News

April is bowel cancer awareness month In the UK, someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes. Macmillan Cancer Support provides information and bowel cancer awareness month. The bowel cancer screening programme now covers everyone aged 50 to 74, and you will automatically receive an NHS bowel screening kit (FIT kit) when you become eligible. […]

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, with World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April. This day is dedicated to increasing awareness of the condition, in which areas of the brain gradually deteriorate over time. Causes of Parkinsons disease Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. […]

From 1 April 2026, the RSV vaccine is now available for free on the NHS for adults aged 75 and over, adults living in a care home for older adults, and pregnant women. The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. RSV is a common virus, and almost all children get an […]

Easter in Devon is one of the busiest times of the year as thousands of visitors arrive to enjoy the county’s beaches, countryside and attractions. As suitcases are packed and holiday plans finalised, the NHS in Devon is reminding both visitors and residents to plan ahead for their health too, helping ensure everyone can enjoy […]

We’re pleased to share our upcoming HOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) course dates across Devon this spring. If you’re looking for practical ways to boost your confidence, manage stress, and improve your overall wellbeing, HOPE could be for you. Friendly, supportive group sessions Simple tools to help you cope with everyday challenges A chance to […]

Health officials are responding to a meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are tracing contacts and providing preventative antibiotics to those at risk. For the latest information, go to UKHSA’s outbreak updates on GOV.UK. The overall risk of Meningitis B (MenB) to people outside the Kent area remains low. It is […]

It’s never too late to quit smoking. When you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health. Start your journey towards quitting smoking this No Smoking Day, Wednesday 11 March. For more information and support, such as the NHS Quit Smoking app, please see www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/.

Patients in Exeter will benefit from improved access to local healthcare as St Leonard’s Practice opens five new clinical rooms to expand neighbourhood health services. The new purpose-built clinical rooms at St Leonard’s Practice will enable more services to be delivered closer to where people live, including audiology, physiotherapy and ear care. This investment will […]

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching people are being encouraged to look after their heart health this half term by getting their blood pressure checked and taking simple steps to stay well. High blood pressure, if left untreated, can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, […]

Patients in Devon are being encouraged to make more use of the NHS App after registered users reached a record high. The NHS App allows patients to order repeat prescriptions, view their GP health record, book and manage appointments, and access test results. It currently has more than 39 million users, with 66% of the […]