Mount Stuart Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK (Ramsay UK), was pleased to welcome Steve Darling, MP for Torbay, for a return visit to the hospital, accompanied by his guide dog, Jennie.
During the visit, Mr Darling met with senior leaders to see first‑hand the range of services provided to patients across Devon and the wider South West, reinforcing the hospital’s ongoing commitment to delivering high‑quality care for the local community.
Discussions explored the challenges and opportunities facing local health services, and highlighted Mount Stuart Hospital’s continued close working relationship with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the local NHS trust during what has been a challenging period.
Hospital Director Ethan Whaley also outlined the introduction of Mount Stuart Hospital’s new Aquablation therapy service, highlighting the clinical benefits this innovative treatment offers for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) compared with traditional TURP procedures. He noted that Aquablation is not currently supported within the ICB’s clinical commissioning policy, and we discussed how we can make this available to as many patients as possible.
The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss Mount Stuart Hospital’s close partnership with Torbay Hospital, including how the launch of Torbay’s new electronic patient record system, Epic, over the Easter weekend will support improved information sharing and continuity of care between the two organisations.
As part of the programme, a tour of the hospital highlighted further ward refurbishments, including a new colour scheme, flooring, furniture, upgraded lighting, a redesigned ward desk, room refurbishments and new televisions, to improve workflows and enhance patient experience. The visit also included the newly refurbished physiotherapy gym, where OPD and Physiotherapy Manager Chris Loverock discussed the breadth of rehabilitation services available to patients.
Time in the hospital’s theatre department allowed for discussion with Theatre Team Leader Paul Turnbull on staff training initiatives, including the move to deliver the majority of training in‑house. This now includes Immediate Life Support (ILS) and Acute Illness Management (AIM) training, alongside regular scenario‑based exercises to support patient safety.
Following the visit, Steve Darling MP for Torbay said:“Mount Stuart Hospital has been a vital part of our community for decades, providing high-quality care to residents across Torbay and Devon. It is clear from my visit that the team remains deeply committed to serving local people and continuously improving patient experience.
As well as delivering essential healthcare services, the hospital is also an important local employer, supporting jobs and contributing to the strength of our community. I am pleased to see the ongoing investment, innovation, and strong partnership working that ensures it continues to play such a key role in the area.”
Ethan Whaley, Hospital Director said:“It was a real pleasure to welcome Steve back to Mount Stuart Hospital and to share the many improvements our teams have been working so hard on since his last visit in 2024. Steve’s genuine passion for healthcare really shines through, and we share the same commitment to ensuring people in our community can access the care they need, when they need it.”
About Mount Stuart Hospital
Mount Stuart Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK, opened in 1984 and is one of Devon's leading private hospitals with an excellent reputation for delivering high quality healthcare for patients with health insurance, patients who are self-funding treatment or NHS patients exercising choice through the e-referral system.
Mount Stuart Hospital cares for patients from initial outpatient consultation and diagnostic scanning through to surgical treatment and recovery. Additionally, the Mount Stuart Hospital has an onsite physiotherapy department and private GP.
Specialty areas include:
- Orthopaedics
- General Surgery
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Diagnostics: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT and endoscopy