Jim Parker: Caught in between this unhealthy mess is you and me - the Torbay residents and public money

For the past 20 years the Town Hall and local NHS Trust have been the best of buddies. And quite rightly so. Afterall, Torbay Council and the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation have pioneered a way of working together when looking after adults and some of the most vulnerable residents in our community.

The Integrated Care Organisation is the umbrella under which adult social care has been delivered over the past two decades.

It means health treatment and social care services/packages are dealt with as one. One major plus is that the joined-up approach has freed up or saved hospital beds because care services, be they at home or in a care home, are provided as one entity.

The ICO has even caught the eye of Ministers who would like to see more areas adopt a similar way of working. Trouble is back in the Bay the best of buddies have fallen out big time!

The NHS is about to give notice that it intends to tear up (my words)  a ‘Section 75’ agreement which legally solidifies the ICO partnership.

Both sides put millions in the pot to finance the ICO, but the Trust says it is costing them more, £35million more this year to be precise, and that is money they could put into more acute hospital services.

The council will, of course, query the figures and have apparently been suggesting other financial packages. But they are concerned there has been little consultation with the public about the ending of the ICO and have asked Health Minister Wes Streeting to intervene.

Dave Thomas

Council leader Dave Thomas was hoping to address a public meeting of the Trust’s board this week but he has even been denied that privilege and has now penned an ‘open letter’ expressing his dismay.

Just to make matters worse in the health arena, Devon’s Integrated Care Board has shelved plans to switch treatment for heart patients from Torbay Hospital in a ‘Case for Change' proposal but, before heart campaigners could reach for, let alone, raise a celebratory glass, also announced such services may be included in a five-year strategic review. 

On the back of that came fears and claims that Torbay could lose even more of its services and end up being downgraded as an acute hospital.

Talk about an unhealthy situation!

In his letter to Torbay NHS chairman Chris Balch, Cllr Thomas says: “I am writing to express my disappointment at the lack of engagement from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in the recent discussions regarding the future of the Section 75 partnership arrangements through which Adult Social Care is currently delivered in Torbay.

“I also wish to be clear that this concern is not mine alone. It is a view shared across Torbay Council, with all political groups aligned in recognising the importance of open, transparent and meaningful engagement on an issue of such significance to our community.

“The Section 75 agreement underpins the way Adult Social Care services are delivered locally and, most importantly, shapes the experience of residents who rely on care and support. Decisions about its future therefore carry significant public interest and consequence.”

He said Torbay councillors and through them the public were aware of the ICO issue and there had been media coverage.

“Against this backdrop, I formally requested the opportunity to address the Trust’s public Board meeting. The Chairman’s response was unequivocal: I would not be permitted to speak. This is both disappointing and unacceptable.

“As Leader of the Council, the statutory body ultimately accountable for Adult Social Care, it is entirely reasonable to expect the opportunity to contribute to a public discussion of this significance.”

Prof Balch said: “We have been working closely with Torbay Council and NHS Devon during the past few months to explore and consider the Section 75 arrangement.

“The Leader of Torbay Council, its Chief Executive and the Director of Adult Social Services presented to our board in January 2026, outlining the council’s position in detail.

“Thursday’s board meeting is a meeting in public, and not a public meeting, but our partners' views will be considered before a decision is made.”

As far as the heart campaigners are concerned, the battle to save cardiac services may have been won in the interim but war and a bigger conflict over Torbay Hospital services looms.

Chair Susie Colley says: “Evidence from clinicians, including a recently retired cardiologist makes clear that the ICB’s decision to abandon the Case for Change in favour of a five-year plan does not remove the risk—if anything, it reinforces it.”

The retired cardiologist’s fears for the future includes  the adoption of a ‘Prime Provider Model’ which will force the re-location of the several specialities including cardiology; reducing Emergency Department opening times and impacting on major on-site surgery to mention just a few. All unconfirmed but with the retired cardiologist saying: “We will be left with a very different hospital at Torbay.”

Is he right? Are the heart campaigners right? Does the local NHS Foundation Trust have a point over ICO finances? Will the ICB (there are far too many acronyms here) and its five-year plan  impact on Torbay Hospital services?

One thing appears to be overlooked in all this. No matter from what purse, this is public money and will impact in whatever way on the public. The differing sides have pledged to work together. They  need to make friends again and the public deserves to know exactly what is happening to them ASAP and I make no apologies for the acronym!