Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Reviews 31

Hayley Warrilow and PALS and NHS Foundation are covering for the Maxillo Facial department at Torbay Hospital who yanked out an implant (by my chin when meant to be by the right-angle to the back of my jaw), without care and which has left my face in a state of disrepair - my cheek always looks swollen, having lost its elasticity, and my skin is hanging loose on my neck. They not only failed to provide follow-up procedures, so that my face wouldn't be left in this state, but omitted the details of the operation from my medical-notes so that it appeared as if the operation had never been. This same surgeon, while performing her medieval expertise, then (without permission) took my right-jaw down in weight by injecting it with a toxin (there is a scar where the injection was made).

This is following a jaw-break where their surgeon, Mr. Douglas, initially fitted the broken-jaw back together incorrectly - it was misaligned and he then refused to carry out reparatory work, afterwards.

Many years later, an NHS-linked private surgeon called Dr. Nasser of Harley Street in London (despite letters with clear illustrations) went an placed medpor implants into two areas of my face which weren't anywhere near the areas in requirement of reconstruction. He has done immense damage.

There has been a huge cover-up of this matter by Torbay, as Ms Warrilow refuses to investigate.

Cricketfield Surgery in Newton Abbot were also sheepish when approached about the matter and have since been obtuse regarding every element of healthcare, also obviously involved in the cover-up - the person more recently to carry on the pretence, is Amy Baker, and who is the practice manager at Cricketfield.

So, DO NOT go to Torbay Hospital for surgery to the face. You can pick which hospital to attend and there are others which might possibly do a better job. Exeter, also make excuses and so I wouldn't go there either - they didn't strike me as particularly professional. Many surgeons in the South West are failed private-surgeons and are not trained to a very high degree. Andrew McClennan didn't even turn up to any of the consultations; the model registrar Gabrielle Baniyulite politely palmed me away and Michael Esson simply avoided answering any questions which could point to criminal activity on the part of Torbay Hospital before persisting in contradicting himself.

Liars, paid-criminals - call them what you want. Don't go near Torbay and if at all possible avoid Cricketfield.

'Common' is not intelligence or status or education related or even speaking badly and swearing sometimes doesn't equate to being common; rather, it's a gutter way of treating people. You could be a member of royalty and be common. It's a rare, unfortunate trait in about one out of every five-hundred or so people and for some reason primary and secondary care at doctor and surgery level appear to be made up of such common types. Seriously, why would anyone bang pots and pans to honour rubbishy scum - they should have used lids to old metal trash-cans; would have been more to the point, contextually.

Such lowlifes. And these people actually want pay-rises and pats on the back. Socialists are evil weirdos, though (bring to mind Nazis and communists). Definitely these scumbags are anything but professional. I'll fetch some more names soon, and wing them up on here.

It is also the case, as has been circulating, that Hayley Warilow covers up cases where surgeons, namely female ones, fondle patients when asleep during their operations.

Date of experience: July 06, 2025

From reception desk to recovery. All staff were great caring kind and treated me with respect. The Anethetist was lovely and very knoedgeable explained what she was going to do to keep me safe. Consultant was really nice and obviouly had lots of experience. Cool calm collected. The Sister and nurses were all very lind and helpfull. Thank you for a good experiemce. We are so lucky to have the NHS and staff.

Date of experience: May 29, 2025

To be clear, my personal experience of health care in South Devon has been pretty good. This is about a very specific area in which the Trust is failing badly.

I'm a professional musician - choir leader and composer - and need to have regular appointments (every 3 months or so)with Dr Anderson at Newton Abbot Hospital for microsuction - to clear wax and other debris - caused by eczema - from my unusually narrow ear canals. I also wear hearing aids nowadays, which exacerbate the problem, but that's only been a recent addition. Dr Anderson is great - very friendly and efficient. I have no complaint about the staff or the procedure, which is quick and effective.

But in order to make an appointment, I receive a letter in the post and then must call the appointments line on 01803 656 850. Anyone who uses this line will know that for years now it has been dire. Once you get through to a human, they are lovely and helpful, but you are kept on hold for ages and ages and ages. And the call-waiting 'music' is intolerable - it's a short clip of boring electronic rubbish that cycles every few seconds, and every few repetitions there's a horrible interference noise. I have honestly, literally, never heard a more irritating call-waiting 'thing' as this in my life.

I don't know what it's like for others, but as a musician I can only bear it for so long. I have managed it for 40 minutes or more previously, but I can only take 10 minutes of it now before giving up in despair. If you think I'm being a snowflake, just try dialling the number - it's okay, you won't get through to anyone - and see how long you can take it.

To add salt to the wound, every minute or two a recorded voice comes on to say "you are second in the queue" - sometimes it's "third". This is obviously a lie, because you can find yourself waiting another 20 or 30 minutes afterwards. It is a kind of mental torture.

