1. Clinical consultation. The Trust states "Clinical service leads were briefed" and "the pathology clinical service lead was engaged throughout." This is not the same as formal consultation. What remains unclear is which consultant groups were consulted, on what dates, whether written responses were sought, whether concerns were recorded in meeting minutes, how many clinicians supported versus opposed the proposal, and what specific objections were raised.

2. Concerns raised by clinicians. This is probably the most evasive answer. The original questions asked whether concerns were raised regarding safety, workforce, logistics, transport, turnaround times, recruitment, resilience, and future service implications. Rather than answering "yes" or "no", the Trust states "Our staff have raised many questions" and "The issues you raise are central to the work and are being addressed". That does not tell readers whether those risks were identified, how serious they were assessed to be, whether any were considered unacceptable, or whether any clinicians advised against relocation.

3. Options appraisal. The Trust confirms an options appraisal existed and was presented on 19 March 2026. However, the response does not explain what options were considered, the scoring methodology, who undertook the appraisal, whether retaining pathology at Torbay was fully costed, why refurbishment was rejected, whether temporary modular facilities were considered, or whether clinicians participated in scoring. Merely saying an appraisal occurred does not demonstrate that the process was balanced.

4. Timing of the decision. The Trust's timeline suggests: options appraisal 19 March 2026; CEO email to pathology staff 20 March 2026; business case 25 March 2026; CEO and Chair approval under urgent decision-making arrangements 26 March 2026; all staff informed 5 May 2026; Board meeting in public 7 May 2026. This raises a governance question: if staff were informed of a "preferred option" on 20 March, before the business case was considered on 25 March and before public Board discussion in May, at what point was the decision effectively made, and what opportunity existed for clinicians or staff to influence the outcome after 20 March?

5. "No proposals at this time". The Trust states "There are no further Board approved proposals for other service moves from Torbay Hospital at this time." But it also states "We continue to work with partners through the Peninsula Pathology Network to explore options for a more resilient and sustainable regional pathology model." In effect, the Trust is distinguishing between active strategic planning and formally approved proposals. That distinction may be technically correct, but it does not answer whether consolidation beyond cellular pathology is being actively explored.

6. Major service change. The Trust's argument is that because urgent and time-critical services remain on site, this is not a major service change. That is an assertion rather than an explanation. The unanswered questions are: what proportion of current pathology activity will move; what proportion of staff will move; what impact assessment has been undertaken on clinical pathways; what advice was sought regarding whether this constituted a substantial service variation; and were local authority scrutiny committees consulted?

From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: Joe Teape (Trust CEO), David Thomas (Torbay Council), Trust FOI, James Corrigan (NHS)
CC: Andrew George MP, Andy Burnham MP, Layla Moran MP, Danny Beales MP, Beccy Cooper MP, Josh Fenton-Glynn MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Joe Robertson MP, Greg Stafford MP

Good Afternoon

The Trust latest statement raises more questions than it answers.

If the existing histopathology laboratory is operating safely and experienced consultants advise that around £750,000 would bring the current facility up to the required standard, why is there a proposal to spend millions developing facilities in Exeter instead of investing in Torbay Hospital? Surely the remaining funds could be used to modernise vital clinical facilities at Torbay, such as the cardiac catheter laboratories, directly benefiting local patients.

The Trust says these changes are "not about moving patient care away from Torbay." However, histopathology is not an isolated service. It is a core component of an acute hospital, supporting cancer diagnosis, surgery, emergency procedures and many specialist clinical teams. Removing essential support services from the hospital inevitably raises concerns about the long-term resilience of acute services on the Torbay site.

The Government has repeatedly stated that, wherever possible, NHS care should be delivered "as locally as possible", reducing unnecessary travel for patients and supporting strong local hospitals. If that is national policy, why does it appear not to apply to essential pathology services that underpin so many aspects of patient care?

It is also difficult to understand why Torbay Council appears willing to support investment in facilities outside Torbay rather than prioritising improvements to its own local hospital.

The public deserves complete transparency. The Trust should publish:

• the full business case;
• the independent options appraisal;
• the cost comparison between refurbishing the existing Torbay laboratory and relocating services to Exeter;
• the clinical risk assessment;
• the impact assessment on acute hospital services; and
• the evidence demonstrating that relocating histopathology represents a better outcome for patients than retaining and modernising the service at Torbay Hospital.

These are reasonable questions. Before irreversible decisions are made, the people of Torbay deserve clear evidence that every viable option for retaining these essential services locally has been fully and objectively considered.

