Latest news with #RoyalDevonUniversityHealthcareNHSFoundationTrust
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'One-stop' sarcoma service speeds diagnoses in Exeter
A "one-stop" service for patients suspected of a rare cancer in Devon has more than halved the average time for Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the facility at Exeter's Nightingale Hospital was helping patients suspected of sarcoma - a type of malignant tumour in bone and connective tissue - get a quicker trust said the resource was giving people access to specialist diagnostic, surgical and cancer nurse support services in one Chan, specialist plastic and reconstructive sarcoma surgeon, said: "The service has cut the time from referral to diagnosis from an average of 40 days to 12 days." 'Peace of mind' The trust said during a single visit, patients would undergo an ultrasound scan, either an MRI or CT scan or both, and guided added the process had reduced the number of individual appointments for some patients from four to Chan said the shorter time before diagnosis meant they could start treatment more quickly if patients did have cancer and they could provide "peace of mind" for those patients who did added: "I'm really pleased to see the teamwork between sarcoma radiologists, surgeons and supporting colleagues has developed a more efficient pathway."The trust said the service is based at the Buttercup unit, which opened in musculoskeletal radiologist Dr Rahul Anaspure said: "The one-stop service is the only one if its kind in the South West and we're incredibly proud of the difference it is making."
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Devon woman with rare condition praises genetic testing service
A woman born with an extremely rare genetic skin condition has had two healthy children using a cutting-edge genetic testing Burrough, of Axminster, Devon, has Ichthyosis with confetti, a condition reported in less than 50 people is characterised by severely dry, red, scaly, and inflamed skin that is highly susceptible to infection and skin Burrough said: "We didn't think having a child was possible without passing on my condition - not a day goes by where I don't have to pinch myself that these two bundles of joy have been brought into our lives." Elsie, five, and Annie, seven months, were born using pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT).PGT is a type of IVF treatment that involves testing embryos for the condition, allowing couples affected by serious inherited conditions to have an unaffected Exeter-based PGT service is the only NHS PGT service in the South West and is run in partnership with Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, the UK's largest PGT provider. Dr Emma Kivuva, consultant clinical geneticist and genetics lead for the service at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "A small number of cells are removed from the edge of each of the developing embryos and we test these cells using a test we have designed for the family's specific genetic condition."We would then only transfer an unaffected embryo into the womb." Ms Burrough's condition had a 50% risk of being passed down to any children, and some babies are so profoundly affected that they do not survive."I have to undergo a lot of treatment every day, which takes three to five hours and involves bath emollients, creaming and exfoliating," she said."I don't regulate my body temperature."I wouldn't be able to cope with knowing I had passed on the condition."Annie is the 50th baby born to this service in said she hoped telling her story would open the doors for other people in similar situations and people would feel able to give it a go. Dr Emma Kivuva, consultant clinical geneticist and genetics lead for the service at the trust, said: "We are extremely proud to have marked the milestone of the 50th baby born thanks to the PGT service. "By offering this service, we can help families who might otherwise face difficult decisions about having children due to their genetic risk. "Providing a service in the South West makes treatment more accessible to people living in this region."Dr Sonal Paradkar, PGT co-ordinator for the clinic said, said service could cater for several thousand rare genetic include Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis and some rare inherited cancer conditions.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Consultant wins stroke research award
A consultant in Devon has been given an outstanding achievement award for his work in improving stroke treatments over the past 25 years, a health trust says. Prof Martin James had been working with colleagues across 100 UK hospitals to run a £2m research study to enhance stroke care, the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said. He was also working on integrating AI and machine learning into stroke care, it added. The award at the UK Stroke Forum recognised his 25 years of pioneering work in stroke research, health bosses said. Prof James, who is involved with a £1.7m AI research program, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, said he was "honoured" to receive the award. He said: "Stroke has a profound impact on patients and families, and on society, so it is immensely rewarding to see how research can drive advancements in stroke treatment and improve outcomes for patients. "I am particularly excited about the potential of AI to make stroke care more personalised and effective, ensuring that every stroke patient gets the best available treatment as quickly as possible." Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Stroke patient says AI diagnosis was a 'lifeline' Hospital starts using AI to treat stroke patients AI trousers helping stroke patient to walk
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Royal Devon consultant wins stroke research award
A consultant in Devon has been given an outstanding achievement award for his work in improving stroke treatments over the past 25 years, a health trust Martin James had been working with colleagues across 100 UK hospitals to run a £2m research study to enhance stroke care, the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was also working on integrating AI and machine learning into stroke care, it added. The award at the UK Stroke Forum recognised his 25 years of pioneering work in stroke research, health bosses said. 'Excited' about AI Prof James, who is involved with a £1.7m AI research program, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, said he was "honoured" to receive the said: "Stroke has a profound impact on patients and families, and on society, so it is immensely rewarding to see how research can drive advancements in stroke treatment and improve outcomes for patients."I am particularly excited about the potential of AI to make stroke care more personalised and effective, ensuring that every stroke patient gets the best available treatment as quickly as possible."
