FOI Tracker

Freedom of Information Requests

This page tracks all Freedom of Information requests submitted as part of The Heart Campaign Torbay's investigation into cardiac services in Devon.

Click any request to view details and download documents where available.

Last updated: 11 December 2025

7
Documents Available
1
Due 15 December
4
Awaiting Response
3
Under Review/Challenge

Urgent - Response Due 15 December 2025

Why This Matters: NHS Devon ICB claims Royal Devon can absorb Torbay's cardiac workload, yet this data reveals their cath labs are already "fully utilised during weekdays." If RDE is at full capacity and already transferring 284 patients TO Torbay, how can they take on Torbay's cases? This FOI directly challenges the feasibility of the proposed service relocation.
2,674
Weekend procedures
Jan 2023 - Oct 2025
20.29
WTE consultant
cardiologists
284
Inpatient transfers
to Torbay since Oct 2023

This request sought information about cath lab capacity and utilization rates, weekend elective cardiology procedures, consultant staffing levels, and patient transfers between RDE and other hospitals.

Key finding: RDE cath labs are "fully utilised during weekdays" - they are running weekend sessions to manage demand.

Download Document (PDF)
Why This Matters: The Royal College of Physicians identified 29 concerns at Royal Devon in 2020. While RDE claims 25 cardiology recommendations were completed, questions remain about whether the broader concerns have been addressed. If RDE still has unresolved quality issues, moving cardiac services there puts patients at risk. This FOI seeks to understand what progress has actually been made.
Action Required: Chase if not received by 15 December 2025

This request seeks the Royal College of Physicians' recommendations and reviews of cardiology services at RDE, particularly any reviews conducted after the 2020 report that identified 29 concerns.

Status: Extension requested by RDE. Exemptions claimed have been challenged. Response now due 15 December 2025.

Awaiting Response

Why This Matters: Edge Health's demand and capacity modelling is being used to justify major service changes, yet nobody will confirm who commissioned it, what the terms of reference were, or how much it cost. NHS England says they don't hold the information. NHS Devon initially claimed the same, then redirected enquiries. This lack of transparency about foundational evidence is deeply concerning - who authorized this work and what were they asked to find?

Following NHS England stating they do not hold information about the Edge Health modelling contract, this request asks NHS Devon ICB to confirm:

  • Whether they commissioned or authorized the Edge Health modelling
  • Who has authority over this work
  • Contract details and costs
Note: NHS Devon initially stated they would answer whether they hold this information, following reference to Section 16 duty to provide advice and assistance.
Why This Matters: When concerns are raised about RDE's cardiac services, the hospital suggests contacting the ICB instead of responding. This appears to be a deflection tactic to avoid transparency. If RDE won't answer questions about their own services, how can we trust their capacity to take on additional workload?
Action Required: Chase RDE for response date

RDE suggested writing to the ICB instead of responding to this FOI request.

The FOI Runaround: Edge Health's modelling is being used to justify major service changes - but every organisation denies commissioning it. Someone paid for this work. The public has a right to know who, and what they were asked to find.
3
Organisations asked
who commissioned it
0
Will admit
to commissioning it
6+
Weeks to get
RDE response

Timeline of deflection:

  • 26 October 2025: Direct enquiry sent to RDE CEO Sam Higginson asking who commissioned the Edge Health modelling
  • 17 November 2025: FOI submitted to NHS England
  • NHS England response: "We do not hold this information"
  • 20 November 2025: FOI submitted to Devon ICB
  • Devon ICB response: Redirected to NHS England
  • 10 December 2025: RDE CEO finally responds: "The Edge Health modelling was not commissioned by the Royal Devon... we do not hold this information"
Why This Matters: ICBs are required by law to assist with FOI requests under Section 16, not create circular referrals. If NHS England doesn't hold information about the modelling, Devon ICB claims not to hold it, and Royal Devon says they didn't commission it - then who did? This circular pattern of denial effectively blocks public scrutiny of evidence being used to justify relocating cardiac services away from Torbay.

RDE CEO statement (10 December 2025): "We support transparency and will always advocate for the publication of any or all relevant reports and modelling assumptions alongside any draft case for change to enable meaningful scrutiny."

Note: If RDE supports transparency, they should be pressing whoever DID commission the work to release it.

Related FOI references: 2510/2272157, FOI-2510-2272157, NHSE:0679333

Download Original Enquiry (PDF) Download RDE Response (PDF)
Why This Matters: If key decision-makers were aware of the Royal College of Physicians' findings about quality concerns at Royal Devon, yet still proceeded with plans to move services there, this raises serious questions about patient safety priorities. Did they know about the problems and proceed anyway? Or were they making decisions without full information? Either scenario is concerning.

This request asks whether relevant decision-makers were aware of the Royal College of Physicians review findings and the six critical issues identified.