I look forward to receiving your answers to our questions.

Kindest regards

Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign

Source: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust news statement, "Statement on cellular pathology (histopathology) services and Gadeon House".

Read the full statement on the Trust website

Published: 26 June 2026, shortly before the Trust Board of Directors meeting in public on Thursday 2 July 2026. The authoritative text is at the link above; the following is a summary in the campaign\'s own words.

The Trust opens by acknowledging there has been interest and some confusion about the plans, and sets out its position on cellular pathology (histopathology) and Gadeon House. It says cellular pathology at Torbay Hospital is currently delivered from a temporary facility that is no longer suitable for long-term use, that services continue to operate safely, and that earlier plans to replace the facility on the Torbay site through the New Hospital Programme did not progress.

What the Trust says it is doing: it has secured £4.6 million of NHS England capital funding to develop a new purpose-built laboratory at Gadeon House in Exeter for routine cellular pathology. There will be an interim step to relocate cytology activity to release space and address immediate safety risks on the Torbay site. The full transition of routine cellular pathology is expected over 12 to 18 months, subject to detailed design, planning and ongoing engagement. Arrangements for any urgent and time-critical cellular pathology work needed to support care at Torbay will be built into the final operational model.

On patients: the Trust states there are no changes to where patients receive care. It says cellular pathology does not directly support emergency department care in the way that services such as blood tests do, and that most cellular pathology work supports diagnosis and treatment decisions over a number of days, with national standards based on those timeframes. Where results are needed more quickly, for example during surgery or as part of specific cancer pathways, it says arrangements will be in place to ensure this continues safely and within the required timeframe, including through the acute service laboratory on the Torbay site where clinically required. It frames the change as being about how laboratory services are provided, and states the changes are "not about moving patient care away from Torbay."

On colleagues: the Trust acknowledges an uncertain period for pathology staff and says it is continuing to engage them through regular briefings and involving them in the design, fit-out and day-to-day planning of the new laboratory.

On Gadeon House and other organisations: the Trust says it is using the building for its cellular pathology services, funded through NHS England capital and its own lease with Torbay Council. It confirms that Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has a separate agreement with Torbay Council and plans to locate its blood sciences and microbiology services in the building.

On the Peninsula Pathology Network: the Trust says clinical colleagues in cellular pathology, microbiology and blood sciences are working together across the network to understand demand, share expertise and consider future options, that this work is at an early stage, and that "no decisions have been taken."

On Edginswell: the statement says the Trust has purchased land at Edginswell Business Park from Torbay Council. In the short term it is being used to ease pressure on the main hospital site, including increasing colleague parking capacity and improving access for patients and visitors. In the longer term, and subject to planning, the Trust says it creates opportunities for some support services and future facilities to be located off the main site, freeing space at Torbay Hospital for patient-facing services. This is the Trust\'s own account of the Edginswell transaction that the campaign has separately queried in the £7.5m Loan and Edginswell thread.

To: Catherine Lissett
Date: 4 June 2026, 12:55

Good afternoon Ms Lissett,

Thank you for your response. Having reviewed your answers, I remain unclear on several points because a number of the responses describe processes and ongoing work but do not address the substance of the questions asked.

In relation to clinical consultation, you state that clinical leaders and pathology colleagues were briefed and had opportunities to provide feedback. Please could you clarify which consultant groups and clinical leaders were consulted; on what dates these discussions took place; whether concerns were formally recorded in minutes, reports or consultation feedback; what specific concerns were raised regarding safety, workforce sustainability, transport and logistics, turnaround times, recruitment, resilience and future service implications; and whether any clinicians were opposed to the proposed relocation and, if so, how those concerns were considered.

Regarding the options appraisal presented in March 2026, please could you provide further detail on the options considered; the appraisal methodology and scoring criteria used; whether refurbishment or redevelopment at Torbay Hospital was fully costed and assessed; whether clinicians were involved in the appraisal and scoring process; and the reasons why alternative options were discounted.

Your response confirms that an options appraisal was presented on 19 March 2026 and a business case considered on 25 March 2026, yet pathology staff were informed of a preferred option on 20 March 2026. Please explain what opportunity remained for staff and clinicians to influence the decision after the preferred option had been identified.

I would also be grateful if you could clarify the statement that there are "no further Board-approved proposals" beyond cellular pathology. While I appreciate the distinction you draw between strategy and formal proposals, you also state that work continues through the Peninsula Pathology Network to explore a more resilient and sustainable regional pathology model. Please therefore confirm what services are included within that work, what scenarios are being considered, and whether any modelling has been undertaken regarding future consolidation of pathology services beyond cellular pathology.