I've complained about this to various people on several occasions and been assured that they're dealing with it, but nothing changes, nothing improves. I've not written about it on here before, so I hope this is a way of focussing attention on a problem that must be affecting hundreds of patients each week - wasting their time and irritating the hell out of them.

Thank you

Date of experience: May 08, 2025

I have just spent three and a half hours at the gynae clinic. The staff were all amazing, kind and compassionate. I felt in very safe hands. Keep up the good work ladies.

Date of experience: March 29, 2025

Absolutely appalling nurses watching elderly people wet themselves and do nothing about it. Didn’t clean any of the seats after people urinating on them. Uncaring responses to patients. Waiting now over 8 hours after ambulance brought me in. Fear I’m being punished for speaking up for those that can’t speak for themselves

Date of experience: February 25, 2025

So sorry for nursing staff but my experience today in getting through to the department I wanted to check on my has been nothing short of appalling. It would seem/ no it is/ no nurses are at any one point at their station to answer enquiries. A simple question of how she is doing having been admitted 28 hours earlier to A&E is heart breaking. I am disabled so rely on the internet. My experience with Torbay hospital has nothing short of desperation and infinite disappointment. MUST AND CAN DO BETTER.

Date of experience: February 20, 2025

first class experience, such lovely staff, very friendly, helpful staff,

Date of experience: February 19, 2025

I recently suffered a wrist fracture in France and returned to the UK to be treated at Torbay Hospital. My treatment was exemplary, from the professionalism and caring of the doctors and nurses, to those staff who stopped to ask if I needed help finding a particular department. Surgery was carried out promptly and effectively and after-care appointments were made, as promised. The Hand Therapy staff were kind, reassuring and knowledgeable. After only 5 weeks, I am already healing well. Thank you to everyone who looked after me so well.

Date of experience: January 04, 2025

After just having the cremation from my father, my husband was taken to torbay hospital with suspected heart attack.
After 22 hours of thougher test was the conclusion that he has an infection in one of the heart chambers.
With great respect for all the help in what was for me dramatic enough, my special praise goes to all that helped especially Sian & Anthony what wonderful very helpful and caring people. I will be forever grateful for all your help.
Thankyou for everyone who helped.
Maybe if you have to go into hospital just give a thought it's there job they do it not because they earn a lot of money but they love there job
PLEASE have respect for them and patience as it's not there fault the NHS is in big trouble.
Debbie

Date of experience: February 03, 2025

Endoscopy unit were excellent. Care was first class. Doctors, Nurses, reception everyone was kind.
I was stiff, scared and rigid. They put me at my ease but I know I was hard work.

Ambulance crew and A&E were also lovely with my wife a while before with a separate issue.

Date of experience: January 20, 2025

Chadwell mental health and wellbeing centre torbay,

Nathan and jade on the phones always polite professional and helpful and emotionally supportive to me, helping me to support my loved one in crisis, by chasing things up, sorting emails, prescriptions all what I ask they try there best always even if I'm distressed myself trying to help my loved one, thankyou both keep doing what you both do because it dosent go unoticed and is appreciated by me anyway, you do more then just a receptionist job thanks again (the only reason it's not complete full stars is only due to the broken bigger system not yourself and that is not your faults)

Date of experience: January 09, 2025

Contacted the Crisis Mental Health team 48 hours ago. My GP said they would send a home visit team. Instead 12 police officers had made a total of 3 separate visits trying to hammer my door and further stress me. Not a single phone call from the crisis team, except 1 message saying to call 111. They never left their number on the message. My GP told me to use the Moorings, but they fail to reply to any ansphone calls & they never answer their phone. 👎🏾 You really are better off not calling for help.

Date of experience: December 14, 2024

As I have a tooth abscess and there are complications I've been referred to hospital. As it has got worse I was trying to find out how long it would be so phoned Torbay hospital, after being sent around in circles by all and sundry this morning. Receptionist at the dental delay was beyond rude and unhelpful, I'm only trying to get this tooth issue sorted out safely, I'm sure she wouldn't want her loved ones to be spoken to as she spoke to me.

Date of experience: November 15, 2024

was seen on Saturday to have a ultrasound excellent treatment i did not have to wait i went straight in the 2 ladys were very kind to be and talked through the process with me i was able to get water also in reception area and lady on reception explained were to go everyone was supper friendly and hospital was easy to get to thankyou torbay ultrasound department and starrx

Date of experience: November 09, 2024

Had eye injection today for MD.
Heather and Tracy could not have been more efficient and very kind and welcoming.

Date of experience: November 11, 2024

Appalling cleanliness in the children’s waiting area . Toys filthy , cups and food around . Waiting time so bad 6 hrs for a toddler to wait , not good enough .

