic role with different responsibilities for us and other parts of our health and care system. 

For NHS Devon, following discussions with NHS England, it is proposed that we will form a wider ICB “cluster” with neighbouring colleagues at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB.  

This is very much a proposal, which will need to be worked through in more detail with Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, and NHS England who are supporting this process, taking into account further discussions with stakeholders and a national approval process. 

National context

This propose is part of a wider reform of the NHS operating model across England, which will involve the integration of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, and a changed role for NHS regions, ICBs and providers. 

As part of this, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care are aiming to create a new, leaner and simpler way of working in which each part of the NHS is clear on its purpose, what it is accountable for, and to whom.  The aim also is to lay the foundations for longer-term reform to shift resources into prevention, wellbeing and care closer to people’s homes, as part of the Government’s emerging 10-Year Health Plan.

Our priority locally

The absolute priority for the NHS this year is to continue providing high-quality patient care and reduce waits whether that is waits for surgery, waits for an ambulance, waits to be seen in the Emergency Department or waits to be discharged with hospital. 

ICB design

We are now in the process of redesigning how our ICB could work to best meet the needs of our local population within a mandated reduction in organisational running costs and under the proposal to form a wider ICB “cluster” with neighbouring colleagues at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB.

Draft NHS England guidance on ICBs’ future role and purpose outlines the need for ICBs to build strong strategic commissioning skills to improve population health and reduce inequalities.  We are therefore looking at what functions we can keep, grow or reduce, and what might need to transfer elsewhere or to stop altogether. 

Design discussions have taking into account a range of considerations such as population size and needs, patient flows, the need to discharge statutory duties, partnership arrangements and the imperative for maintaining strong ‘place’ based geography to support development of neighbourhood health in the future.

Our priority remains to serve the population of Devon in the best possible way, working closely with, and remaining accountable to, all local health and care partners. 

We will keep this page updated as more information is finalised.

Data published on 8 May shows that 47.9% of eligible people in the South West have now received their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the Spring vaccination programme.  

The Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme commenced on 1 April and the NHS in the South West has already delivered almost half a million vaccinations. However, over 52% of those eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccination this season are yet to come forward.  

Invitations have now been sent out by the NHS to all who are eligible for their COVID-19 vaccination, including those who are aged 75 and over and people who are immunosuppressed. The NHS in the South West has also been visiting care homes for older adults and has now offered over 24,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to residents. 

Appointments for the Spring vaccination programme are only available to book until 16 June with the last appointments taking place on 17 June. However, there are still plenty of opportunities available to those living in the South West who wish to get their COVID-19 vaccination this season.  

To book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, or to find out more about eligibility, visit the NHS website (www.nhs.uk/bookcovid), use the NHS App or call 119. 

In addition to booked appointments, there are also walk-in clinics available. These can be found on the NHS walk-in finder. 

Crownhill Dental Practice, 48 Morshead Road, Plymouth

We were notified on 10 March 2025 that Crownhill Dental Practice in Plymouth have given notice on one of their contracts, which will cease on 30 June 2025. This provider has two contracts in the same practice; they are ceasing the smaller contract and have informed us that they do not have capacity to transfer the patients to their second contract.

Patients who are currently undergoing an open course of treatment will continue to be seen by Crownhill Dental Practice until their treatment is completed.

The practice are contacting patients to arrange appointments to ensure their NHS courses of treatment are completed on or before 30 June 2025.

If patients have an appointment booked after the 1 July 2025, this will unfortunately be cancelled.

Patient dental records remain the property and responsibility of the dental provider. Please note, when a patient attends an appointment at their new dental practice, the new dental provider will not necessarily require their dental records.  However, should the new dental practice require a summary of the patient’s dental records, patients should contact their previous practice. 

The practice will be writing out to all patients and a copy of this letter is attached for information.

Increasing access to NHS dental care for the local population is a key priority for NHS Devon, and there are several measures in place, and in progress, to support this work. These include: the implementation of an uplift to the minimum Unit of Dental Activity (UDA) rate for Devon dental providers, commissioning of longer-term contracts for stabilisation sessions across Devon, plans to significantly increase local urgent care dental activity in line with the national pledge utilising a model developed collaboratively across the South West region, and the establishment of a Devon Workforce Working Group to develop local initiatives and improvements in the recruitment and retention of the NHS Dental workforce across the county.

The latest information from NHS Devon is available here. The next briefing is due to be published in May 2025.

Visitors and local people are being encouraged to make best use of health services over the May bank holiday weekend between 3 – 5 May 2025.