Finally, to assist understanding of the decision-making process, please advise whether the following documents can be provided: the March 2026 options appraisal; the March 2026 business case; relevant risk assessments and risk registers; clinical feedback summaries; Equality and Quality Impact Assessments; and minutes or reports recording consultant and clinical leader feedback.

I look forward to your response.

Kindest regards

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

From: Catherine Lissett, Chief Medical Officer, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (catherine.lissett@nhs.net)
To: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
Subject: FW: Request for Clarification Regarding Gadeon House and Peninsula Pathology Network

Dear Mrs Colley

Further to your email of 19 May 2026 requesting clarification, I will answer the specific questions you asked in the order you set them out. For completeness, I have included at the end of this email the published extract from the papers for the Board meeting held in public on 07 May 2026.

1) The "time-limited opportunity": what it was and why decisions were taken at pace. The issue we were addressing was a defined estates safety risk affecting our cellular pathology (histopathology) accommodation at Torbay Hospital, including ventilation and formalin exposure risks that cannot be safely mitigated over the longer term. In January 2026, we were advised that ring-fenced NHS England Estates Safety Funding capital was available to address this, but only if an affordable, deliverable solution could be implemented within the financial year and all expenditure was completed by 31 March 2026.

Were consultants formally consulted prior to these decisions being made? Our engagement focused on the clinical leaders and colleagues directly involved in, or impacted by, cellular pathology. Pathology colleagues were briefed on the options and had the opportunity to provide feedback. Clinical service leads (including consultant specialty leads for relevant areas) were briefed, and the pathology clinical service lead was engaged throughout.

Were any concerns raised by clinicians? Our staff have raised many questions. The issues you raise are central to the work and are being addressed through the design of the model and ongoing risk management. Maintaining service quality, turnaround times and clinical support for patients remains a core requirement. Work is now starting with cellular pathology colleagues to co-design the service model for the new laboratory.

Were any formal option appraisals undertaken? Yes. An options appraisal was presented to the Executive Committee on 19 March 2026, and a detailed business case was considered on 25 March 2026. As outlined in the Chief Executive's report to the Board in May 2026, an earlier plan to address this through a new on-site asset linked to enabling works for the New Hospitals Programme did not progress in 2024, leaving an urgent requirement to secure a safe and sustainable solution.

At what point were the Board, clinicians, and staff informed? The preferred option was considered through the Executive Committee in March 2026 (19 March options appraisal; 25 March business case). The Board were briefed regularly by the Chief Executive. Clinical service leads were verbally briefed through their regular fortnightly meetings, as were the Medical Staffing Committee. Pathology colleagues received a personal email from Joe Teape, Chief Executive, on 20 March 2026, setting out the options appraisal and preferred option. Regular fortnightly meetings take place between cellular pathology colleagues, the Chief Executive, Chief Medical Officer and other leads. Confirmation to all staff was shared on 05 May 2026, ahead of the Board meeting in public on 07 May 2026.

"No proposals at this time": clarifying what is (and is not) agreed. Those steps relate to a specific, agreed programme to address an estates safety risk in cellular pathology. The agreed programme comprises an initial relocation of cytology services to release capacity on the Torbay site, and a planned move of routine cellular pathology into fit-for-purpose laboratory accommodation at Gadeon House within an estimated 12-18 months. Urgent and time-critical pathology services will continue to be delivered safely from Torbay Hospital through an on-site Acute Service Laboratory while routine elements transition.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is separately progressing its own lease arrangements with Torbay Council (the freeholder) for other floors in Gadeon House for the relocation of some of its pathology services.

In parallel with the specific cellular pathology programme, we continue to work with partners through the Peninsula Pathology Network to explore options for a more resilient and sustainable regional pathology model, while maintaining appropriate local service delivery. However, beyond the cellular pathology programme, there are no further Board-approved proposals for other service moves from Torbay Hospital at this time.

I understand your concern about the language of proposals. Strategy describes direction and priorities; it is not, in itself, a set of agreed proposals. A proposal is only created when an option is developed to the point it can be formally decided through governance. In this case, the agreed model is primarily an estates safety and workforce resilience intervention within a clinical support service, and it explicitly maintains urgent and time-critical provision locally from Torbay Hospital.

