15.04.13
Leeds surgery data published
NHS England has released the data which led to the suspension of children’s heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.
Reports cover the original data sent to Sir Bruce Keogh by Sir Roger Boyle, suggesting Leeds had a higher than average mortality rate, which was “very close” to the alert threshold.
Also published is the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) report, commissioned to inform the review of services.
Leeds child heart surgery unit began resumption of operations last week, following assurances from NHS England. Sir Bruce Keogh went on to say he would be happy to have his child treated at the unit, although former heart tsar Sir Roger Boyle has continued to imply the services are unsafe.
NICOR said: “These findings do not indicate a 'safety' problem in any centre. However, centres with three-year outcomes approaching the alert threshold may deserve additional scrutiny and monitoring of current performance.
“By definition, around half of all units will have more deaths than 'expected'. It is therefore inappropriate to label centres as ‘blameworthy’ for these deaths, as the analysis does not show a significantly increased mortality rate.”
A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said: “On Monday we announced that we were reopening the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary having had the quality of our service independently verified by the Care Quality Commission, NHS England and the NHS Trust Development Authority following a rapid review process which took place last weekend.
“All partners were fully in agreement that this was the correct course of action to take and surgery has now resumed.
“This was publicly reconfirmed at a meeting of councillors held in Leeds on Wednesday when the deputy medical director of NHS England reaffirmed the view that all the child heart surgery units in England, including Leeds, are safe to undertake surgery.
“Sir Bruce Keogh has since then repeated unequivocally that he would be happy to send his child or grandchild for treatment in the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
“Throughout the Safe and Sustainable process the work of the unit at Leeds, including standards of care and mortality rates, has been subject to intense levels of external scrutiny. The safety of the children in our care is our number one priority.”
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