Children’s heart services under review

A major review of how heart surgery services are provided to children in Northern Ireland is nearing completion, with a ministerial decision expected in the new year.  The Health and Social Care Board’s consultation on the subject closes on 21 December.

The board has found that services in Belfast are “safe but not sustainable” and Health Minister Edwin Poots has indicated his support for an all-island service, which may involve an end to surgery at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The Assembly’s Health Committee wrote to Poots to request that the Northern Ireland review be put on hold, after meeting doctors and nurses at the hospital’s cardiac clinic.

“Our children would be more than three hours away from a surgical centre if Belfast was closed and other services including cardiology, renal surgery and neurosurgery could be greatly impacted,” said Children’s Heartbeat Trust Chief Executive Sarah Quinlan.

Around 50,000 people have signed the Children’s Heartbeat Trust petition to oppose the plans.  The Health and Social Care Board’s view is based on advice from senior medical staff.

“New standards have been introduced in recent years,” its Chief Executive John Compton has stated.  “While previously it may have been acceptable in units across the UK for such specialised services to be provided by a very small team led by one surgeon, this model of care is no longer able to ensure the sustainable provision of appropriate emergency, urgent and planned care for children.”