Under Review or Challenge

Why This Matters: Waiting times reveal the real capacity constraints at Royal Devon. The initial response showed average waits of over 32 weeks for angiograms, with maximums over 72 weeks. Yet RDE is supposed to take on Torbay's workload? The incomplete nature of this response and subsequent internal review challenges suggest the full picture of capacity constraints is being obscured.
32.9
Average weeks wait
for angiogram
72.86
Maximum weeks wait
for angiogram
£7,080
Average cost
of angioplasty

This FOI requested waiting times for angiograms, angioplasty, and pacemaker insertions at RDE from 1 July 2025.

Timeline:

  • Initially submitted to NHS Devon (28 August 2025) - referred to RDE
  • Re-submitted to RDE (8 September 2025)
  • Response received but incomplete (6 October 2025)
  • Internal review requested (7 October 2025)
  • Internal review response inadequate (7 November 2025)
  • Referred to Information Commissioner (6 November 2025)
Status: The internal review failed to address deficiencies and did not provide the information requested, nor did it give valid explanations or cite appropriate exemptions. Now with the Information Commissioner's Office.
Download Initial Response (PDF) Download Follow-up Response (PDF) Download Internal Review (PDF) Download ICO Complaint (PDF)
Why This Matters: NHS Devon is using Section 22 exemption (information intended for future publication) to withhold details about Edge Health's capacity modelling. However, they won't confirm when this information will be published or even if it will be published in full. Using "future publication" as a reason to withhold information indefinitely undermines FOI law and prevents scrutiny of evidence being used to justify major service changes. If the modelling supports their case, why not release it?

Originally submitted 26 October 2025. NHS Devon stated they do not hold this information.

Challenge: Internal review requested on 25 November 2025 challenging the incorrect application of Section 22 ("information intended for future publication").
Download Original Response (PDF)
Why This Matters: The "Case for Change" is the foundational document justifying the proposed relocation of cardiac services. This FOI sought basic information about timelines, delays, and SRO absence - yet NHS Devon refused to confirm whether they even hold documented timelines. They used Section 40(2) to withhold all SRO absence details and provided only vague narrative instead of recorded information. If there's nothing to hide, why not release the project timeline?
29 Jan
2026 Board meeting
for "next steps"
s40(2)
Exemption claimed
for SRO details
0
Timelines provided
(original or revised)

What we asked for:

  • Information about the SRO's "temporary unplanned absence" (date, duration, communications)
  • Original and revised timelines for the Case for Change
  • Internal risk assessments or escalation papers mentioning delays
  • Confirmation of interim SRO arrangements

What they provided:

  • Section 40(2) exemption for all SRO absence information (personal data)
  • No documented timelines - just vague narrative about "gaining feedback"
  • Confirmation NHS Devon CMO is providing "interim clinical leadership"
  • Next steps will be considered at South West Peninsula Board on 29 January 2026
Internal Review Challenge (9 December 2025): The response failed to confirm whether documented timelines exist, did not apply proper exemptions to non-personal information, and gave no explanation for delay-related documentation. Response due ~7 January 2026.
Download Response (PDF) Download Internal Review Request (PDF)

Documents Available

Why This Matters: If Torbay's cath labs generate income for cardiac services, where does that money go? If funds are held centrally rather than reinvested in Torbay's facilities, this could explain why the labs haven't been refurbished despite generating revenue. Understanding the financial flows helps explain whether underinvestment in Torbay is strategic rather than necessary.

Asked where cardiac services finances go and whether there is money available to refurbish catheterization laboratories.

Timeline:

  • Initial request (8 September 2025) - NHS Devon responded "we do not hold this information" (11 September 2025)
  • Clarification request to Teape (11 October 2025) - received actual answer (14 October 2025)

Key finding: Funds held in central budget. Expenditure budgets for services are set annually and aim to cover the costs of the activity agreed during planning, less any agreed annual efficiency targets.

Download Document (PDF)
Why This Matters: NHS Devon's consistent response of "we do not hold this information" and redirection to hospitals is part of a pattern that fragments accountability. The ICB should have oversight of waiting times across their area if they're making decisions about service configuration. Claiming not to hold basic performance data raises questions about their competence to make evidence-based decisions.

Requested waiting times for cardiac procedures carried out at RDE from 1 July 2025.

Outcome: NHS Devon does not hold this information. Request referred to RDE (see RDF3688-25 above).

Download Document (PDF)
Why This Matters: Virtual wards are being promoted as part of the solution for managing cardiac patients closer to home. Understanding how these operate, their capacity, and effectiveness is important context for assessing whether alternatives to hospital-based care are genuinely viable or whether they're being oversold to justify service reductions.

Request regarding Virtual Wards. Extension requested on 2 November 2025 to 9 December 2025.

Document not yet published on website

FOI Contact Information

To submit Freedom of Information requests to the relevant organisations:

  • Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust:
    Email: rduh.foi@nhs.net
  • Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust:
    Visit: Freedom of Information page
  • NHS Devon ICB:
    Email: d-icb.foi@nhs.net

All documents obtained through legitimate Freedom of Information requests submitted between September and December 2025.
Documents are provided for transparency and public interest in cardiac healthcare services across Devon.