Transfer of Payroll Services to the One Devon Payroll and Pensions Service Hosted by Royal Devon
Sent to: Joe Teape (Trust CEO), with wide distribution to members of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee (Layla Moran MP, Andrew George MP, Danny Beales MP, Beccy Cooper MP, Josh Fenton-Glynn MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Joe Robertson MP, Greg Stafford MP) and Heart Campaign committee members including Dr Phil Keeling and Sally Allen-Gerard.
The questions put to the Trust:
- Why has payroll provision been transferred to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust?
- Was this decision taken solely on grounds of efficiency or cost, or does it form part of a wider programme of integration between the two Trusts?
- Are any other corporate or clinical services expected to transfer in the future?
- Is this change in any way linked to the proposals to relocate pathology services to Gadeon House in Exeter, or is it entirely separate?
- Why was this decision not publicly communicated in advance, what consultation took place with staff, and did the Board consider the impact that the lack of communication might have on public confidence?
- Can the Trust confirm that this transfer does not represent the first stage of a wider programme of transferring services or functions from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust?
The letter asks for the Trust's response to be published, so that staff, patients and the wider public can be reassured that there is no undisclosed programme of transferring functions away from the Trust.
From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: Joe Teape (Trust CEO)
CC: Layla Moran MP, Andrew George MP, Danny Beales MP, Beccy Cooper MP, Josh Fenton-Glynn MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Joe Robertson MP, Greg Stafford MP, and Heart Campaign committee members
Good Morning
I am writing to seek an explanation regarding the announcement that, with effect from 1 July 2026, payroll services for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are being transferred to the new One Devon Payroll and Pensions Service, hosted by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust has repeatedly reassured staff, patients and the public that there are no significant organisational changes taking place and that concerns about the future of Torbay Hospital are unfounded. Against that background, the transfer of an important corporate function to another NHS Trust inevitably raises legitimate questions.
Could you please explain:
- Why has payroll provision been transferred to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust?
- Was this decision taken solely on grounds of efficiency or cost, or does it form part of a wider programme of integration between the two Trusts?
- Are any other corporate or clinical services expected to transfer in the future?
- Is this change in any way linked to the proposals to relocate pathology services to Gadeon House in Exeter, or is it entirely separate?
Given the current public concern surrounding proposals affecting Torbay Hospital, it is difficult to understand why this change was not communicated openly and proactively to staff, local residents and stakeholders. Announcing that a key operational function has moved to another Trust, whilst continuing to maintain that "nothing is changing", risks undermining public confidence and creating the perception that significant changes are being introduced incrementally without meaningful public explanation.
Transparency is fundamental to maintaining trust. I would therefore be grateful if you could explain why this decision was not publicly communicated in advance, what consultation took place with staff, and whether the Board considered the impact that the lack of communication might have on public confidence.
I would also appreciate confirmation that this transfer does not represent the first stage of a wider programme of transferring services or functions from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Given the importance of this issue to the communities served by Torbay Hospital, I look forward to receiving a full and transparent response.
In the interests of openness and accountability, I would be grateful if your response could be published so that staff, patients and the wider public can be reassured that there is no undisclosed programme of transferring functions away from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
Kindest regards
Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign
Related material on the tracker:
- The Gadeon House Clarification thread records the relocation of routine cellular pathology to Exeter and cytology to Royal Devon, with the campaign's 2 July twelve-question challenge outstanding.
- The PM & Health Select Committee thread sets out the campaign's cumulative-change argument: that individually small changes may together amount to a substantial variation in services requiring statutory consultation under the NHS Act 2006.
- The TSD10523 FOI seeks a ten-year account of services reduced, relocated, outsourced or withdrawn from Torbay Hospital, which this transfer would now fall within.
Status
Letter sent to the Trust Chief Executive on 5 July 2026, three days after the intranet announcement and four days after the transfer took effect. Awaiting a response to the six questions, including confirmation of whether the payroll transfer is linked to the Gadeon House pathology programme or forms part of a wider integration between the two Trusts, and awaiting the Trust's decision on the request to publish its answer. Any further corporate or clinical transfers disclosed in the response will be added to this thread and assessed against the cumulative-change argument put to the Prime Minister and the Health and Social Care Committee.