Should you have any further questions, please submit these through our Freedom of Information process: tsdft.foirequests@nhs.net

Yours sincerely,

Kate Lissett

The text below is taken from the published papers for the Board meeting held in public on 07 May 2026.

Development of Gadeon House for the long-term provision of Cellular Pathology Services. Cellular Pathology involves the examination of tissue and cell samples to support diagnosis and treatment, including the diagnosis of cancer and other serious diseases. These services are safety-critical and rely on specialist laboratory facilities and workforce.

Over several years, we have sought national support to address significant estates safety risks associated with the life-expired temporary building at Torbay Hospital. These risks include ventilation and formalin exposure and cannot be safely mitigated over the longer term. Earlier plans to address this through the creation of a new on-site asset as part of enabling works linked to the New Hospitals Programme did not progress in 2024.

In January 2026, we were advised that capital funding from NHS England was available, subject to a requirement that an affordable and deliverable solution could be implemented within the financial year, with all expenditure completed by 31 March 2026.

An options appraisal was presented to Executive Committee on 19 March 2026, which identified a preferred option to establish a consolidated Cellular Pathology laboratory at Gadeon House, Exeter. This includes an initial relocation of Cytology services to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to release capacity on the Torbay site, followed by a planned move into the fully fitted laboratory at Gadeon House within an estimated 12-18 months.

A detailed business case was brought to Executive Committee on 25 March 2026. Given the time-critical nature of the funding opportunity, the Chief Executive and Chair approved the proposal under our urgent decision-making arrangements on 26 March 2026.

Approval was given for £4.6m of national NHS England capital funding, secured through a time-limited estates safety funding programme. This funding is ring-fenced capital and cannot be used for day-to-day operational or staffing costs. The investment covers lease costs, design development and professional fees, and the fit-out of the laboratory space. We have entered into a 15-year lease with Torbay Council, who are the freeholder of the building, with a Trust break option at 10 years.

Throughout the transition, maintaining service quality, turnaround times and clinical support for patients remains a core requirement. Urgent and time-critical pathology services will continue to be delivered safely from Torbay Hospital through an Acute Service Laboratory, while routine elements transition in a phased and managed way.

Best wishes

Kate Lissett
Chief Medical Officer
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

To: Joe Teape, Catherine Lissett
Date: 19 May 2026, 15:12

Good afternoon

Thank you for your detailed response. I appreciate the clarification provided, however a number of important concerns remain unresolved.

Please can you clarify precisely what consultation took place with consultant pathologists, laboratory clinicians, service leads, and wider clinical teams before decisions were taken to pursue the national capital funding opportunity, enter into lease arrangements for Gadeon House, and progress plans for relocation of services. Specifically: were consultants formally consulted prior to these decisions; were any concerns raised by clinicians regarding safety, workforce impact, transport, turnaround times, recruitment, resilience, or future service implications; were any formal option appraisals undertaken comparing refurbishment at Torbay against relocation to Exeter; and at what point were the Board, clinicians, and staff informed that relocation to Gadeon House had become the preferred option?

Secondly, I remain concerned about the repeated use of phrases such as "There are no proposals at this time" while simultaneously confirming lease agreements, secured capital funding, governance approvals, workforce planning, operational planning, and active scoping work around microbiology and blood sciences consolidation. To many readers, these activities appear to constitute active strategic development rather than merely exploratory discussion.

I would therefore welcome clarification as to whether the Trust has developed any medium or long-term strategic modelling regarding consolidation of pathology or diagnostic services beyond cellular pathology; whether any proposals, draft business cases, strategic outlines, or planning assumptions exist concerning further transfer, merger, or network consolidation over the next 5-10 years; and how this position aligns with the wider One Devon strategy documents.

Given the degree of public interest and concern, transparency on these points is extremely important.

Kindest regards

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

From: Catherine Lissett, Chief Medical Officer (catherine.lissett@nhs.net)
To: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
CC: Joe Teape, Chief Executive (joe.teape@nhs.net)
Signed jointly by: "Joe and Kate"
Subject: RE: Request for Clarification Regarding Gadeon House and Peninsula Pathology Network

Dear Ms Colley

Thank you for your email of 09 May 2026. We are very aware of the strength of local interest in these matters and welcome the opportunity to clarify our position.

First, we would like to address the comment you reference from the Board meeting held in public on 07 May. The discussion around Gadeon House and histopathology services took place as part of the Chief Executive's report. The remark that there were "no proposals to move any services" was made by Dr Lissett during discussion of our organisational strategy, which was a later agenda item. Our new organisational strategy sets out our overall direction and priorities; it does not contain specific proposals for service change. We can understand how, taken out of context, that comment may have caused confusion.

