The NHS in the South West is facing significant disruption to routine care this week due to industrial action, just as we enter one of the busiest periods of the year for the service. Junior doctors across the NHS will begin striking at 7am on Wednesday (20 December) until 7am on Saturday 23 December. With […]
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being introduced to GP practices across the South West to help them offer earlier support to people at risk of hospital admission. The “Brave AI” system, which helps staff to identify vulnerable patients who may otherwise go under the radar, will be rolled out to 30 areas over the next few […]
The NHS will be investing more than £40m to improve acute mental health care in the South West for individuals with a learning disability and autistic people. Twenty new mental health hospital beds will help bring an end to long-distance placements, making life better both for individuals who need hospital treatment, and for their families, […]
Research shows that staying in hospital reduces people’s muscle strength, circulatory function as well as independence, which is why the NHS across the South West has a number of initiatives this winter, to try and keep people well and at home wherever possible. From people measuring their blood pressure or oxygen levels at home so […]
Lung checks are now available to people in Plymouth as part of an NHS scheme in the South West which aims to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives. Nearly 10,000 people in the region have already been checked. The Targeted Lung Health Check Programme gives current and past smokers the chance […]
40 people a year need specialist treatment for firework injuries Burns specialists in the South West are urging people to take extra care this weekend, to avoid adding to the annual toll of serious injury in bonfire and firework accidents. Over the past decade, around 40 people each year have needed treatment at specialist burns […]
The support on offer for patients at their GP practice is expanding across the South West, thanks to many more healthcare staff working in local communities and the new GP access recovery plan. Since 2019, thousands of additional staff have been recruited into healthcare roles at general practices in the region – meaning an expanded […]
The NHS and UK Health Security Agency in the South West are joining forces to help reduce the toll from urinary-tract infections (UTIs), which led to more than 21,000 urgent hospital admissions across the region last year. UTIs can be particularly serious in older people, with the over-70s accounting for 70% of admissions. While the […]
A Dorset man diagnosed with testicular cancer has applauded a supermarket chain’s efforts to make people more ‘body aware’ of the potential cancer symptoms. Morrisons in partnership with the NHS launched its Nutmeg branded underwear in August featuring advice on the labels inside urging shoppers to contact their GP practice if they spot potential symptoms […]
· Parents and carers in the South West urged to get children vaccinated against flu · Over 10,000 children hospitalised across England due to flu last winter · Flu vaccination best way to protect children from serious illness and limit spread of the virus to more vulnerable family and friends · Last winter, 55.3% […]