Date of experience: November 04, 2024

so waiting time on ambulances are now anything up to 4h or more. every hospital and their mothers mother is declaring code black across devon, but Tobay Hospital had around 6 or 7 people waiting in A&E (not counting relatives)
I had an AWFUL experience on the 30th of October 2024. I'm a difficult person to get to go see a GP for basic things, it takes a lot to make me reach out for help as I live in chronic pain on the everyday. This day I would have chest pains at first I tried to ignore it and carry on like often do with my knee pain, only for this pain to start to spread across my chest and numb my left arm and make it VERY hard and PAINFUL to breath. so I called for help first 111 who then sent met to 999, only to be told of the diabolical wait times for an ambulance, so I set about following the medical advice as I had NO OTHER WAY of getting into the hospital I'm in rural devon with NO transport of my own or access to public transport. it would be 6hours before an ambulance would arrive to me, then when they got me into Torbay hospital the nightmare continued. by the time I'd arrived most of my symptoms had abaited the chest pain had started to ease off and the feeling had returned to my arm, but there was still a stabbing pain under my ribs and the paramedics did not like that i'd been left so long with out someone even a first responder being sent out to check on me while I waited as with my symptoms I should have been an urgent case.
the paramedics wanted me to get a chest x-ray to make sure I wasn't having a or had pulmonary embolism (PE), my heart rate was a little unstable when they put the ECG on me, so advised me to go with them, I did hoping to find out what was going on. instead, I get to the torbay hospital where the paramedics tried to do hand over, I was booked into A&E where the receptionist was highly antagonistic to the paramedic trying to tell her my symptoms to keep my stress levels down, I had to step in to de-escalate the situation which could have been avoided if the receptionist just listen to the paramedic who I was happy to talk for me at the time because I was mentally trying to manage my pain. after handover I was left in the A&E waiting room for hours 3+ hours before they took bloods, there was only about 6 or 7 people in there waiting, all came in by ambulance, and triage seemed to be operating as slowly as they could because hardly anyone left that waiting room or was seen while i was still waiting in there. i was considering painkillers when i arrived but after sitting down for a bit I decided to bare with my pain so i could see what it was doing instead. by the time i'd gotten to see a Doctor it had been 4h waiting in full, we chatted about how i had to wait for blood work and family history and the pain i was having earlier in the day, she sent me for another ECG which was now stable, and then i sat in the room next to the children's ward entrance from A&E where an autistic child clearly having a meltdown from his anxity managed to escape the ward. by 12am the dr i'd spoken to for about 5mins came to tell me most of my blood work was clear but i still needed to wait for one last one and she was ending her shift, the next dr wouldn't show up until near 1:30am just to tell me the last one was clear and i can go home. STILL no chest x-ray for the suspected pulmonary embolism my heart wasn't damaged, and she didn't think they needed one. 2am I'm asked to leave still with no answers for why it felt like i was having a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. and blood tests don't show up pulmonary embolism only scans can. so at 2am I'm asked to go back to the waiting room and to call a taxi home. yeah with a £50 call-out fee to get to my location at 2am plus the (it's anywhere from £45 -£80. at normal daytime rates double that at night) no way i was gonna be able to afford that. so i had to call my terminally ill father-in-law to come pick me up at 2am with no other way back home.
and as if all that wasn't bad enough, the place hospital sadly looks like it hasn't seen a cleaner in months

all in all, I'm now petrified of needing help again from Torbay Hospital, it's utterly dismal and the sheer level of negligence going on has got to be costing people their lives and i still don't know what caused my symptoms and they still haven't sent my details over to my GP so they can start follow up

Date of experience: October 30, 2024

However much I would like to give more than 3 stars, it is unfortunately not warranted. 3 maybe too much. Visiting a patient in Brixham Wards is not pleasant. The staff are wonderful, clearly not enough of them but they do their best. The noise pollution on the wards is for a visitor unbearable, so I can't imagine how the patients must feel. Constant beep beep beep, not to mention some extremely unpleasant odours from bowel movements in the bed next door. How can a patient recover with all of that going on. I thought Brixham would be better because of the travelling distance, but I wish now I had opted for Totnes for my partner. It seems more like an old peoples care home than a hospital.

Date of experience: August 03, 2024

I have recently had cause to attend a couple of departments at this hospital.
I can honestly say that each and every person I have come into contact with there have all been amazing, from porters, receptionists, doctors and nurses, all have been wonderful.
Yes, sometimes it has taken most of the day to get results and be released by these hard working people, but to get a result straight away is worth a lot if you are worried about a condition. It is not wasted time if it settles your mind.
The staff here deserve all the praise you can give them.

Date of experience: July 15, 2024

I cannot find the words how to commend this incredible first class service
The delivery suite team were so very professional , knowledgeable and provided such a caring approach paying every attention to detail.
Nothing was too much trouble and the whole experience was just such a first class service from an excellent , dedicated team.

Date of experience: June 18, 2024