Latest news with #UniversityHospitalsPlymouth
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Mount Gould Hospital revamp to meet needs of ageing population
A Plymouth hospital will be redeveloped to meet the growing demand for rehabilitation and mental health services in the region, it has been Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and Livewell Southwest said the changes at Mount Gould Hospital were important as the population gets means wards for general rehabilitation at Mount Gould will be merged and wards for stroke rehabilitation and male mental health rehabilitation changes were expected to reduce pressure on Derriford Hospital, with about 1,000 outpatient appointments a year at the new centre, said health chiefs. The aim of the revamp supports a shift toward home-based recovery, addresses shortages in stroke and mental health beds, and prepares for a 20% rise in the ageing population over the next decade, said the Hackett, interim chief executive of University Hospitals Plymouth, and Michelle Thomas, chief executive of Livewell Southwest, said in a joint statement: "This is an opportunity to make Mount Gould a major community hub and provide specialist care closer to home."The first phase of the transformation was set to begin later this year.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chris Hoy cancer battle leads to referral spike
Sir Chris Hoy's cancer diagnosis has led to an increase in referrals - and subsequent treatment backlogs - at a Devon hospital, figures have revealed. A performance report presented to the University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) NHS Trust Board said there had been a 55% rise in prostate cancer referrals since November last year. In October, six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris revealed that doctors had told him his prostate cancer was terminal. The report said UHP had a backlog of cancer patients waiting for treatment following a referral and the awareness raised by Sir Chris was one of the "key existing challenges" behind the issue. NHS targets state patients should wait no more than 62 days between the date a hospital receives an urgent suspected cancer referral and the start of treatment. Trusts are expected to meet this standard in 85% of cases, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. UHP's board was told 118 urology patients were waiting more than 62 days in April - 46 more than the previous year - and 36 had waited more than 104 days. The board was also told UHP fell short in April of the national requirement and its own improvement plan to communicate a diagnosis to patients with suspected cancer within 28 days. "The key existing challenge was urology with a 55% increase in referrals from November 2024 following the publicity around the diagnosis of Sir Chris Hoy," a report from UHP's chief operating officer Jo Beer said. The report added clinic space at the skin cancer unit was now "insufficient" following years of growth in demand. An urgent piece of work was under way to assess sites which could enable expansion in order to diagnose patients in the expected time frame, the report said. The figures showing more prostate cancer referrals at Derriford Hospital were described as welcoming news by The Chestnut Appeal for Men's Health. The Derriford Hospital-based charity, which supports men diagnosed with prostate, testicular and penile cancer, said Sir Chris's diagnosis had led to a significant increase in testing and referrals across the UK. Chief executive Lesley-Ann Simpson added issues did still remain around diagnosing prostate cancer as there was "no simple test" to detect it and demand for the charity's services was growing. "Trials are on going for more simpler and accurate tests, such as a saliva test, which could release the burden on hospitals," Ms Simpson said. "Until that time, charities like ours are also experiencing increasing demands for our services, and requests for support, whilst donations are in a decline." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More cancer referrals after Sir Chris Hoy diagnosis Chris Hoy says raising cancer awareness gives him purpose Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy announces his cancer is terminal NHS - Prostate Cancer The Chestnut Appeal for Men's Health University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Board
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
South West brain cancer network becomes Centre of Excellence
A network of health professionals in south-west England that specialises in brain tumours has been recognised for its high standard of Plymouth and the Peninsula Neuro-Oncology Network, which includes NHS trusts across Devon and Cornwall, is one of 14 new Tessa Jowell Centres of Labour cabinet member Dame Tessa died in 2018 after she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and the Centre for Excellence was established in her name two years Plymouth and Peninsula network has been selected for the steps it has been making in research, rehabilitation and commitment to growing its team, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. £40m funding available The network includes University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Prof of neurosurgery at University Hospitals Plymouth, Dr Ellie Edlmann, told an NHS Trust board meeting on Wednesday that £40m of investment was available to Tessa Jowell centres and she wanted some of that for Edlmann said more genetic testing would enable the centre to learn more about diagnoses and improve the eligibility of patients for drug organisations that are awarded Centre for Excellence status have to reapply every four years.
