Protest planned this weekend as questions persist over Torbay heart care

A peaceful public demonstration will take place on 6 December amid growing local concern about the future of specialist cardiology services at Torbay Hospital.

The event, organised by the Heart Campaign and supported by the Torquay Chamber of Commerce, follows months of public discussion about proposals by NHS Devon’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) to examine closer collaboration between cardiac departments in Torbay and Exeter.

Campaigners believe the plans could ultimately result in emergency heart attack patients from Torbay being redirected to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (RD&E) along with all cardiology services ultimately moving - a prospect they say would put lives at risk.

Susie Colley, Chair of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign, said the demonstration aimed to send a clear message to the ICB that local people expect cardiac care to remain in Torbay

“We’ve looked at considering the geography, the treatment times and the clinical realities,” she said. “If someone in Torbay is having a heart attack, they need to reach the catheter lab here within minutes. It is improbably and highly unlikely that a Heart attack patient would survive past Telegraph Hill.You can’t expect someone to survive a journey all the way to Exeter. Time is of the essence, you’ve got about an hour or you’re dead. It’s as simple as that.”

Concerns first emerged earlier this year when the ICB proposed an eight-week trial, from Friday to Monday, under which some emergency cardiac patients from Torbay would be diverted to Exeter.

The plan was “paused” following local objections, although campaigners emphasise the wording used by NHS Devon - “paused”, not withdrawn - has left anxiety unresolved.

Mrs Colley, a former cardiothoracic theatre sister, said campaigners and clinicians had since uncovered indications of wider plans to integrate the two cardiology departments more formally.

“Torbay’s cardiology team is the 4th best cardiology depts of percutaneous perfusion (treatment of heart attacks) one of the top performers in the country for emergency cardiac procedures,” she said.

“Exeter (RDE) currently ranks far lower at 48th, and they already send patients to us - Torbay - when they’re too stretched. It makes no sense to move services away from where survival rates are strongest.”

The ICB has insisted in previous statements that no decisions have yet been made and have been reminded by the Heart Campaign that if that any significant change to medical services would require full public consultation. (NHS Act 2006/2007)

Mrs Colley said the Heart Campaign has submitted multiple Freedom of Information requests regarding external consultancy work and historical assessments of cardiac services, but claims essential details remain unavailable, as allegedly the ICB “do not hold the required information.“

This, she said, has fuelled concerns about transparency.

She added that many local people still do not realise the potential impact of any reduction in specialist
services, “If the cardiac department eventually closes… no self-respecting consultant is going to want to operate in a hospital where there’s no cardiac support.” Ultimately this could lead to the downgrading of the hospital to Cottage Hospital status where all services would be in Plymouth or Exeter.

Organisers anticipate a large turnout for the demonstration, which will involve participants forming a continuous line from Lawes Bridge to Cadewell Lane, with supporters holding red items and banners to symbolise cardiac care.

A drone will film the demonstration at midday, with participants asked to arrive from 11:00.

Campaigners say the event is modelled on a successful action held in Huddersfield several years ago, where public pressure helped reverse proposals affecting that area’s hospital.

The campaign intends to continue pressing for answers after the demonstration. Mrs Colley has not ruled out further action, depending on the outcomes of ongoing information requests and future NHS proposals.