Torbay Hospital heart unit move plans dropped following campaign

Devon MPs have welcomed news that the bosses of the county’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) have dropped plans to change the way urgent heart patients are treated in Torbay.

Torbay MP Steve Darling said: “This is a real battle won, but we have not yet won the war.”

Campaigners warned that lives would be put at risk as a result of the initial proposals to move the cardiology unit from Torbay Hospital to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

They said the extra time taken to get patients the care they needed, particularly in summer traffic and bad winter weather, could cost lives.

Campaigners set up a high-profile Heart Campaign to get their message across, and were supported by politicians across the political spectrum. Among them were South Devon’s three Liberal Democrat MPs, who raised the issue at Westminster.

Torbay’s cardiac unit is recognised as one of the strongest performing centres in the UK, and was ranked fourth in the country for emergency angioplasty (stent) outcomes.

Now the ICB says it will be pushing forward with a broader investigation, which will have an engagement plan attached. 

Newton Abbot Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley said: “The proposed changes were misguided from the outset and I am glad they are now scrapped.

“I am pleased to see that the ICB is now engaging with the community to determine local needs and that the new framework for neighbourhoods suggests that some of this could involve our cottage hospitals.”

And South Devon Lib Dem MP Caroline Voaden added: “I’m glad that the strength of feeling from constituents, clinicians, patients, MPs and the Heart Campaign has been heard. This is very good news, and I will continue to work with Steve and Martin to make sure Torbay Hospital gets the support and investment it deserves.”

Mr Darling went on: “This reflects the strengthening of prevention and early intervention work in cardiology across Devon, for which I congratulate everyone who has worked to make this happen.

“However, it also reflects the strength of feeling and support for Torbay’s cardiology unit from our community across Torbay and South Devon, whether it’s medics at Torbay Hospital, patients, or the Heart Campaign.

“I remain aware that elsewhere in the country we have seen the stripping away of services from some smaller hospitals, and I remain on high alert to prevent this happening to Torbay Hospital, where staff undertake incredible services for our community.

“Loss of vital services would be extremely detrimental to our community, and I will be asking the ICB at their board meeting next week how they are working towards a more collaborative culture between the Devon hospitals, and about their strategic approach to employment within more deprived areas.”