What we fund

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We support 2 acute hospitals, 17 community hospitals and a range of community, specialist and primary care services across north, mid, central and eastern Devon. Every hospital ward and department has its own fund where money can be used to buy new state-of the-art equipment, create world class patient and staff environments, support additional staff development, training and wellbeing projects, and fund cutting edge research and development.

There are more than 250 different funds altogether, so if you have a specific hospital, ward, department or service you’d like to support, or if you would like to find out about the different areas, please contact us.

The Royal Devon Hospitals Charity also funds The Fern Centre, a bespoke cancer and wellbeing centre at North Devon District Hospital, which offers cancer patients and families free access to a range of information, complementary therapies and counselling, as well as overnight accommodation should they need it.

Richard's Timeline

Richard, from Ilfracombe, spent many months at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) after walking into A&E with an aching leg in June 2018. He survived necrotising fasciitis (flesh eating disease), leukaemia, sepsis, a brain seizure, left leg amputation at the hip and a stroke thanks to the quick thinking, care and treatment at NDDH.

For background, Richard has gone on to become an incredible ambassador for the charity and has done various fundraising walks, raising thousands of pounds to give something back to the hospital that saved his life. I’ve attached a few of these pics as well as some pics of Richard receiving treatment in hospital.

June 2018

A&E

Richard arrives at A&E at North Devon District Hospital at 6pm on Sunday June 10, 2018. He doesn’t remember anything after walking through the door but the nurse on the desk and the doctor on duty realised how serious his condition is and fast-track him through. A blood test reveals ‘flesh eating disease’ necrotising fasciitis in his leg and hairy cell leukaemia. Richard is taken into theatre around midnight and has his left leg removed.

June 2018

ICU

Richard is in a coma in ICU for 2 weeks fighting sepsis. His family is told he was critically ill with multiple issues and that his treatment plan only looked an hour ahead. They used the family room in ICU and found contact with other families and ICU staff was a massive help/support. Meanwhile, the Trust facilitated a review of Richard’s case with top haematologists across the South of England to agree treatment plan, which included a potential arm amputation.

June 2018

Pharmacy

Richard receives support throughout from the hospital pharmacy, as well as from his local GP for advice on ending medication.

June 2018

Physio

Richard comes out of his coma on June 25 and starts receiving treatment from the physio department within ICU. Richard suffers a brain seizure (PRES) and stroke and falls into another coma. His family is told by ICU staff there was no way back for him at that stage.

June 2018

July 2018

Speed and Language

Richard comes out of his coma after a week on July 16. He receives more treatment from the physio department within ICU. Richard also starts to receive speech and language therapy as he is unable to swallow properly following his stroke.

July 2018

X-ray

A nose tube is fitted following tests X-rays and camera throat exploratory. Continues to have X-rays to check the insertion of his nose tube.

July 2018

August 2018

Staples Ward

Richard is transferred to an isolation ward on Staples Ward to assist with the stroke recovery following 6.5 weeks in ICU. He is unable to swallow food or move his left arm and continues to receive physio, this time with the team on Staples.

August 2018

Exeter Mobility Centre

Richard receives a visit from Exeter Mobility Centre to discuss a prosthetic leg.

August 2018

Ambulance

Richard leaves hospital in an ambulance on August 13 after spending 4 weeks on Staples Ward.

August 2018

September 2018

Seamoor unit

Richard undergoes chemotherapy treatment as an outpatient at the Seamoor Unit. He has 5 injections over 5 days but returns regularly for a type of nebuliser to protect his lungs from infection.

September 2018

Lundy Ward

Richard is re-admitted to A&E (MAU) with neutropenic sepsis and spends a week in an isolation room on Lundy Ward.

September 2018

October 2018

Community Services

Richard is supported at home with equipment, bed, commode, toilet seat etc. He has regular visits from the district nurse to check his nose tube, review medication and receive physio.

October 2018

Endoscopy

Richard receives the all clear for eating normally following another video endoscopy on October 17.

October 2018

June 2023

Fundraising

Richard becomes a charity ambassador, raises over £12,000 for the ICU by completing a series of challenges including; a six-mile sponsored walk along the Tarka Trail from Bideford to the Puffing Billy in Torrington and a sponsored walk along the coast path from Ilfracombe to Lee.

June 2023

Words from Richard

“I had incredible support from North Devon District Hospital; so many things happened promptly and professionally, which means I am still here against all odds. I owe the hospital my life several times over”

Richard