- NHS Devon announces it is withdrawing controversial plan for a “test and learn” of taking heart attack patients to Exeter, rather than Torbay Hospital.
- It’s statement confirms it will now consider a “broader vision for the provision of cardiology services across Devon”.
- Yet campaigners warn of potential battles to protect services ahead as NHS Devon says: “a case for change will be developed that covers the whole cardiology pathway”.
Torbay health campaigners have today (Thursday 19 June 2025) welcomed news a planned trial of taking heart attack patients from Torbay and South Devon by ambulance to Exeter for emergency PPCI treatment has been abandoned yet have warned there may still be future battles ahead to protect our local health services.
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. Currently patients from Torbay and South Devon are taking to Torbay Hospital to receive it.
Yet a proposal which had been due to be considered by NHS Devon ICB last month would have seen many taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital instead, increasing average journey times from 15 minutes to 43 minutes for pPCI treatment. The proposal had provoked outcry in Torbay, with cardiologists and many former patients speaking out against it.
Last month, hours before the trial was due to be approved, NHS Devon said they would instead consider an “updated” proposal in July, now they have confirmed they have reconsidered and will not revisit the original PPCI proposal.
Instead, NHS Devon has indicated it will now consider a “case for change” which covers the whole cardiology pathway, prompting campaigners to say they will stay alert to any future changes which threaten Torbay’s heart health services.
Former Torbay MP Kevin Foster, who launched the “Have a Heart for our Bay” campaign against the proposed trial, said:
“I would like to thank everyone who backed the campaign and today’s announcement is welcome, but we cannot rest on our laurels. The references to developing a “case for change” in today’s statement from NHS Devon is one we cannot ignore in terms of what may come forward next in terms of Torbay’s heart health services.”
“After the Labour Government’s decision earlier this year to delay Torbay Hospital’s much needed rebuild by a decade, with no work now likely to start until at least 2033 and possibly 2035, we need to be alert to any moves to downgrade our local health services.
The full statement issued by NHS Devon on Thursday 19th June 2025 (Unedited):
NHS Devon’s Board was due to consider a proposal on Thursday 29 May to establish a short-term, fixed-length “test and learn” process for out-of-hours primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (pPCI) services in Torbay and Exeter.
However, in light of the wide-ranging comments received from staff, clinicians, patients, the public, and elected representatives, the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Devon decided to withdraw the paper setting this out.
This was to enable the valuable feedback to be fully considered and allow time to reflect on whether such a process will lead to clarity on future commissioning arrangements to ensure the long-term sustainability of this important service.
An update will now be presented to the Board in July, which will reflect the feedback received and outline a broader vision for the provision of cardiology services across Devon.
The paper will not revisit the original pPCI proposal and test and learn process but instead present a case to prioritise the development of a more comprehensive and forward-looking commissioning strategy.
The aim is to ensure the commissioning of sustainable primary, community and secondary care services throughout Devon that:
- support improved health outcomes for the population
- support patients from the first signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related symptoms
- are resilient and can support growing demand
- are of high-quality (in line with national standards and guidelines), equitable and affordable.
To support this, a case for change will be developed that covers the whole cardiology pathway. Rather than only focusing on pPCI, the scope will be expanded to include prevention such as cardiovascular disease, urgent and emergency care and elective care (planned procedures).
Informed by data and the experiences of patients, clinicians, and stakeholders, the document will include a detailed scope and timeline of actions for the coming year and beyond.
One of the immediate actions will be to seek clinically-led solutions that lead to a sustained reduction in waiting times.
The priority remains the commissioning of safe, reliable and sustainable cardiology services that meet the needs of Devon’s population now and in the future.
NHS Devon is grateful to the comments and feedback received on the original proposal, and is committed to ongoing, meaningful engagement with clinicians, staff, patients, the public, and elected representatives throughout this process to design the best possible co-produced solutions.
