The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging communities across the region to use its services responsibly this festive period, as it prepares for a challenging and busy time.
The Trust is expecting a period of significant and sustained demand across its 999 services - a position that is reflected across other health and care organisations locally,...
Coughs and colds in children are common at this time of year and are usually relatively mild, but parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated against flu, which can be much more serious.
All primary school children, and some secondary school children (years 7, 8 and 9) are eligible for the flu nasal spray this year, which is usually given at school by school nurses....
Health officials are warning that cases of COVID-19 – and other diseases that normally circulate in winter – are rising.
Increased social contact is thought to be one of the factors behind an increase in illnesses, which include flu and norovirus, sometimes known as the “winter vomiting bug”.
Although most of England’s Covid-19 restrictions have ended, the health and care...
More and more people in Devon are seeing their GPs as services continue to adapt to keep people safe from coronavirus.
Services like routine vaccinations and smear tests are now being offered, in addition to usual weekday GP appointments which can be held by phone, online or face-to-face.
Many people are surprised to know that GP services are fully available. Here’s how it...
People in Devon are being reassured there are extensive measures in place to keep them safe when attending hospital, as doctors urge patients to make sure they take up appointments.
Many services were suspended to free up beds and staff for COVID-19 patients, but as the number of cases falls across Devon and nationwide, hospitals in the county are increasing the number of urgent and...
NHS hospital teams across Devon are reassuring local people that emergency services are there for them if they are unwell and need help.
Doctors are concerned that some people who should be getting medical help for non-COVID-19 illnesses are staying away from hospital and not seeking help due to fears they might catch the virus.
Amid warnings that new cases of flu could peak over the busy Christmas period, the parents of a nine-year-old boy from Devon who died from the illness in January last year, are calling on parents to vaccinate their children.
The request follows the release of data from Public Health England (PHE), showing that GP consultations across the country for Influenza-like illness have risen...
Doctors in Devon are providing essential advice to people across the county on how to choose the right service for them if they feel unwell over the New Year period.
Devon’s NHS leaders are asking people to do what they can to prevent themselves becoming unwell and make sensible to decisions when it comes to choosing the right NHS service if they need help.
People in Devon are being encouraged to try their pharmacy first if they pick up a cough or cold and aren’t sure whether to visit their doctor.
GP practices and hospital emergency departments are often under even more pressure at this time of year and pharmacies can provide a fast route to medication for minor ailments like aches and pains, sore throat, coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms...
An interactive game which could enhance emotional awareness and regulation among young people has been developed by scientists from Plymouth University.
Emodiscovery is designed for children aged 8-12, and aims to assess their skills to regulate others’ emotions in a variety of situations
It is being targeted at all children, but scientists hope it will enable them to compare...
