From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: Keir Starmer MP (Prime Minister), James Murray MP, Matthew Pennycook MP
CC: Joe Teape, John Govett, Steve Darling MP
Subject: Letter to Keir Starmer and Health and Housing Ministers

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing on behalf of The Heart Campaign and many residents, patients, carers and clinicians across South Devon who are increasingly concerned about the future of acute healthcare services at Torbay Hospital.

Our campaign is not opposed to NHS modernisation, service improvement or the development of more efficient ways of working. However, we believe that any reconfiguration of services must be transparent, clinically justified, properly consulted upon and demonstrably improve patient access and outcomes.

We are deeply concerned that a series of proposals affecting key services at Torbay Hospital, including previous plans relating to cardiac services and more recent concerns regarding pathology and histopathology provision, may represent a gradual reduction in the role of the principal acute hospital serving South Devon.

The Heart Campaign is concerned that the cumulative effect of the proposed changes to acute services at Torbay Hospital may constitute a substantial variation in the provision of NHS services. If so, questions arise as to whether the public involvement, consultation and scrutiny requirements contained within the National Health Service Act 2006, as amended, and related regulations have been fully complied with.

We are acutely aware of the legislation, and cite the relevant provisions below:

National Health Service Act 2006, section 242 (for NHS trusts and foundation trusts) requires involvement of patients and the public in planning services, developing proposals for service changes, and decisions affecting service operation.

National Health Service Act 2006, section 14Z45 (inserted through the Health and Care Act 2022 for Integrated Care Boards) imposes a similar duty on ICBs when developing proposals for changes to commissioning arrangements.

National Health Service Act 2006, section 244 and the associated Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013 require consultation with the local authority's health scrutiny function where there is a "substantial development" or "substantial variation" of NHS services.

Torbay Hospital serves a large and geographically dispersed population across South Devon. The area experiences substantial seasonal increases in demand due to tourism, while extensive housing development continues across the region.

Our campaign has engaged extensively with local processes. We have submitted more than forty Freedom of Information requests, attended scrutiny meetings, organised numerous public meetings, and sought constructive dialogue with decision-makers. Despite these efforts, many fundamental questions regarding the future of acute services remain unanswered.

We are therefore requesting ministerial intervention to ensure full transparency regarding the long-term future of acute services at Torbay Hospital; publication of the evidence supporting any proposed service transfers or reductions; assurance that all consultation and public engagement requirements have been properly fulfilled; an independent assessment of the impact on patient access, cancer pathways, emergency care and healthcare outcomes across South Devon; and confirmation that healthcare infrastructure planning is keeping pace with population growth and increasing demand.

We respectfully ask for your urgent attention to this matter before any further significant changes are made.

Kindest regards

Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign
(Declined) Governor of Torbay Hospital

From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: 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, Alex McIntyre MP
CC: Steve Darling MP
Subject: Urgent Parliamentary Scrutiny Required Regarding Acute Services at Torbay Hospital

Dear Members of the Health and Social Care Committee,

I am writing as Chair of The Heart Campaign in Torquay, South Devon to seek your assistance and scrutiny regarding growing concerns over the future of acute healthcare services at Torbay Hospital.

I attach below a detailed letter that was sent to the Prime Minister outlining concerns shared by patients, carers, clinicians and residents across South Devon regarding a series of proposed and potential service changes affecting Torbay Hospital.

This is not a party-political issue. Access to safe, timely and effective healthcare is a matter that affects every constituent regardless of political affiliation.

Torbay Hospital serves a large, ageing and geographically dispersed population. South Devon also experiences substantial seasonal demand through tourism and continuing population growth through major housing development. Against this backdrop, there is increasing public concern regarding the cumulative impact of service transfers and reductions affecting the area's principal acute hospital.

We are particularly concerned that the cumulative effect of recent and proposed changes may amount to a substantial variation in NHS services, raising important questions regarding public consultation, scrutiny and patient engagement requirements under the National Health Service Act 2006 and subsequent legislation.

Over recent years, The Heart Campaign has worked constructively with local NHS organisations, attended public meetings and scrutiny committees, organised community engagement events, and submitted more than forty Freedom of Information requests. Despite these efforts, many questions about the long-term future of acute services at Torbay Hospital remain unanswered.

We therefore respectfully ask members of the Health and Social Care Committee to review the concerns outlined in the attached correspondence; seek assurances that all statutory consultation and public engagement requirements have been fully met; support full transparency regarding the future of acute services at Torbay Hospital; encourage independent assessment of the impact that service changes may have on patient access, emergency care, cancer pathways and healthcare outcomes across South Devon; and consider whether current healthcare infrastructure planning adequately reflects the area's growing and ageing population.

I would be grateful if Committee members could give this matter their urgent consideration and advise whether any further information would assist.

Thank you

Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign
(Declined) Governor of Torbay Hospital