A proposed “test” which could see heart attack patients driven from Torbay to Exeter, rather than to Torbay Hospital, could be approved next week despite an outcry against it locally.
Buried on page 255 of a 405-page set of documents due to be considered by the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) in Exeter next week, Board Members are asked to agree a “test and learn” process on “consolidating” pPCI services.
By consolidating they mean instead of taking patients from Torbay and South Devon to Torbay Hospital for pPCI treatment, an ambulance would instead take them to the RD&E (Exeter). Page 263 of the board’s paperwork confirms this means an increase in average ambulance travel times of 28 minutes for patients from the Torbay and South Devon area (From 15 to 43 minutes).
pPCI, also known as angioplasty or coronary angioplasty, is a procedure used to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, often as an emergency treatment for heart attack (STEMI), by opening the artery with a balloon and placing a stent to keep it open. This is primarily a 999 service, therefore most patients receiving it arrive at hospital by ambulance, although there will be some walk-ins at the Emergency Department or hospital inpatients.
Kevin Foster said: “This test will see emergency heart patients from our bay used to trial a theory on consolidation of services in Exeter. It has rightly provoked an angry reaction across our bay and should be rejected.”
The Devon ICB Board meeting will be held in public on Thursday 29th May 2025, members of the public can attend in person or online. You can click here to read the board papers.
