Torbay Hospital: Heart Diseases
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to intervene on the planned closure of the cardiac catherisation laboratory at Torbay Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body. All service changes should be based on clear evidence that they will deliver better outcomes for patients. Any substantial, planned service change is subject to a full public consultation and must meet the Government and NHS England’s ‘tests’ to ensure good decision making.
The Health and Care Act 2022 provided new powers that allow for increased oversight and ministerial involvement in the reconfiguration of NHS services. These powers were commenced on 31 January 2024. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will decide whether to intervene if a call-in request has been submitted to the Department. There is an expectation that all avenues of local resolution are exhausted before a call-in request is accepted.
The Department has not received a call-in request to intervene in the closure of the cardiac catherisation laboratory at Torbay.
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