From: The Freedom of Information Office, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (d-icb.foi@nhs.net)
To: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
Reference: FOINHSD26/1806
Date: 5 August 2026

The ICB confirmed it "holds part" of the requested information and answered as follows.

Q1 (catchment expenditure breakdown), Q2 (payments to the Trust), Q3 (community expenditure). The ICB stated it "does not hold the information at the level described", noting that a resident in the Torbay and South Devon area could receive care from any provider across Devon and beyond, and that many service areas form part of wider block contracts. It considered that complying with the scope and breadth of the request engages Section 12 (cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit). It directed the campaign to its published "Spending over £25,000" data on the One Devon website, to the finance reports in its public Board papers, and to Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust for part of the request. The Q2 and Q3 answers simply refer back to the Q1 response.

Q4 (financial modelling). Asked whether it had undertaken any financial modelling or business case assessing the impact on expenditure should acute services at Torbay Hospital be relocated, centralised or transferred elsewhere, the ICB answered: "NHS Devon does not hold this information." The detailed sub-parts (assumptions, projected changes in community services, patient transport, ambulance activity, Continuing Healthcare and social care interface costs) were answered "Not applicable."

Q5 (business cases). Asked for any business cases, financial appraisals, options appraisals, value-for-money assessments and cost-benefit analyses prepared in the last three years relating to the future configuration of services at Torbay Hospital, the ICB answered: "NHS Devon does not hold this information."

Q6 (equality and rural impact). Asked for any Equality Impact Assessments, Health Inequality Assessments, Rural Impact Assessments or Travel Impact Assessments connected with proposals affecting Torbay Hospital, the ICB answered: "NHS Devon does not hold this information."

Q7 (cost comparison). Asked whether it had compared maintaining acute services at Torbay against providing equivalent care through community provision and alternative hospitals, the ICB answered: "NHS Devon does not hold this information."

Second request (every payment to the three acute trusts, with the ten per-payment fields and the six additional items, including any funding transferred away from Torbay and any commissioning changes redirecting funding). The ICB directed the campaign back to its answer to Q1, i.e. Section 12 and the published over-£25,000 data.

The response was signed by The Freedom of Information Office, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, and carried the standard internal-review and Information Commissioner appeal rights.

Download the full response letter (PDF)

From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: NHS Devon ICB executive office
CC: Members of the Health and Social Care Committee and Heart Campaign committee members

Good evening

Having reviewed NHS Devon Integrated Care Board's published expenditure over £25,000, I note that the expenditure for March 2026 alone amounts to approximately £102 million, comprising payments across NHS providers, independent providers, GP practices, local authorities and numerous other organisations.

In the interests of transparency and public accountability, I would be grateful if you would provide the following information.

1. Expenditure relating to the Torbay and South Devon catchment

For the financial year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, a detailed breakdown of all expenditure incurred by NHS Devon ICB relating to the Torbay and South Devon population, including but not limited to acute hospital services, community services, mental health services, Continuing Healthcare, primary care, independent sector providers, ambulance services, prescribing costs, diagnostic services and any other commissioned healthcare, identifying each provider, the total annual payment made and the category of expenditure.

2. Payments to Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

The total amount paid to the Trust during 2025/26, a monthly breakdown of those payments, and details of any additional, non-recurrent or emergency funding allocated during the year.

3. Community expenditure

Total expenditure on community-based healthcare within the Torbay and South Devon locality during the same period, broken down by service and provider.

4. Financial modelling

Whether the ICB has undertaken any financial modelling or business case assessing the impact on healthcare expenditure should acute services currently provided at Torbay Hospital be relocated, centralised or transferred elsewhere. If so: the modelling, the assumptions used, and projected changes in expenditure on community services, patient transport costs, ambulance activity, Continuing Healthcare expenditure and social care interface costs.

5. Business cases

Copies of any business cases, financial appraisals, options appraisals, value-for-money assessments and cost-benefit analyses prepared during the last three years relating to the future configuration of services provided from Torbay Hospital.

6. Equality and rural impact

Copies of any Equality Impact Assessments, Health Inequality Assessments, Rural Impact Assessments or Travel Impact Assessments undertaken in connection with any proposals affecting services provided from Torbay Hospital.

7. Cost comparison

Whether the ICB has compared maintaining existing acute services at Torbay Hospital against providing equivalent healthcare through increased community provision and treatment at alternative hospitals, and if so, all reports, financial analyses and supporting documents.

The public has been repeatedly assured that proposed service changes are intended to improve care and efficiency. Given the substantial sums of public money involved, disclosure of the requested information will assist public understanding of the financial implications of any future service reconfiguration.

Kindest regards

Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign

From: Susie Colley (chair@tqcc.co.uk)
To: NHS Devon ICB Chief Executive
CC: Members of the Health and Social Care Committee and Heart Campaign committee members

Dear Chief Executive,

For the financial year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, details of every payment made by NHS Devon Integrated Care Board to Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

For each payment:

1. Date of payment.
2. Amount paid.
3. Financial ledger code.
4. Cost centre or budget.
5. Description of the expenditure.
6. Service or activity funded.
7. Whether the payment relates to a block contract, activity-based payment, non-contract activity, capital funding, transformation funding, service development, deficit support, emergency funding, or any other category.
8. Whether the payment was recurrent or non-recurrent.
9. The contractual or legal basis under which the payment was made.
10. Whether the payment relates to patients resident within the Torbay and South Devon catchment.

In addition:

• The total annual value paid to each Trust, and a monthly summary of payments to each.
• Copies of any funding agreements, financial schedules or contract summaries supporting those payments, where disclosure is not exempt under the Act.
• Details of any additional allocations, brokerage, financial support, emergency funding or in-year adjustments made during 2025/26.
• Details of any funding transferred from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to either Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust or University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust during the financial year, including the reason for the transfer.
• Details of any commissioning changes during 2025/26 that resulted in services or funding being redirected from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to another provider.

If any part of this request exceeds the appropriate cost limit, please treat it as a request for advice and assistance under Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act and advise how the request may be refined rather than refusing it in its entirety. If any information is withheld, please specify the exemption or exemptions relied upon and explain why they apply.

Yours faithfully,

Susie Colley
Chair of the Torquay Chamber of Commerce and the Heart Campaign