The message is that urgent and emergency health care will be there for you, but please choose the right service for your needs.

Dr Peter Collins, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Devon, said: “We can all support the many dedicated individuals working over the bank holiday weekend by making simple preparations and knowing which services to access for help if we need it.”

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the advice is to:

• Make sure you have collected any repeat medicines, especially if you are travelling
• 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
• Play your part by taking simple steps to look after yourselves and loved ones, checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
• Makesure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked
• Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Local opening hours can be viewed on the NHS England South West website
• If you, or someone you know, experiences a mental health crisis you can access support from 111.

Visitors to Devon are also reminded that their first port of call for GP care is their home practice, which will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations as well as arranging for prescriptions to be sent to any pharmacy you choose.

Dr Collins concludes: “By choosing the best service for your condition, you can help us maintain emergency care for those who need it.”

Further information

• For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.
• For local healthcare information, visit the One Devon website https://onedevon.org.uk/our-work/services-and-support/health-pressures/

More than 40,000 patients in Devon eligible for the COVID –19 vaccination this Spring have been vaccinated in the first week of the campaign.

The figure is an encouraging start to the programme, which is aimed at ensuring those must vulnerable get protected.

Vaccinations began on 1 April 2025 and more than 40,000 people – over 20% percent of those eligible – have already had the vaccination locally.

Speaking on behalf of NHS Devon, Devon GP, Dr Alex Degan said: “It is great to see so many eligible Devon residents recognising the importance of this vaccination

and taking steps to get themselves protected in the first week of the campaign.

“Protection against COVID-19 (either from catching the virus or from a previous vaccination) can fade over time and the circulating strain of the virus can change, so if you are at higher risk of severe illness, it is important that you top up your protection.

“The vaccine has saved countless lives, prevented thousands from needing to go to hospital and helped us to live with the virus without fear or restrictions.

“If you or your child are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this spring, make sure you come forward for this extra protection between 1 April – 17 June 2025.”

This spring the NHS is offering COVID-19 vaccines to people who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus – including those aged 75 and over (by 17 June 2025), residents of care homes for older adults, and those with a severely  weakened immune system (see the Green Book).

The NHS will be sending out invitations, but you do not need to be invited to book your COVID spring vaccine. You can check your eligibility and book online at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid.

To book, you can:

• Download the NHS App and make an appointment
• Visit www.nhs.uk/book-vaccine
• Visit a walk in site and community pharmacy. These can be found at www.nhs.uk/covid-walk-in
• A calendar of local sessions is available here
• Call 119 for free if you can’t get online (translators are available)

You can find out the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination

Overview

Government announcements during the week of 10 March 2025 mean significant changes for the Department of Health and Social Care and many NHS organisations.

On 12 March 2025, it was announced that all integrated care boards, including NHS Devon, are required to reduce their staffing costs by 50% by December 2025.

We await detailed guidance on how we should deliver this reduction across integrated care boards.

NHS Devon is used to adapting to change, having recently completed a significant organisational change process, which resulted in a 20% reduction in whole-time equivalent staff numbers (the third largest percentage reduction in headcount across all 42 ICBs) and we support the requirement for additional cost efficiencies in our work.

What the changes could mean for NHS Devon

NHS Devon plays a pivotal role in transforming healthcare delivery for the Devon population by fostering a more integrated, efficient, and patient-centred approach.

Until we know more about the national changes, our focus remains on reducing waiting times, ensuring quality and safety across our services, while supporting longer term reform in areas such as prevention, development of neighbourhood health services and digital innovation.  

We understand that ICBs will not be abolished but will be refocused and reset. The specifics are not yet known at this stage, but we do know that it’s likely that ICBs will have a great emphasis on strategic commissioning rather than provider oversight. We expect to see more information about what this looks like in the coming weeks.

We do know that ICBs will not hold responsibility for performance management of providers. No detail has been provided yet on what this means in practice yet.

A new operating model, which should give a clearer picture of the role and remit of integrated care boards, will be published soon.

A mutually agreed redundancy scheme (MARS) and/or voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme is expected to open in quarter one (April – June), subject to government approval. We have not received any information on whether this is still expected to happen, which roles it might apply to or any of the specifics.

What does this mean for the work we are currently doing?

Across our organisation and system, we have made good progress in many areas recently, including with the National Oversight Framework (NOF), our annual plan and operational plan.

Our recent engagement with the Devon population on the 10 Year Plan for the NHS will also help to shape national and local priorities on how we best allocate NHS resources to deliver the right outcomes for our population.

