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29/04/13 - Future Commissioning of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology for the population of Northern Ireland 19th April 2013
Download the document here Dear Stakeholder, Re: Future Commissioning of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology for the population of Northern Ireland At the start of the consultation process the Health and Social Care Board gave an undertaking to keep stakeholders informed of key stages in the process. The Health and Social Care [...]
18/04/13 - NHS England: An appeal against court ruling on the configuration of children’s heart surgery
On 1 April 2013, NHS England inherited responsibility for the Safe and Sustainable Review from the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts. The review, launched in 2008, was set up to transform children’s heart services to provide better care to patients and improve outcomes. There is broad consensus – among both clinicians and patient groups [...]
09/04/13 - Comment on LGI surgery phased re-start 09/04/2013
The Children’s Heart Federation welcomes the reassurance that immediate safety issues in respect of paediatric cardiac surgery have been resolved. We understand that surgery will be phased in gradually over the next month starting with the lower-risk cases. We feel that it would help many parents to have an explanation as to what this means, [...]
09/04/13 - NHS England: Phased resumption of children’s heart surgery at Leeds Hospital agreed
Reassurance given on immediate safety issues but hospital asked to improve monitoring of care Children’s heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary can begin a phased restart on Wednesday, NHS England said today (Monday). It follows completion of the first-stage of a review by a multi-disciplinary independent clinical team, which has been working to establish the [...]
09/04/13 - Statement from LGI: Leeds children’s heart surgery to resume on Wednesday 10 April
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is delighted to announce that we will be restarting children’s congenital cardiac surgery at Leeds General Infirmary from Wednesday 10th of April. Chief Executive Maggie Boyle said: “We stated on Friday that we wished to restart surgery once our partners were as confident in our staff and services as we [...]
06/04/13 - Statement from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Surgical issue from 2005
6 April 2013 Re: Surgical issue from 2005 A spokesman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said today: “The Trust monitors surgical outcomes in children’s heart surgery on an ongoing basis and in 2005 identified issues with one of our surgeons about outcomes for a specific procedure, repair of tetralogy of Fallot. “We invited [...]
05/04/13 - Statement: Lifting of the suspension of pediatric heart surgery at LGI
For Immediate Release Following the news about the lifting of the suspension of pediatric heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary the Children’s Heart Federation would like to issue the following statement: CHF fully supported the decision to suspend pediatric heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary because of safety concerns at the unit. CHF supports the aim to reinstate surgery [...]
05/04/13 - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Joint Statement on Leeds Hospital Children’s Heart Surgery
04 April 2013 EMBARGO ON PUBLICATION UNTIL 08.00 AM FRIDAY 5 APRIL 2013 Joint Statement on Leeds Hospital Children’s Heart Surgery Following a productive multi-agency meeting to review the decision to suspend children’s cardiac surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, agreement was reached to work together to restart surgery on the site early next week [...]
02/04/13 - CHF Followup Comment on Paediatric Cardiac Surgery at the Leeds Children’s Hospital
The news regarding the suspension of surgical services at Leeds is very worrying especially to the parents and children who are due to have surgery in the next few weeks. We understand that all the families affected are being contacted individually by the Trust and we hope that by now that has happened – although [...]
28/03/13 - CHF Comment on Paediatric Cardiac Surgery at the Leeds Children’s Hospital
For immediate release 28th March 2013 Children’s Heart Federation is deeply saddened by the announcement that paediatric heart surgery is being suspended at Leeds Children Hospital. Our thoughts are with the heart children and their families who have not received the quality of treatment they needed and deserved. We hope that the suspension of [...]
28/03/13 - Statement – Safe and Sustainable High Court Decision of 27/03/2013
Yesterday the Court recognised the need for the NHS to continue its plan to improve services for children with congenital heart disease in order to ensure that services are safe and sustainable in the future, however the judge did rule that one part of the process was ‘unfair’. While CHF acknowledge the Court’s decision we [...]
25/03/13 - Statement by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon
We received this afternoon a statement from Leeds Children’s Hospital which we have reproduced in full below. CHF notes that there are concerns about the treatment of patients with congenital heart disease and that the Trust is taking action. The Trust has asked us to make clear, that this action is not about adverse mortality or morbidity figures, however we have [...]
07/03/13 - Safe & Sustainable – CHF Comment re: Judicial Review Judgement 7/3/2013
We are disappointed that this decision will result in further delays to the establishment of the new children’s heart care network, adding to the considerable anxiety that some families of children with a heart problem have been living under for many months now. Uncertainty about the final configuration of surgical and cardiology centres is now [...]
