REFORM UK member and former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe was out demanding answers over the provision of cardiac care at Torbay Hospital.

The Rt Hon Ms Widdecombe, who lives at Haytor, joined fellow Reform UK members outside the hospital following the recent proposal to move an out-of-hours cardiac care service out of Torbay.

In January, Richard Tice MP, deputy leader of Reform, submitted a Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pressing for details on the Government’s plans for Torbay Hospital and thereby starting the current interest in the future of our hospital.

The Minister’s response confirmed that Torbay Hospital has been relegated to ‘Wave 2’ of the New Hospital Programme, meaning no significant progress will be made until at least 2032, with construction potentially delayed further.

This was followed by the recent proposal to move an out-of-hours cardiac service out of Torbay.

Ms Widdecombe said: ‘Torbay Hospital users deserve clear answers.

‘Are we seeing the first steps towards dismantling a fully functioning District General Hospital?

‘The cardiac unit is being stripped out under the guise of a trial—what is the impact on cardiac patients and what will come next? Maternity? Emergency care? ‘This is a pattern we’ve seen before, and it must be stopped before Torbay’s vital services are lost for good.’

Chairman of the Torbay branch of Reform UK Gordon Scott said: ‘We are committed to ensuring that the people of Torbay are not left in the dark about their hospital’s future.

‘We will be standing candidates in every division in Devon in the upcoming county council elections who will campaign relentlessly on behalf of all local residents and users to ensure the Government and local health executives guarantee that Torbay Hospital remains a fully operational, comprehensive healthcare facility—not a stripped-down, or a downgraded site.’