Changes to cardiac care scrapped after objections

NHS Devon said it would develop a broader cardiology strategy for the region

Planned trial changes to overnight heart attack services in south Devon have been scrapped.

NHS Devon said it would not be going ahead with the proposals to drive out-of-hours heart attack patients to hospital in Exeter rather than Torbay to help cut costs and divert resources to cut treatment backlogs, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Thousands signed a petition against the plan and two MPs said in the Commons the move could have endangered people.

The service withdrew the plans in May to consider feedback and it now said it would develop a broader cardiology strategy for the region to be revealed next month.

It said the strategy would be guided by clinical data and public feedback.

"Rather than only focusing on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, the scope will be expanded to include prevention such as cardiovascular disease, urgent and emergency care and elective care," it said.

"The priority remains the commissioning of safe, reliable and sustainable cardiology services that meet the needs of Devon's population now and in the future."

Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, said the U-turn was "very good news" and showed people "won't stand by when vital services are at risk".

"It's not a definitive victory but it feels like a step in the right direction, now it all depends on where this journey ends," he said.

"By campaigning we have achieved the outcomes that many people wanted, and we can have higher levels of confidence that we know where we are heading."