Torbay Council has agreed, without public debate or a Cabinet decision, to lend £7.5 million to the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to convert offices at Gadeon House in Exeter into laboratories for histopathology services, including those currently provided at Torbay Hospital.
Histopathology is an essential part of an acute hospital, supporting cancer diagnosis, surgery, emergency care and many specialist services. Moving these laboratories away from Torbay raises serious concerns about the long-term resilience and future of acute services at Torbay Hospital.

Questions also remain over the use of public money. The reported building conversion costs are approximately £1.11 million, while upgrading the existing laboratory at Torbay Hospital is estimated to cost around £750,000. The public deserves to know how the full £7.5 million would be spent and why retaining these vital services at Torbay has not been pursued.

We therefore call on Torbay Council to suspend all action until there has been full public disclosure of the proposal, complete financial transparency, evidence that proper due diligence has been undertaken, and that there has been an independent assessment of the impact on Torbay Hospital and local patient services.