NHS Trust Chief responds to concerns about the future of services at Torbay Hospital

These are times of change for health services in Torbay and South Devon.

A Heart Campaign has been launched amid fears that cardiac treatment services could be switched 20 miles away from Torbay Hospital to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in Exeter.

That has been followed by news that the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is reviewing its pioneering Integrated Care Organisation partnership with Torbay Council when delivering adult social care services.

Torbay was in line for an estimated £400million total rebuild project. It remains in government spending plans but has been kicked into the long grass.

Torbay Weekly editor Jim Parker raised concerns about the very future of Torbay as an acute hospital and, with the ICO under threat, asked: “Is this the thin end of the wedge?”

Here Joe Teape, chief executive of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, answers those concerns…

Not the ‘Thin End of the Wedge’: Why Care Here Endures

Jim Parker’s piece asks whether changes under discussion are “the thin end of the wedge” and whether Torbay Hospital is at risk. I understand why those questions create anxiety. When you or your family have needed us, you’ve seen the kindness and skill that keep care close to home. You value those services—and you want to protect them. So do I.

Let’s start with adult social care and integration

Torbay’s integrated health and social care model has been a strength for years—helping people avoid unnecessary hospital stays and return home quickly and safely. That’s not just our view: the Care Quality Commission recently rated Adult Social Care in Torbay as Good, recognising person‑centred practice and strong partnership working. It’s independent reassurance that joined‑up care here delivers real benefits.

 Why we’re talking about change

Across the NHS, demand is growing and money is tight. Today, the cost of delivering adult social care exceeds the funding received by £30m and demand continues to grow.

We have a duty to balance our budget and to deliver the best possible safe service for our population — not just today, but for the long term. That means working as a system — NHS, local authorities (in arrangements that may evolve), the voluntary and community sector and – crucially – families and individuals.

Health and wellbeing don’t start or end at the hospital door. When we work together we can help more people sooner and keep care as local as we can. The way we partner may change, but our purpose will not: safe, high‑quality care, as close to home as possible.

 Section 75 — what’s being considered and why

We are reviewing the legal and contractual arrangements (the Section 75 agreement) that underpin how adult social care is delivered in Torbay. This is about sustainability - organising ourselves so services remain safe and strong when resources are limited and demand is rising.

These discussions are ongoing and complex; no decisions have been made. If a decision was made what this would mean is not a change to service, but rather a change to contractual arrangements whereby the adult social care service would be delivered by Torbay Council rather than the Trust.

This would replicate the model that already exists across the rest of Devon and the wider country. We only need to look as far as South Devon, the rest of the population we serve, to see where this works well.

 Investing in Torbay Hospital

Last week we opened the first phase of a £14.2m Emergency Department redevelopment: a brighter reception, more triage rooms and better spaces for staff. The next phase will add capacity, upgrade the minors’ area and introduce dedicated mental health triage, with completion expected in spring 2026. Early feedback from patients and staff has been positive.

Work is also underway to refurbish our day surgery and eye surgery theatres, upgrade our oral and maxillofacial clinical areas, and relocate our surgical assessment unit closer to general theatres — improvements that will make care safer and more efficient.

Alongside this, we’ve secured critical infrastructure risk funding to tackle urgent estate issues and keep services running safely. We’ve also submitted bids for additional capital monies — some of which have already been supported — and we’re continuing to submit further bids for investment, just as we promised when we were informed that the New Hospital Programme would be delayed. These bids are about accelerating upgrades and strengthening the facilities our teams and patients rely on.

I won’t pretend our estate doesn’t need long‑term renewal; that’s well understood locally and nationally. We remain in the New Hospital Programme despite the timelines for this changing. But it’s important to see the whole picture: we are doing everything we can to make practical improvements now while we continue conversations about future capital priorities.

 Cardiology — addressing ‘thin end of the wedge’ worries

I’ve met campaigners and heard the concerns. Let me be clear: there are no formal proposals to change cardiology services at Torbay Hospital. The Integrated Care Board will publish a draft case for change to set out challenges and invite views early next year; it will not propose service changes. Meanwhile, refurbishing our cardiac catheter labs remains a top clinical priority in our capital plans for 2026/27. Our commitment is to keep care safe, high‑quality and as local as possible.

 Keeping the conversation honest and human

Constructive challenge helps us improve; speculation creates worry. We’ll keep talking — with patients, families, campaigners, councillors, MPs and partners across the voluntary and community sector — and we’ll publish updates through our usual channels. If you have questions, please get in touch. Let’s focus on what we can do together to strengthen care in Torbay and South Devon.

Finally, to our staff, volunteers and partners: thank you. The CQC’s ‘good’ rating for adult social care in Torbay and the opening of our new emergency department spaces reflect your compassion, skill and commitment. We’ll stay focused on what matters most — making sure people can get safe, compassionate care close to home, using the resources we have wisely.