Patient safety

NHS England publishes review of Leeds heart surgery

The review of children’s heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary that led to resumption of operations has been published by NHS England.

The report found no immediate issues with safety of surgery. The second stage of the review is now underway. A NICOR report also states that mortality data does not indicate a safety problem at Leeds, but warns of major deficiencies in the data submitted, which could be an indictment of “organisational culture”.

Health minister Earl Howe told peers that the Government had played no part in the decision to suspend surgery at the unit: “The Government strongly believes that it was the right thing to do. It is absolutely right that the NHS should act quickly and decisively if there is any evidence that patient safety maybe at risk.

“The Government has not taken a role in this matter. This is a matter which the NHS has led. There’s no agenda by the Government at all apart from our desire to see the best possible children’s cardiac services provided in this country.”

NHS England is to appeal against the High Court ruling in favour of Save Our Surgery to keep the unit open despite recommendation for closure from the Safe and Sustainable review.

Sharon Cheng of Save Our Surgery said: “NHS England’s move to try and appeal against the outcome of the judicial review is a disgraceful waste of time and taxpayer’s money. The decision to appeal only underlines, once again, NHS England’s willingness to spend money on lawyers’ fees that should be used for patient care.

“Pursuing this appeal serves no benefit to patients. Instead it is about protecting reputations and trying to salvage what is a flawed and thoroughly discredited process. We secured a strong and conclusive judgment in the High Court and the final decision regarding the future of children’s heart surgery services should now lie with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) and the Health Secretary.

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