The Government is taking action to improve health and care within Totnes and South Devon, to make the system faster, simpler and fairer for patients. This is supported by record funding for our health and social care system, including £2.45 billion that has been allocated for the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) in 2024/2025.
The Government is committed to recruiting 50,000 more nurses. In Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, there were 25 more full time-equivalent doctors and 30 more nurses in September 2023 than there were in September 2022.
The Government is also making it easier to get a GP appointment and end the 8am rush, by investing in technology and recruiting more staff to look after patients. In the Devon integrated care system, there were 65 more full-time-equivalent GPs in December 2023 than in December 2019 and 736,671 more appointments in general practice in the 12 months to December 2023 than in the 12 months to December 2019 – helping us to hit the national target of 50 million more GP appointments.
In your Totnes constituency there were 71 more full-time-equivalent direct patient care staff working in general practice in September 2023 than there were in September 2019.
The Devon ICB was allocated over £84 million in 2023/24 for capital projects and the maintenance of their estate. Capital investment is also made via a number of national programmes, such as for Torbay's Protected Elective Care surgical hub which is helping to tackle the elective waitlist.
More than seven million tests, checks and scans have been delivered by Community Diagnostic Centres since July 2021, making it easier for people to get the care they need and helping to cut waiting lists. One such diagnostic centre is set to open in Torquay this summer, providing a faster diagnosis and treatment for a range of conditions including cancer, heart and lung disease.
The New Hospital Programme, expected to be backed by more than £20 billion of funding. This includes the Derriford Emergency Care Hospital scheme, comprising a new integrated emergency care hospital, bringing all urgent care into one emergency care hospital, with dedicated areas for children and frail patients. Early construction activity has commenced to prepare the site ahead of main construction. It also includes the Torbay Hospital scheme, comprising a new-build elective centre and ward block at Torbay Hospital including upgrade of the emergency department and same day urgent care services.
Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, we have invested £96 million, in 93 NHS organisations across England, to pay for cutting-edge research equipment and technology. This includes organisations covering your area: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust was among a group of organisations jointly awarded £3,638,515 to purchase equipment for a variety of clinical research areas.