There are also several significant programmes of work underway to improve collaboration and reduce inefficiencies for example, bringing together NHS Trust procurement teams, introducing a single HR system across all NHS organisations in Devon alongside greater collaboration in other corporate services.

We are continuing to advance these where we can, while being cognisant of the changing national picture.

Until we receive further guidance from the national teams, we are committed to keeping our staff and stakeholders updated and when we know more about how this impacts us locally, we will work with our wider One Devon Partnership in designing our response.

Steve Moore, Chief Executive, NHS Devon

Kevin Orford, Chair, NHS Devon

Patients eligible for COVID –19 vaccination are being encouraged to get themselves protected this Spring.

The national booking system for COVID- 19 vaccinations is now open – offering appointments from 1 April 2025.

COVID-19 can still be very dangerous and even life threatening, particularly for older people and those with a weakened immune system.

This spring the NHS is offering COVID-19 vaccines to people who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus – including those aged 75 and over (by 17 June 2025), residents of care homes for older adults, and those with a weakened immune system (see the Green Book).

The COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and can protect those most vulnerable from death.

Speaking on behalf of NHS Devon, Devon GP, Dr Alex Degan said: “Protection against COVID-19 (either from catching the virus or from a previous vaccination) can fade over time and the circulating strain of the virus can change, so if you are at higher risk of severe illness it is important that you top up your protection.

“The vaccine has saved countless lives, prevented thousands from needing to go to hospital and helped us to live with the virus without fear or restrictions.

“If you or your child are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this spring, make sure you come forward for this extra protection between 1 April – 17 June 2025.”

The NHS will be sending out invitations, but you do not need to be invited to book your COVID spring vaccine. You can check your eligibility and book online at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid.

To book, you can:

• Download the NHS App and make an appointment
• Visit www.nhs.uk/book-vaccine
• Visit a walk in site. These can be found here
• Visit a pharmacy
• Call 119 for free if you can’t get online (translators are available)

You can find out the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination

New providers for routine and specialist audiology in eastern Devon have been identified following procurement process.

The contract currently held by CHIME Social Enterprise is ending on 31 March 2025.

Routine Audiology will now be delivered by several providers within the Eastern locality, and patients will be able to choose from these and other commissioned providers across Devon with the aim to increase capacity and reduce wait times for patients to access this service. The new providers will begin delivering care from 1 April 2025.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is the new provider for specialist services and will also begin to see patients from 1 April 2025.

Both the Routine and Specialist Audiology service will continue to be fully funded by the NHS and free to all eligible patients.

All new referrals to routine audiology that would have previously been sent to CHIME will temporarily be held by Devon Referral Support Services (DRSS).

Patients on the wait list for an appointment will also be returned to DRSS where a new choice conversation will take place between the patient and DRSS, with services commencing 1 April 2025. Bookings will be made in order of wait, with the longest waiters being offered appointments first.

Existing patients will be contacted by CHIME with instructions about who will contact them (DRSS) regarding transferring to a new provider, but the letters will also include helpful advice about what other contacts are useful in the meantime i.e. for batteries, hearing aid repairs, etc.

• Throughout March and April 2025, agencies across Devon, Cornwall, and The Isles of Scilly including local councils, NHS, law enforcement, and charities are collaborating on a local Stop It Now campaign to deter online child sexual abuse. 
• As people across the UK continue to view sexual images of children online, and engage in online sexual grooming of under-16s, this longstanding campaign from national charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation is celebrating its tenth year. 
• Last year, 8037 people in Devon and Cornwall sought help from the Stop It Now helpline (0808 1000 900) or online self-help, concerned about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children.¹
• Viewing sexual images of under-18s and sexual conversations with under-16s are illegal, causing huge harm to children, and there are serious consequences including potential arrest, imprisonment and job loss. But there is confidential help available to stop via the anonymous Stop It Now helpline. 

Agencies across Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly are joining forces with UK-wide charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation on a campaign to stop online child sexual abuse.  

15 agencies and partnerships have pledged to take part in the campaign across NHS, local councils, law enforcement, and charities. These include Devon and Cornwall Police, NHS Devon, NSPCC Together for Childhood, Cornwall Council, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Torbay Probation Service, Our Safeguarding Children Partnership for Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly, Safer Cornwall,  Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Adults Board, Devon Safeguarding Children’s Partnership,  Safer Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall SARC, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, and Royal Devon University Healthcare. 

