Local News

A sign of the times: Senior Healthcare Assistant gets creative to overcome PPE communication barrier

Catherine Steffens, a Marie Curie Senior Healthcare Assistant, from Tavistock, Devon, has been getting creative making hand-made signs to connect with a patient who relies on lip-reading to communicate.

Knowing that having to wear a face mask would make speaking to her patient Yvonne, 76 from Yelverton, almost impossible due to her hearing difficulties and reliance on lip-reading,...

Devon residents called to take part in Hedgehogs After Dark

Hedgehog Street, a nationwide campaign set up by wildlife charities the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), to halt the ongoing decline in native hedgehogs, has this week launched ‘ Hedgehogs After Dark’ .

This exciting new citizen science initiative asks Hedgehog Champions across the UK to record hedgehog behaviours. Over...

East Devon to reopen remaining gardens in line with new Government measures on exercise during the pandemic

The seven remaining East Devon District Council gardens which have been closed since the coronavirus lockdown will reopen from tomorrow. (Wednesday May 13)

The decision has been reviewed following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday where new measures for exercise were introduced. Although the gardens will reopen, the council is reiterating that the strict social distancing...

#MyRedThumb Day reminds motorists to avoid distractions while driving

Traffic volumes may be relatively low due to the current lockdown, but with concerns over speeding traffic, safety on Devon’s roads remains as important as ever.

The annual #MyRedThumb Day is being marked today (Tuesday 12 May) to remind everyone about the importance of driving safely and avoiding distractions behind the wheel.

The Government is encouraging some people to go...

From theatres of war to operating theatres – former military nurses share frontline experiences on International Nurses Day

From theatres of war to operating theatres – former military nurses share frontline experiences on International Nurses Day

Two former military nurses are shining a light on how their service experience has equipped them for their leadership roles shaping healthcare in Devon, to help mark International Nurses Day today (12 May 2020).

Vanessa Crossey QN, Head of Nursing and...

Online Doctors warns the Devon public about buying unlicensed Covid 19 tests

ONLINE doctors Vala Health is warning the public against buying Covid 19 antibody tests, currently selling for as much as £250 which aren’t licenced in the UK and might not work.

Vala Health CEO Pete Trainor fears people are so anxious due to the Covid 19 pandemic they may not be aware the testing kits, which are supposed to tell if you have ever had the virus or not, have not been...

VE Day delight as Cornish care home resident is awarded highest French Order of Merit, the Legion of Honour medal

The 75th Anniversary of VE Day saw Cornish care home resident Derek Taylor honoured with France’s highest Order of Merit, the Legion of Honour medal for his part in the Liberation of France in the Second World War. Ex-Serviceman Derek has now been appointed to the rank of ‘Chevalier’ in the ‘Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur by the President of the Republic of France.

Derek who...

Food charity to expand into Devon and Cornwall as part of COVID-19 emergency response

Food charity, FareShare South West , has announced that it will now support 5 organisations across Devon & Cornwall with emergency food support in response to the impact of Coronavirus.

FareShare South West, an independent franchise of FareShare UK, take in-date, good quality surplus food on scale from right across the food industry and redistribute it to more than 260 partner...

Environmental improvement scheme at Stover Country Park shortlisted for award

An environmental improvement scheme at Stover Country Park has been shortlisted for a prestigious civil engineering award.

The sustainable reedbed drainage system at Stover, which was developed last year to improve water quality, is one of 12 projects in the running for the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2020.

People in the region...

New National Support Service aims to support people living with sight loss during Coronavirus outbreak

Sight loss charity British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) has announced a new service which enables them to continue to support people living with sight loss in Plymouth throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

BWBF provides a range of specially adapted audio equipment including DAB/FM radios, USB (memory stick) players, CD players and more, all designed to make it simpler...

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