Sally Allen: Inside the Pavilion – and inside the battle for our hospital

Last week there was good news and bad news, so not much change there.

Last Wednesday, in my role of chair of the Torbay Civic Society, I took a group of our Executive Committee members around the Pavilion. 

Hard hats and sensible shoes in place, we were guided by chief engineer, Tim Jones. This was my second trip around the Pavilion since it was saved by the sheer hard work and brilliance of Cordelia Law, Jontie Williams and Paul Fraser, to whom the town owe a huge debt in ensuring that this wonderful building can now be lovingly restored and not turned into a hotel reception or even worse, be bulldozed out of existence.

I was doubly delighted that Jontie Williams (now a valuable member of our Executive Committee) and Councillor Law could join us. 

Apart from the freezing cold, it was fascinating to see the progress from my last visit. It is being handled with the precision and care given to an important archaeological dig with the careful removal, documentation, labelling, packing and storage of decorative plaster ceilings and wall finishes that have been damaged by damp and water ingress. 

Read next: New hope for Torquay Pavilion as preservation work gathers pace

These historic pieces are even stored at the correct temperature to ensure maximum protection due their significance.

The original steel frame, apparently made from the same steel as the Titanic, has held up rather better than the ship! 

However, some of the frame is in a poor condition, but I understand nothing that can’t be restored. Even the beautiful stained-glass window from the main gable end has been carefully removed for safe storage.

My memories go way back with the Pavilion because I remember going with my grandmother, who was an avid theatre goer when I was a little girl. 

I remember the Charlie Chester show with great fondness as for two years running I was plucked from the audience to be presented with a giant teddy bear, which on both occasions were far bigger than me! 

This might have had something to do with my grandmother having permanent seats in the front row of course. 

Other great memories are of the Gang Show, the Fol-de-Rols summer concert shows, Morecambe & Wise and lots of Agatha Christie plays.

I also remember my grandmother and mother telling me stories of some of the great actors who brought their touring companies to play this very famous theatre. 

One was Sir Donald Wolfit, who apparently after every performance would hang on the safety curtain telling the audience that he had given ‘his all’ to his performance. His favourite role was King Lear, which he hammed-up to the hilt. I wish I had seen it. 

Wolfit was wonderfully brought to life by the wonderful Albert Finney in ‘The Dresser’ with Tom Courtney playing his dresser. 

Very happy memories. Our aim is to bring the Pavilion back to life and attract visitors from all over the world to appreciate the jewel in Torbay’s crown.

Then the bad news, we are still struggling to get information out of NHS Devon, NHS England, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, the Integrated Care Board and et al, even though Susie Colley has been inundating them with Freedom of Information (FOI) letters. 

I have never seen so many questions be returned with the same answer ‘we do not hold the information you request’. Well, somebody must!! It seems to be that we are up against an artform in avoidance of answering straight questions. It is typical Sir Humphrey Appleton stuff.

The more questions we ask, the more frustrated we become. Let’s not forget that the NHS is the biggest employer in Torbay, and so for our hospital to be downgraded in any way at all will mean the loss of employment in all sectors from hospital cleaners, porters, technicians and even nurses and doctors. 

Once gone, it will never be reinstated. So, you can understand why we have the unions support in fighting against any downgrading or changes in the services our hospital currently offers.

The most important thing for everyone to remember is that even if one department is moved from the Torbay Hospital, there will be an immediate and ongoing domino effect to the services they currently offer. This is because they are all inter-dependant on each other. It is not rocket science, it is just a basic and fundamental fact.

In June 2020, the Royal College of Physicians undertook a review of the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital’s Cardiac Unit. That report, published in January 2021, identified 29 areas of concern and gave recommendations to address the problems. It was subsequently reported in March 2021 that only 6 of those recommendations had been “dealt with”.

Torbay’s cardiac unit is widely recognised by its clinicians and national audit data as one of the strongest performing centres in the UK, with consultants reporting that it has ranked as high as 4th nationally for emergency angioplasty outcomes. 

The service has built a reputation for rapid treatment, excellent clinical practice and strong patient outcomes. 

Now we must fight to save our award-winning cardiac department at Torbay Hospital, which has received national recognition from the Royal College of Physicians for excellence in patient care and has been designated an NHS Beacon Service for coronary heart disease

At all costs, this level of performance should not be diluted or placed at risk by collaboration with the Royal Devon & Exeter Cardiac Department that has previously been subject to serious external review.

The proposed Case for Change makes no sense and in its current form will cause more harm than good. 

Torbay Hospital must stay as it is, offering the award-winning cardiac service it is renowned for. Surely, the Integrated Care Board has a duty of care to the public in the catchment area of Torbay Hospital, which let’s not forget stretches down as far as East Prawle.

For all of Wes Streeting’s sugary words, this attack on our community, now does seem to come from the top, as that can be the only reason the ICB are taking such a hard line in the face of irrefutable objections. Denial and pig headedness are words that spring to mind. But we will fight, fight and fight!

To bring more attention to our determination to retain our award-winning cardiac unit at Torbay Hospital, next Saturday, December 6, from 11 am to 12 noon, the Heart Campaign will be creating a Circle of Hope around Torbay Hospital. This will be a peaceful demonstration to show our support and commitment to our hospital. 

The plan is for us to all join hands along Newton Road, between the two hospital entrances at Lowes Bridge and Cadewell Lane. Meeting points are at 11 am at Lowes Bridge, The Old Engine House or the Cadewell Lane entrance. At 11.30 am we will join hands until 12 noon.

Please add the date to your diary and come along. If you are able, please wear something red to show your support. You can make a difference.