Welcome to our June newsletter
As we approach the 77th anniversary of the NHS I’ve been reflecting on the changes that access to free healthcare has had on the health of our people and communities. Some of you may have seen the fantastic timeline we have at Torbay Hospital which illustrates the significant developments that have improved health and wellbeing locally, nationally and even internationally.
Did you know that Torbay Hospital was the first in the world to introduce a dedicated Infection Control Nurse? In 1961? I must confess that I didn’t. Or that Torbay surgeons were the first in the UK to trial Google Glass in the operating theatre (in 2013). Our passion for innovation continues – our research team are the second highest recruiting site for cancer studies nationally, enabling us to offer cutting-edge treatments to local people and boost equity of access for rural communities.
Earlier this month, Nick Peres, our Programme Director for Digital Innovation and Transformation, had the opportunity to share some of our colleagues’ incredible work developing digital healthcare with the Prime Minister and Health Secretary. He shared with them how we are using extended reality, eye tracking technology and creative technologies for health and how our digital experts are working alongside clinicians to co-produce solutions for local people. We’ll be sharing more of this work in future editions of Healthy Futures.
Joe Teape, Chief Executive