500+ Stand Together at Ring of Hope
On Saturday 6th December, over 500 people lined Newton Road outside Torbay Hospital, joining hands in a peaceful demonstration to protect the cardiac unit that has saved countless lives in our community.
The Heart Campaign organised the Ring of Hope to send a clear message: Torbay's cardiac services must stay.
A Community United
From Lowes Bridge to Cadewell Lane, supporters wearing red formed a human chain around the hospital. Some brought chairs. Others came in wheelchairs. The weather held - biblical rain the day before gave way to dry skies, as if someone was on our side.
Among the crowd were patients whose lives were saved by Torbay's cardiac team, families who know what those extra minutes of travel time to Exeter could mean, and healthcare workers who understand the reality on the ground.
Cross-Party Support
This isn't a party political issue. It's a matter of patient safety and common sense.
Torbay MP Steve Darling attended, stating the demonstration was about showing the hospital needs improving, not downgrading. Former Conservative MP Kevin Foster also turned out, adding his voice against the proposals.
The cardiac unit has received national recognition from the Royal College of Physicians for excellence in patient care and has been designated an NHS Beacon Service for coronary heart disease.
When a unit has that kind of track record, you'd expect the focus to be on protecting it - not dismantling it.
The Clinical Reality
The proposal to move angioplasty services to Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital falls apart under basic scrutiny.
Torbay's cardiac unit operates with around 10 cardiologists and has built a strong reputation for rapid treatment and patient outcomes. The RD&E, with 20 cardiologists, already struggles with capacity to the point where they regularly send patients to Torbay for treatment.
Read that again: Exeter is already sending cardiac patients to Torbay because they can't cope. And the ICB's solution is to close the unit that's helping ease that pressure.
For STEMI patients - those experiencing the most serious type of heart attack - every minute matters. Patients who self-present at Torbay's A&E currently receive immediate intervention. Under the proposed changes, they would occupy beds waiting for an ambulance transfer to Exeter, delaying treatment and compromising outcomes.
The Transparency Problem
The Heart Campaign has submitted numerous Freedom of Information requests to NHS Devon, NHS England, the RD&E, and the Integrated Care Board. The response pattern has been consistent: "We do not hold the information you request."
Someone must hold this information. The refusal to answer straightforward questions about patient safety, capacity planning, and clinical rationale does nothing to build public confidence in this process.
The ICB has stated that the "case for change" contains no proposals for closure. But as Susie Colley, Chair of the Heart Campaign, pointed out: "They very coyly say there are no plans to close the coronary department at the moment. Of course they are not going to close it at the moment, as that's today."
The proposals are expected in January or February 2026. That's when the real fight begins.
What Happens Next
The Ring of Hope showed what this community is capable of. 500+ people gave up their Saturday morning because they understand what's at stake.
But this was a starting point, not an endpoint.
The ICB says it wants to be "open, transparent and involve residents at every stage." We'll hold them to that. When the case for change is published, we need the same turnout - and more - demanding answers to the questions that matter:
How will the RD&E handle double the workload when they already send overflow patients to Torbay?
What happens to STEMI patients who self-present at Torbay A&E?
Why is a unit designated as an NHS Beacon Service being considered for closure in favour of one that had 29 areas of concern identified in a 2021 Royal College of Physicians review?
To stay informed or get involved, follow the campaign on Facebook.
The cardiac team at Torbay Hospital saves lives. On 6th December, over 500 people stood up to make sure they can keep doing exactly that.