NHS Devon

NHS Devon is the local headquarters for the NHS in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. We are the organisation responsible for planning, commissioning (or buying) and developing healthcare services for the 1.2 million people who live in Devon. Our mission is to work together to commission the right services to improve the lives of those who live in Devon. NHS Devon – the fifth largest Integrated Care Board (ICB) in England – includes the cities of Plymouth and Exeter, more than 45 market towns and large towns such as Torquay – a mix of both rural and urban and several hundred parishes.  Our aim is to improve people’s lives in Devon – wherever they live – to reduce health inequalities and make sure we can deliver these services for the long term. Within our budget of £1.8 billion, we plan and buy the majority of the hospital and community NHS services for the county. NHS Devon is formed of four localities – North, East, South and West – reflecting the footprints of our four local acute hospital trusts.  You can find out more about each of the trusts on their websites:

• University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (West)
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (North and East)
• Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (South)

NHS Devon is also covered by two mental health providers 

• Devon Partnership NHS Trust (Devon and Torbay)
• Livewell Southwest (Plymouth)

Living and working in Devon If you are looking to build your career as a GP, work within local communities and have an opportunity to design your own role – the West Country offers it all.  An area with stunning cities and remote rural landscapes, working in the West Country offers doctors a variety of stimulating challenges. You can design your own job to suit your career and lifestyle ambitions. The South West has rail and motorway links, as well as two international airports serving many destinations within the UK, Europe and further afield, celebrated state and private schools in every county and Universities and HE colleges throughout the region.  We would like to welcome you to join our committed team and we will support you in every way to make your move here a smooth one. GPs are the bedrock of healthcare in England and the foundation of the NHS.  Devon covers almost 7000km2, has two National Parks and a third of the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We think that gives you an idea of what to expect. It also has 450 miles of stunning coastline and family-friendly beaches as well as beautiful coastal towns.  The capital city of Exeter, with its cobbled streets and squares, is dotted with art galleries, restaurants and boutique shops. There’s also the magnificent cathedral and a flourishing arts scene, typified by the Phoenix Arts Centre.  Schools, education and housing State education is free for ages 5-18. Universities in Exeter and Plymouth house two vibrant medical schools. In 2016, average house prices in Exeter were £268,000, compared to £188,000 in Plymouth. Transport is excellent: just over two hours to London by train from Exeter, and Exeter Airport flies to many destinations worldwide. There are 7 grammar schools in the geographic county of Devon, but there are three different admission authorities involved in the admissions process: Devon County Council, Plymouth & Torbay. There is also a “bilateral” school – The Spires College in Torbay.  Find out more about grammar schools in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay here. Food and drink Devon is famous for its dairy produce, vegetables, meat and seafood. Farm shops are becoming increasingly popular and many have on-site restaurants and you’ll find a diverse selection of dining experiences in the cities. Sport and leisure Exeter is the home of the Chiefs, who won England’s rugby Premiership in 2017 and 2020. Both cities have football teams with impressive stadiums. Music and the arts are ingrained into Devon history, and folk music, jazz and acoustic gigs can be found all over the county. Spend your leisure time exploring Devon’s famous Dartmoor National Park. Imagine being able to fill your weekends with a visit to a wonderful beach, a moorland walk, sailing, surfing or enjoying the arts. Or you may prefer to visit one of the incredible stately homes and gardens including the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Eden Project, Dunster Castle and Montacute House. www.visitdevon.co.uk The Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan are just over the border in Cornwall.  www.visitcornwall.com Primary care in Devon We are proud of the excellent primary care services we offer in Devon. Our primary care colleagues provide high quality, caring and compassionate services for people in our area.  Nearly all Devon GP practices are rated as Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and there are consistently high satisfaction rates in the annual GP Patient Survey locally. All 121 Devon GP practices are part of one of the newly formed 31 Primary Care Networks and there is joined-up working right across Devon as part of the One Devon Partnership - NHS and CARE working with communities and local organisations to improve people’s lives.  Devon is leading the way in developing digital solutions for general practice. Online consultations are offered by all GP practices, and Devon has some of the highest usage of digital tools like the NHS App.  General Practice is supported by a Local Medical Committee in Devon There is a great variety of general practice in Devon. Practices with a predominantly older patient population where patients have complex health needs 
Large multi-site practices with 20,000-plus patients and multi-disciplinary team working
Small practices with an emphasis on personal care and traditional family doctors. People’s Health The health of people in Devon is varied compared with the England average. About 12% of children live in low income families. Life expectancy for both men and women is higher than the England average. Health inequalities  Life expectancy is 5.8 years lower for men and 4.0 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Devon than in the least deprived areas. Child health  In Year 6, 15.2% of children are classified as obese, better than the average for England. Levels of GCSE attainment are better than the England average. Adult health  The rate of alcohol-related harm hospital stays is 601, better than the average for England. Estimated levels of adult excess weight and physical activity are better than the England average. Rates of early deaths from cardiovascular diseases and cancer are better than average. For more information on priorities in this area, see: www.devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk
Design your job We want to invest in you – come to the Westcountry and find a GP job you enjoy, and the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Practices across the South West are working with NHS England and other organisations to offer real choice to GPs looking to work or return to the profession in Devon. If you long to live and work just a few miles from the coast or in the countryside, have decided to drop your hours, have recently qualified or want to work just a couple of days a week, talk to us. We have a large choice of vacancies including portfolio options, which are already underway in Devon, for those who want more flexibility – and a new lifestyle.  So whether you choose to work for an individual practice or a host employer we can offer you sessional opportunities so you can co-design your new job.  Portfolio sessional options include: 

• Family friendly hours for planned clinical work
• Evening and weekend sessions to suit you, including urgent care and acute GP work
• Short or long-term sessional work covering vacancies or maternity leave
• Secondary care experience 
• Clinical fellow sessions to develop skills in appraisal or education
• Remote working, proving telephone or online triage