Is the Trust formally participating in the Peninsula Pathology Network arrangements connected to Gadeon House? Yes, we are a partner in the Peninsula Pathology Network, working alongside other NHS organisations in Devon and the wider southwest peninsula. Gadeon House is a building on the outskirts of Exeter which is owned by Torbay Council.

Are any services planned to be transferred, consolidated, relocated, or shared through Gadeon House? As set out in the Chief Executive's report, there is a specific programme of work relating to cellular pathology (histopathology). A time-limited opportunity arose earlier this year to secure national capital funding to address longstanding estates risks. As a result, a decision was taken to develop a new cellular pathology laboratory at Gadeon House in Exeter. We have entered into a lease agreement with Torbay Council. Separately, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are also entering a lease agreement with Torbay Council for space on other floors. Our programme involves an initial relocation of cytology services to create capacity on the Torbay site, and a planned move of routine cellular pathology work into the new laboratory once completed. Urgent and time-critical pathology services will continue to be delivered safely from Torbay Hospital through an on-site acute service laboratory.

If no service moves are currently proposed, does this apply only to immediate operational changes, or also to future strategic plans? There are no proposals at this time to move other services beyond what is described above. We continue to work with partners through the Peninsula Pathology Network to consider how services can be made as safe, resilient and sustainable as possible over the long term.

Has the Trust entered into any agreements, governance arrangements, financial commitments, workforce planning, or service development discussions relating to Gadeon House? As part of the Gadeon House development for cellular pathology, we have entered into a lease arrangement (with Torbay Council as the freeholder), secured £4.6m of ringfenced national capital funding, and progressed this through our formal governance processes, including executive and Chair approval. Clinical, workforce and operational planning regarding which other pathology services (notably microbiology and blood sciences) is being scoped with the clinical teams, however this is at a very early stage.

We recognise that these are important issues for local people and we remain committed to being open and transparent as our plans develop.

Joe and Kate

Kate Lissett
Chief Medical Officer
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

To: Catherine Lissett
Date: 12 May 2026, 17:22

Good afternoon, Ms Lissett

Thank you for your reply and for taking the time to review the matters we have raised. We appreciate your willingness to look carefully at both the comments made during the Board meeting on 7 May and the wider programme position before responding substantively.

We would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person at an appropriate stage, as we feel a face-to-face discussion may help provide clarity and avoid any unintended misunderstandings that can sometimes arise through correspondence alone.

Kindest regards

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

From: Catherine Lissett, Chief Medical Officer (catherine.lissett@nhs.net)
To: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
Subject: RE: Request for Clarification Regarding Gadeon House and Peninsula Pathology Network

Dear Mrs Colley

Thank you for your email. I am reviewing the points you raise, including the comments made at the Board meeting in public on 7 May. I will respond fully once I have had the opportunity to confirm the precise context and accuracy of the Board discussion and the current programme position. I will come back to you with a substantive response.

Best wishes
Kate Lissett
Chief Medical Officer
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

To: Catherine Lissett
Date: 9 May 2026, 15:57

Good afternoon Ms Lissett,

I am writing to seek clarification regarding the relationship between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and the pathology consolidation programme associated with Gadeon House in Exeter.

From publicly available information, it appears that Gadeon House is being developed as part of the Royal Devon-led NHS pathology consolidation facility for the wider Peninsula Pathology Network, and that Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust may be a participating member. However, during the Board Meeting held in public on 7 May 2026, it is my understanding that you stated there were "no proposals to move any services."

In light of this, I would be grateful if you could clarify the following:

1. Is Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust formally participating in the Peninsula Pathology Network arrangements connected to Gadeon House?
2. Are any pathology, laboratory, diagnostic, administrative, or support services currently planned to be transferred, consolidated, relocated, or shared through the Gadeon House facility, either fully or partially?
3. If no service moves are currently proposed, does this statement apply only to immediate operational changes, or also to future strategic plans under the Peninsula Pathology Network programme?
4. Has the Trust entered into any agreements, governance arrangements, financial commitments, workforce planning, or service development discussions relating to Gadeon House?

Given the level of public interest and the comments made at the Board Meeting, I believe clarification would help avoid misunderstanding. Perhaps it would be helpful if you had time to meet with us so we could help allay the fears of the public?

Kindest regards

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