A&E

Post-Christmas appeal from the South Western Ambulance Service

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urgently appealing to the public to think carefully before dialling 999 due to the extreme demand it is currently facing following the four-day Christmas break.

At 11:30 on Wednesday 28 December there were 482 patients waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals...

People in Devon urged to save ED for emergencies - the local NHS is under severe pressure

People in Devon are being urged to only go to their local emergency department in immediately life-threatening cases.

The NHS in Devon is under severe pressure at present due to several factors, meaning GP surgeries, hospitals, community health services, mental health services and social care are all extremely busy.

High numbers of emergency attendances, combined with the...

South West to receive share of £29.7 million to upgrade A&Es ahead of winter

The South West will receive £29.7 million to expand and upgrade A&Es at five Trusts, ensuring they have the physical space to treat patients, manage patient flow and improve infection control, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today.

This is in addition to the £300 million announced recently for 117 Trusts to upgrade their facilities, meaning the Government has now...

Use the right NHS service for your needs this bank holiday weekend

Doctors in Devon are reassuring local people that the NHS is still there for them if they are unwell and need help, but reminding them that opening hours for some services may be different due to the bank holiday weekend.

GP practices will be closed on Monday 25 May for the bank holiday, but other services are available for people with urgent health needs over the holiday period....

A&E crisis hits Derriford

Across England, more than 30,000 patients each week now wait too long to be seen in local A&E departments – an increase of more than 50 per cent on the same period last year. In Derriford Hospital, this figure is at 54%.

For the first time, Labour Party analysis of official NHS England data names the A&E departments where performance deteriorated most significantly in the last...

A&E at breaking point in SW says union

The whole of the Accident and Emergency structures are at breaking point due the changes this government has already made the GMB union has claimed.

GMB, the union for ambulance staff, responded to reports that Ambulance dispatchers will have two minutes longer to decide whether to send an ambulance to many potentially life-threatening 999 calls under pilot schemes in London and the...

Stop and think before visiting A&E

“Stop and think before visiting A&E” – that’s the message from doctors in Devon as the NHS gears up for the cold months ahead.

Doctors are urging people to visit or phone their GP practice, pharmacy or NHS 111 if it’s not an emergency.

They are also calling for who have not yet registered with a GP practice to do this. Groups of people who have not yet registered with a...

Derriford Hospital is top!

Derriford Hospital's Emergency Department has been named as the best in the country for seeing patients within the national target, as the vast majority of patients coming to the department at Derriford Hospital are being seen within four hours or less.

According to data submitted to the Trust Development Authority, 98.6% of patients attending our emergency department have been seen...

Prime Minister announces £500 million to relieve pressures on A&E

With over 1 million more people visiting A&E compared to three years ago, last year's harsh winter put exceptional pressure on urgent and emergency wards.

The new funding will go to A&E departments identified as being under the most pressure and be targeted at 'pinch points' in local services.

The aim is for patients to be treated promptly, with fewer delays in A&E...

Plymouth NHS Hospitals Trust ready to face the future

Plymouth NHS Hospitals Trust has set out its future vision and plans to address failures and make improvements.

The Trust has faced scrutiny over a number of recent failures to meet clinical targets and standards in patient care.

The Trust's board met on Friday (7 June) to review both positive and negative areas of its performance over the past 12 months and launch its future...