Children’s heart surgery plans suspended

Three hospitals in Leicester, Leeds and London were due to stop performing heart surgery on children, a move that would have reduced the number of specialist units from seven to 10.

Speaking in parliament, Jeremy Hunt announced that plans to reform child heart surgery was based on “flawed analysis”.

An independent reconfiguration panel report into the matter concluded the safe and sustainable review leaves too many questions about sustainability and implementation.

“This is clearly a serious criticism of the safe and sustainable process. I therefore accept their recommendation that the proposals cannot go ahead in their current form, and am suspending the review today.

“NHS England will also seek to withdraw its appeal against the judicial review successfully achieved by Save Our Surgery in Leeds.

“Nonetheless the IRP is clear the clinical case for change remains. Their report is very helpful in setting out the way forward in terms of broadening the scope of discussion and looking in detail at the affordability and sustainability of the proposals.”

Mr Hunt said on average around 3,700 heart procedures are carried out each year on children diagnosed with congenital heart conditions but mortality rates at Bristol Royal Infirmary indicated the NHS was not as successful as it should be with such operations.

He said the safe and sustainable review began in 2008, seeking to ensure children’s heart services are the best they can be for all children across the country.

“It’s important to stress I do believe care for children with congenital heart conditions is safe in the NHS and ensuring it continues to be will be the top priority for all involved in the process.”

Before Mr Hunt made his announcement, David Cameron said: “I think we have to be frank with people that we can’t expect really technical surgery, like children’s heart operations, to be carried out at every hospital in the country.

“As the parent of a desperately ill child, wanting to get the best care for that child, you need to know that you’re getting something that is world best. For really technical operations you can’t get that everywhere.”