Our timeline

We have a long history of health and care services in Torbay and South Devon. We’ve been capturing some of our key milestones on a timeline that’s adorning the wall of one of our main corridors at Torbay Hospital.

This short video gives a glimpse of the historical milestones that are captured in the display:

You can see the full timeline on the level 4 link corridor at Torbay Hospital.

Alternatively, please see the online version of our history below.

Have we missed a milestone or not got something quite right? Let us know.

1983

The Mental Health Act (1983) introduced the issue of consent in mental health treatment and set out when people can be detained, or “sectioned”. It applies in England and Wales, and is still the main piece of legislation that covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health disorder.

1984

A new Intensive Care Unit was built on the Torbay Hospital site.

A new mental health unit was also built on the Torbay Hospital site.

1985

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, opened the hospital’s new maternity unit – The John MacPherson ward. This was named in honour of Mr John MacPherson, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

John MacPherson Ward

1987

The world’s first heart, lung and liver transplant was performed. The procedure helped pave the way for other multiple organ transplants.

1988

NHS breast and cervical cancer screening were introduced. Mammograms are offered to women aged over 50, and women aged 20 to 64 are offered cervical cancer screening.

1990

A new pathology and mortuary building was built at Torbay Hospital.

Hetherington Unit was officially opened and TREC (Torbay Research and Education Centre) an integrated central library and lecture theatre was constructed.

1991

NHS trusts were set up in the first of several reorganisations of how health services are planned, structured and paid for. Torbay Hospital became one of the first NHS trusts in the country and was known as South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

1992

27 August 1992

On 27 August 1992, Devon Air Ambulance flies its first mission – the service operates 5 days a week until July 1997 when it is extended to 7 days a week. In November 2016, they began night time flying up to midnight every day.

1993

The new Totnes Community Hospital was opened by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Kent.

There had been a cottage hospital in Totnes since the nineteenth century.

1994

The NHS Organ Donor Register was launched.

1994

A new Day Surgery Unit and a Cardiology outpatients department was built at Torbay Hospital.

1997

The “CARRIE” project Crisis Assessment and Rapid Reablement for the elderly was rolled out. It was a highly successful service which led to the development of the intermediate care service.

1998

The NHS Direct service for non-emergency health problems was piloted in three areas of England. It has since been replaced with NHS 111.

1999

Dawlish Community Hospital was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. There has been a hospital in Dawlish since 1871.

2001

A three-storey extension was built to form the Cataract Day Case Unit at Torbay Hospital.

2005

Torbay Care NHS Trust became one of just five integrated health and social care organisations in the country and built its model of care around a fictional character called Mrs Smith which formed the foundation of our current care model.

The Trust was responsible for nine community hospitals and for adult social care for the Torbay and South Devon region. Adult social care staff from Torbay Council TUPE’d to the new organisation while adult social care staff from South Devon remained employed by Devon County Council.

2005

Torbay Pharmaceuticals produced over 1million units.

2006

We welcomed our first undergraduate medical students from local medical schools in Exeter and Plymouth.

2006

October 2006

We introduced self-referral into musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

2007

South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (responsible for Torbay Hospital) was authorised as one of the early NHS Foundation Trusts and became South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.