The campaign follows news that 275,000 people in the UK received support from Stop It Now helpline or online self-help last year. In Devon there has been a 29% increase in people seeking help from Stop It Now in 2024 compared to 2023, with Cornwall seeing a 37% increase.² 

Working together, these agencies also aim to raise awareness of the scale and nature of online child sexual abuse in the local area, and how to stop it. This includes viewing sexual images of under-18s and online sexual grooming. 

Viewing sexual images of under-18s and sexual conversations with under-16s are illegal, causing huge harm to children, and there are serious consequences including potential arrest, imprisonment and job loss. But there is confidential help available to stop via the anonymous Stop It Now helpline. 

So that everyone knows what they can do to keep children safe, the campaign will include webinars for professionals, alongside print, broadcast, and social media to reach the general public. The campaign will signpost anyone in Devon, Cornwall, and The Isles of Scilly concerned about online sexual behaviour to the anonymous Stop It Now helpline to prevent child sexual abuse – before it happens.  

Tom Squire, Head of Clinical Engagement at Lucy Faithfull Foundation said: 

“This campaign in Devon and Cornwall spotlights the problem of online child sexual abuse. It’s so important to have the active support of so many local agencies committed to preventing child sexual abuse in Devon and Cornwall. 

“People who view sexual images of under-18s or have sexual conversations with children under 16 online come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and there is no one type of person who engages in this behaviour. 

“People viewing sexual images of under-18s or having sexual conversations with under-16s online need to know that such behaviour is illegal and causes great harm. There are grave consequences once your behaviour is detected by police. But there is help to stop. Contact Stop It Now on 0808 1000 900 or visit www.stopitnow.org.uk for anonymous advice and support.” 

Sheon Sturland, Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Superintendent said:  

“Devon and Cornwall Police is pleased to support the work of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, as whilst we will always tenaciously investigate any reports of the sexual abuse of a child in order to secure a conviction and the strongest possible sentence, we would rather that the harm such crimes cause didn’t happen in the first place. 

“We will apply the same vigour to whatever form of abuse is reported to us, it does not matter when it happened.  What someone who views sexual images of children needs to understand is that lasting harm has been caused to the children in the images, and that looking at them encourages other people to create more of them and so perpetuates and encourages further harm and abuse. Viewing sexual images of children is, of course, illegal in itself.

“It’s encouraging that last year more than 8,000 people in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly sought help from the Stop It Now helpline (0808 1000 900) or online self-help service. Seeking help and support from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation will, we hope, do exactly what this campaign proposes and stop abuse before it happens. 

“However I must be crystal clear that the consequences for anyone who sexually abuses a child are severe. Since September of last year we have seen fifteen individuals in court for abuse, including both physical and online, which resulted in prison sentences ranging from 38 months to 30 years, a total of over 214 years. They were all local men aged between 31 and 73, some of the crime were recent, others not. For those sent to prison, there will also be the subsequent job losses and potential family breakdowns. 

“We urge anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children to use the Stop It Now helpline.” 

Penny Smith, Chief Nursing Officer, NHS Devon, said:  

“NHS Devon is committed to working collaboratively with partners to protect children from sexual abuse. The trauma of sexual abuse is significant, it impacts upon children’s health and wellbeing, upon families and upon our communities. 

“Without the right support, we know that trauma can have lasting impacts into adulthood. We recognise the opportunities that health practitioners must identify children at risk and ensure that they are safeguarded. It is important that we also take a proactive, preventative approach and do all we can to reach those at risk of harming children. 

“If you are concerned about your own thoughts or that of someone close to you, there is confidential, professional help available to address this before a child is harmed.” 

Louise Arscott, Head of Devon and Torbay Probation, said: 

“Child sexual abuse perpetrators face some of the strictest supervision from the probation service as their crimes can lead to lifelong trauma for their victims. Offenders are also subject to thorough risk assessments, specialised treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy. 

“In our day-to-day work, we encourage people who have already been through court, to use the helpline to support them once they have completed their sentence. 

“If you are at risk of offending, get in touch with the Stop it Now helpline before you harm someone and before you come to the attention of the criminal justice system.” 

Shelley Shaw, Development and Impact Manager at Together for Childhood Plymouth, said:  

“New and emerging technology is creating more opportunities for children to be sexually abused which is why we continue to support the Stop It Now campaign. 

“Whilst the recent Online Safety Act is designed to make tech companies more accountable and responsible for the content placed on their platforms there is also an increasing need to help people who are concerned about their own thoughts and behaviours and to give them access to support to prevent them from offending. 

“The success of the previous three Stop It Now campaigns in Plymouth has shown that people do access confidential help and advice when they know about it. 

“We hope that this latest campaign aimed at prevention will help more people across Devon and Cornwall.”