RDF3688-25
Royal Devon & Exeter
ICO COMPLAINT ELIGIBLE
Waiting times, weekend working, referrals to Torbay, locum costs
Submitted: 17 September 2025 | ICO complaint confirmed eligible: 6 November 2025 | ICO reference: IC-450170-C5F5
Why This Matters: This request asked fundamental questions about RDE's capacity and reliance on Torbay. The incomplete responses and failed internal review suggest RDE does not want to reveal the full picture of its dependency on Torbay's cardiac services.
ICO Position (as confirmed in writing): The Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed that the campaign's complaint about RDE's handling of this request is eligible for investigation, under ICO reference IC-450170-C5F5. The ICO has stated it will allocate the complaint to a case officer as soon as it can, and that the focus of the investigation will be whether the public authority handled the request in accordance with the legislation. The complaint is therefore accepted and in the queue, with the substantive investigation to begin once a case officer is assigned.
What was requested:
- Waiting times for angiogram, angioplasty, and pacemaker insertion
- Weekend angiograms carried out in private hospitals
- Cases referred from RDE to Torbay, and whether Torbay was paid
- How often Torbay locum cardiologists covered RDE staff shortages
Figures disclosed in response:
- Average wait for an angiogram: 32.9 weeks
- Maximum wait for an angiogram: 72.86 weeks
- Average cost of angioplasty: £7,080
Where the request stands
The internal review failed to address the deficiencies the campaign identified. A complaint was made to the Information Commissioner's Office, which has confirmed in writing that the complaint is eligible for investigation under reference IC-450170-C5F5 and is awaiting allocation to a case officer. Once a case officer concludes their investigation, the ICO will issue its decision.
Documents on file: