In a new announcement, the Devon STP (Sustainability and Transformation Partnership – what a mouthful!) celebrates its Top 10 developments and successes.
These include independent assessments by the Care Quality Commission highlighting the great quality of Devon’s health and care services. The Devon Partnership NHS Trust, for example, has been rated ‘Good’ overall – with secure mental health services rated ‘Outstanding’ – and the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust rated ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ for caring.
Improving services for mums, The Devon Partnership NHS Trust opened Devon’s first Mother and Baby Unit, providing specialist care for mums with serious mental health needs, alongside their babies where previously women had to travel outside Devon for this care.
The announcement also highlights quicker access to GP services with half a million patients in Devon now having access to online GP services– ‘freeing up face-to-face appointments,’ they say, ‘for more complex medical conditions.’
On top of all of that, Devon attracted £30 million of national funding to enhance urgent and emergency care services, with Torbay Hospital upgrading its A&E department and Urgent Care Centres established in Torbay and Newton Abbot.
‘Exemplary joint working’ is also praised in the announcement , all four acute Trusts in Devon having come together in a ground-breaking ‘mutual support agreement’. The approach, which has been recognised by NHS England as ‘an exemplar of joint working’, supports all hospitals to continue to deliver safe and sustainable services by sharing staff and resources.
Top Tenners include, too, ‘Training for excellent care’ as more than 100 ambassadors have been trained to promote careers in health and social care in schools, colleagues and universities throughout Devon as part of Devon County Council’s successful Proud to Care campaign.
Bob Jope Healthwatch Torbay
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