Patient stories

A trailblazing neighbourhood health initiative in Cornwall has saved the NHS an estimated £11.6 million in one year, according to a major independent study by healthcare volunteering charity Helpforce.

This film features Tess and Maddie who have been supported at Pengarth hub in Penzance.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is one of 43 national Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme areas, and the only whole-system site on the programme, recognising the significance of progress since Wave 1 neighbourhood teams launched in in September 2025.

The neighbourhood engagement film shows how the first sites have held substantive community engagement with a variety of inclusive ways for local people to be involved. 

A recently opened health and wellbeing hub in Helston is attracting national attention (including a visit from the Health Select Committee in April 2026) as a major asset for local people and a blueprint for neighbourhood health.

Cober Valley Health is a modern, purpose-built GP practice – created inside a former derelict supermarket that has been transformed into a vibrant, accessible centre for health, wellbeing and community connection.

This film was produced in Brixham, with Dr Gunning from Compass House Medical Centre, and his colleagues, who offer treatment and advice, provide a range of health screenings and testing services to promote the early detection of underlying health conditions, and promote healthy lifestyle choices to fishermen in Brixham.

The aim is to reduce some of the obstacles seafarers face when trying to access healthcare and wellbeing services, bringing healthcare to them in their neighbourhood.

This film, produced for the Ilfracombe Poverty Truth Commission, brings together the voices of those with lived experience of deprivation in North Devon.

It is built on the fundamental principle: “nothing about us, without us, is for us.”

This short film tells the story of Steve and how the Health Inclusion Pathway Plymouth (HIPP) supported him after he found himself homeless and experiencing significant health issues.

HIPP was set up to tackle health inequalities, with NHS and local services working in partnership – including a GP, nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, mental health nurse, and clinical psychologist. It also has links with established voluntary organisations, primary care outreach and drug and alcohol services.

Meet Jess Strongman, a Director at The CHAOS Group, and a huge part of CHAOS Farm who has bravely embraced her journey with breast cancer, emerging as a ‘Cancer Thriver’.

This video depicts Jess’ story, from diagnosis ’till now, and features sensitive themes and occasional strong language.

This film explores some of the broader health challenges women face, particularly for women from ethnic minority communities and those experiencing the menopause.

It highlights how culture, language, awareness and stigma can sometimes create barriers to accessing care and demonstrates how services are listening to women’s experiences to design more inclusive and responsive support.

Women’s Health Hubs (WHHs) in Cornwall are a developing model of community‑based, integrated care designed to improve how women and girls access key aspects of their health across the life course.

Aligned with national NHS priorities and the Women’s Health Strategy for England, the WHHs provide support to women and girls for issues involving, but not exclusive to, menstrual health, contraception, menopause care, mental health support, and healthy ageing into a more coordinated and accessible offer.

They complement existing services rather than replace them, reducing fragmentation and enabling women to receive timely, person‑centred care.

This film focuses on services that help identify and respond to sexual violence, showcasing how health and care partners are working together to ensure women receive timely, sensitive support and access to specialist care when they need it most.

The story highlights the importance of safe environments, trauma-informed approaches and coordinated pathways that help women begin their recovery.

This film brings together the voices of six women and girls from across our communities in Cornwall, each a different age, background and life stage. Each person was asked the same three simple questions:

• What makes you happy?
• What keeps you healthy?
• What would help women and girls be healthier?

Their answers are personal, heartfelt and grounded in everyday life — yet what emerges is a striking similarity across all ages.

This film features, Debs O’Nyons, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly women’s health champion explaining some of the health challenges and inequalities women face and how the NHS locally can address them.

Debs leads a system women’s health strategy group who have collaborated and consulted with women in our communities to identify core areas to address across local services.

This film explores first hand, the impact of the PINS Project in Cornwall spearheaded by Parent Carer Cornwall in 2025.

In this film we meet with a diverse range of people who have been involved or participated in the local PINS Project work, including some of the Parent Carers, School Staff, and other Support & Training Partners.

NHS Devon is funding vital oral health lessons for children in primary schools across Devon for the next three years to support them in learning good habits and help protect their teeth for the future.

The sessions are funded for all year two children (6-7 year olds) in primary schools, across Devon for the next three years for those primary schools who sign up to the programme.

A pioneering intervention that gives children and families on-demand access to a therapeutic mobile game designed to tackle childhood anxiety is driving positive mental health outcomes in Devon.

The NICE-recommended immersive game, called Lumi Nova, combines a gold-standard therapeutic approach – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – with ethical and immersive gaming delivered via a mobile app.

In Cornwall, system partners are working together to deliver innovative Community Appointment Days to provide some services/appointments in a single community setting, offering patients faster access to multiple services, providing support and empowering individuals to manage their own health.

The aim is also to reduce waiting times and improving the experience while people are waiting for care.

To support the development of the Government 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, NHS Devon ran an extensive engagement programme with staff, patients, public and partners in Devon. 

Healthwatch Devon, Plymouth and Torbay played a central role in the Devon 10-Year Health Plan engagement by helping to reach over 3,000 people from every corner of our community.

To extend the scope of the engagement to involve the views of children and young people, Healthwatch attended the “My mind, my body, my money, Family Wellness Day” at the Life Centre in Plymouth to find out what kids think about the future of the NHS.

NHS Devon has launched a bold new strategy to transform the future of health and care across the county and ensure everyone receives the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

This video features Libby Ryan-Davies, NHS Devon’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Strategic Commissioning and Planning Officer, introducing NHS Devon’s Health and Care Strategy, followed by Kevin Dixon, Chair of Healthwatch Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, introducing the Paignton Hub.

As work continues to deliver the Isles of Scilly’s new integrated care facility; which combines both a hospital and care home, this film gives more information on how the integrated neighbourhood team on the Isles of Scilly is working together to benefit patients.

The film features members form the Scilly’s team and the pioneering work to treat Islanders on the Island.

Local members of our neighbourhood health team and Andy Mullins, from the national Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme talk about the work so far and what is coming up after Cornwall and Isles of Scilly secure a spot on the Department of Health and Social Care’s National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme.

This film includes highlights from the third Integrated Neighbourhood Teams conference showcasing how Integrated Neighbourhood Teams are making a difference in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and gaining national attention.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and Plymouth Active Leisure (PAL) have joined forces to bring care closer to the community with a five-week prehabilitation hip and knee physiotherapy programme in Plymouth.

In this film, Olivia and Helen (UHP physiotherapists) provide an overview of the programme and talk about the benefits patients are seeing.

A new dental van, launched by the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the summer, in collaboration with Smile Together Dental CIC, is providing neighbourhood treatment to some of the most vulnerable patients and those who have been waiting a long time.

In this film, dentist Vinny gives a brief look around the van and we meet a young patient, who is having his second ever check up and his first since before the Covid19 pandemic.