Public meeting called as NHS urged 'engage with us' over plans to close life-saving heart attack unit
The public meeting will take place on Friday June 27 at 5.30pm at Torquay's Hilton Hotel
A public meeting's been called over plans to relocate emergency heart care from Torbay Hospital to Exeter's R,D & E.
Campaigners believe delays in patient transferring could put lives at risk and say the Integrated Care Board (ICB) has failed to follow legal requirements to properly consult about the change.
A decision had been expected at the board meeting in May, but NHS bosses say that was paused was to 'reflect and engage' with the item likely to be considered at the meeting in July.
Former cardiac nurse Susie Coley, who has called next Friday's public meeting (June 27) at 530pm at Torquay's Hilton Hotel says there is 'widespread concern' about the proposals with patients from places like Dartmouth and Brixham potentially having to travel to Exeter, as well those from Torquay and Paignton.
She said: "The clinicians at Torbay Hospital are absolutely furious.
“They've got a wonderful unit which I happen to know that all of the actual equipment there has been paid for by the league of friends - so if the NHS want to come along and close it, excuse me that's not there's to close.”
She added: “I speak from 26 years’ worth of nursing. Anything to do with your heart you need immediate care and we have immediate care in Torbay Hospital. We have a wonderful array of clinicians who are not very happy with the ICB."
Ms Coley has invited NHS bosses to her public meeting next week to outline the case, saying: "I don’t quite understand, if they have the rationale and they have the data let's have transparency and clarity and let's discuss it."
The former nurse believes the publicly made NHS case to date has been 'lacking' and cites the NHS Act 2006 which states NHS bodies much consult the public if 'the change is 'significant'.
How has the NHS responded?
A spokesperson for NHS Devon said the item was 'withdrawn' from the meeting on May 29 'so that feedback raised by clinicians, partners, patients, the public, and elected representatives could be considered'
The spokesperson also highlighted a statement, issued at the time, which said: "An update will be presented to the Board in July, taking into account the valuable feedback received. This will allow more time for reflection and further engagement."
What the Torbay MP said?
Lib Dem Steve Darling has backed the public meeting and says he is 'deeply concerned about the proposed relocation of PPCI (Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) services from Torbay to Exeter. PPCI is a vital, life-saving treatment for heart attack patients, and moving it 24 miles away will lead to dangerous delays in emergency care'.
The MP has also started a petition against the change