Cardiac services 'cannot be sustained'

Published Wednesday, 01 August 2012

Children in Northern Ireland born with heart problems may have to travel to other parts of the UK or Dublin for treatment after a review revealed the current services cannot be sustained.

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The threat to local services follows a Health and Social Care Board report into Paediatric cardiac care in the region which was published on Wednesday.

The review team found there was no issue with the quality of the care received by children born with heart problems - but it said there are simply not enough operations being carried out to sustain the service.

Around 90 paediatric operations are carried out here every year, with another 40 taking place in London or Dublin.

However, NHS guidelines state that services should be performing at least 400 a year.

Wednesday's report says large 24/7 specialist centres are the best and safest option.

Dr Miriam McCarthy, of the Health and Social Care Board, told UTV that in a specialist centre needs round the clock doctors and nurses.

She said that with a population of 1.8million, and 140 children needing the service every year, it was not possible.

"It's a very challenging position," she added.

The announcement follows a review of children's heart services which began in March.

In a written statement to the Assembly, the Health Minister Edwin Poots says the review team found that although there were no immediate safety concerns for patients, "the Review Team has stated that the paediatric congenital cardiac service is not sustainable in Belfast and ... should cease."

He has asked the health and social care board to consider all options for the future including "the potential for an all-island service and/or networking arrangements with other centres in the UK."

Mr Poots has now tasked a working group, consisting of parent groups and clinicians, to establish options for the future of the services.

But for those families who need treatment, there's real concern.

Alan McCullough, whose son Jay has a heart problem, said: "Since we found out about Jay's condition from the 20 week scan, they've been there for us and helping us through the tough times and to take them away would be absolutely drastic for us.

"The services have provided with us with so much comfort."

The working Group is to begin consultation in September for six months.

A final decision on the future of the service will be announced early next year.

Comments

9 Comments

orlagh in Tyrone wrote (290 days ago):

Nicola are you kidding me "Govts have hard choices to make at the moment and this recession has meant that they have to look at every aspect of our lives for savings. If its not viable it's not viable" NOT VIABLE hows about they take a wee cut in their BIG wages hi or maybe one less holiday a year, or ever better forget about new golf courses costing millions of pounds, this is babies lives we are talking about, it cannot be let happen, if a child is born needed emergency surgery what is going to happen babies usually dont tell when they are planning to come should this clild be let die... NO it cant be let happen !!!

Marty in SIngapore wrote (290 days ago):

Nicola why not make it a political issue? Perhaps the electorate of NI should start punishing politicians by not electing them for completely removing a life saving service? We might actually get decent politicians, not simply orange and green. Simply hoping another country will help doesn't work! The NI gov easily spends the budget for this service on travel, hotels, cars, drivers, politicians salary, not to mention prisons and the massive police bill for securing hundreds of parades each year. I'd be much happier slashing the prison and police budget before an essential service!

jacqui in belfast wrote (291 days ago):

My son was born 1996 i was asked to take part in a research scan of My sons heart by the Royal, which i did, they picked up that my son had a co ortation of his aorta, he was admitted to clark clinic,where he under went surgery at 10 days old, they removed 2inches from his heart, we were told that had he not had the scan i would have lost him before the week was out. if my son had to have travelled to london he might not have been here today. I think it is a disgrace that they want to shut down such a excellent and worthwhile place.My son still attends Clark Clinic and the doctors and staff do a brilliant job.

darren in belfast wrote (292 days ago):

yeah great idea after all its only the main part of the body, why not make the kids travel by car,boat,plane,train hay make them walk you never know it could fix them or it could be the last trip ever because them had lever belfast.

Nicola in Belfast wrote (292 days ago):

What a pointless comment Marty in singapore. My child has been treated by the Clark clinic since she was born and it's a life saving service. We met families from all over Ireland who came for specialist care and also found the same thing. Sometimes services have to be consolidated because of costs. That's life. I don't want to see the clinic go anymore than anyone else whose life it saved but as a parent of a sick child I'll travel anywhere to fix my baby. Govts have hard choices to make at the moment and this recession has meant that they have to look at every aspect of our lives for savings. If its not viable it's not viable. Regardless of which govt is in charge. Typical idiot reducing it to a political question when it's simply economics. I will be devastated to see the wonderful, life changing team at the Clark clinic go. It's so sad when any services have to be cut, we are seeing it every day now. We may have to get used to it.

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