Welcome to our July newsletter
The summer holiday has just begun and for some of you it will hopefully involve a break from your work, relax and spend time with your family and friends.
I took my holiday at the start of July and enjoyed some light reading of the new 10 Year Health Plan – a bold, necessary and deeply human vision for our NHS and where we need to go.
At its heart are three transformative shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. It’s our blueprint for a health service that is more personal, more proactive, and more present in people’s everyday lives.
For us in Torbay and South Devon, these shifts aren’t new. We’ve been living them for years. A decade ago, we became the first NHS trust in the country to integrate health and social care services. We’ve built neighbourhood teams, invested in digital innovation, and championed prevention through health coaching and community partnerships.
In a region like ours, with high levels of need in rural and coastal communities, keeping people well is just as important as treating them when they’re ill, and the plan’s focus on early intervention, lifestyle support, and community-based care aligns perfectly with our local priorities.
The 10-year plan gives me hope that we are already well-positioned to lead the way, particularly in our use of cutting-edge technology, close working with the voluntary sector, and our joined-up approach to delivering compassionate care.
We know that delivering this plan won’t be easy; it will require investment and collaboration, but I believe we’re up to the challenge and I feel proud to help lead and shape the future of health and care in Torbay and South Devon.
Whatever your plans this summer, I hope you have a happy and healthy break.
Joe Teape, Chief Executive