25/02/13 - Heart News February 2013
Download the latest issue of Heart News for February 2013 here
05/02/13 - The Press – Charity challenges Archbishop of York over paediatric heart services support
A CHARITY has written to the Archbishop of York claiming he has “reinforced a misconception” by criticising an NHS review which could see children’s heart surgery stopped at a Leeds hospital. Dr John Sentamu supported the campaign for paediatric heart services to remain at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) during a recent visit there, after the NHS Safe [...]
03/12/12 - The Yorkshire Times – Leeds Heart Unit – Legal Challenge Goes Ahead
The long- awaited hearing into the closure of Leeds General Infirmary’s children’s heart [surgery] unit will go ahead as planned. Attempts to delay a legal challenge to the closure of the children’s heart [surgery] unit at Leeds General Infirmary have now failed after a judge dismissed a bid to delay the hearing. Campaign group Save Our [...]
16/11/12 - National Health Executive – Campaigners accused over heart surgery changes
The Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF) has criticised a potential delay to the judicial review of heart unit changes, following rumours that the Save Our Surgery campaign group is planning to “deliberately” halt its challenge to further delay planned changes to children’s heart services. The Save Our Surgery campaign was set up to oppose the unit [...]
31/10/12 - Children’s Heart Federation responds to CQC investigation into Bristol Children’s Hospital care
After a number of concerns over cases of poor care at Bristol Children’s Hospital and an unannounced inspection of the hospital by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) a number of issues have been raised about the level of staffing and training at the unit. The Children’s Heart Federation has raised its serious concerns about these [...]
21/09/12 - National Children’s Heart Charities Voice Serious Concerns over Possible Further Legal Action
For Immediate Release It is extremely disappointing that possible legal action could delay further vital improvements to children’s heart services. Children have waited too long for change and another protracted legal battle is the last thing families want. As national children’s heart charities we remain deeply concerned that children still do not have access to [...]
17/09/12 - Children’s Heart Federation statement about possible further legal action over Safe and Sustainable
The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF), theUK’s largest children’s heart charity, is disappointed that proposed legal action could further delay vital improvements to children’s heart services. Children and families have waited too long for change and a protracted legal battle could put children’s lives at risk. We remain deeply concerned that children still do not have [...]
08/08/12 - Safe and Sustainable – Advice for Parents
A series of leaflets by NHS Specialised Services offering advice for parents affected by the changes to surgery under the Safe and Sustainable Review. NHS Safe and Sustainable Review – Advice for Parents in East Midlands NHS Safe and Sustainable Review – Advice for Parents in Yorkshire NHS Safe and Sustainable Review – Advice [...]
24/07/12 - Children’s Heart Federation urges parents, clinicians and politicians to get behind NHS decision over Children’s Heart Surgery
The Children’s Heart Federation represents 23 UK-based voluntary organisations working for children and young people with congenital and acquired heart disease and their families. We cover the full spectrum of CHD, whilst our individual member groups concentrate on specific conditions or provide support in specific locations. We act as the voice of the CHD carer’s [...]
24/07/12 - Letter to the Editor of BBC Look North – Leeds Surgery
Letter to the Editor of BBC Look North with reference to coverage about Safe and Sustainable Decision and Leeds surgery.
06/07/12 - Safe and Sustainable Briefing
Briefing on the decision made by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts on the future configuration of children’s congenital heart services, which includes a summary on next steps. Download Safe and Sustainable briefing 06 07 2012
04/07/12 - Children’s Heart Federation welcome decisions on children’s heart units and looks forward to future of improved care
Press Release – The Children’s Heart Federation, theUK’s leading children’s heart charity, has welcomed an end to the uncertainty about which units will continue to provide children’s heart surgery.
04/07/12 - View the Safe and Sustainable public meeting of the JCPCT (inc Docs)
View the Safe and Sustainable Meeting and get the agenda documents here.
03/07/12 - Leading Children’s Heart Charity welcomes the end to long period of uncertainty for families
Leading Children’s Heart Charity welcomes the end to long period of uncertainty for families For immediate release The Children’s Heart Federation, the UK’s leading children’s heart charity, welcomes the prospect tomorrow of an end to the uncertainty about which units will continue to provide children’s heart surgery. The long-awaited final decision of [...]
29/06/12 - Safe and Sustainable Review decision due on Wednesday 4th July
With the long-awaited final decision of the Safe and Sustainable Review into children’s heart services due on Wednesday, The Children’s Heart Federation welcomes the end to the long period of uncertainty for families. CHF has been campaigning for improvements to UK heart care services for many years, particularly since the Bristol Baby Tragedy of the [...]
20/06/12 - Safe and Sustainable – Secretary of State’s advice on the Kensington and Chelsea OSC’s referral
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has published its advice to the Secretary of State for Health regarding the referral by London’s Kensington and Chelsea Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Secretary of State has accepted the IRP’s advice. The referral letter, IRP’s advice and the letter from the Secretary of State are attached. The press statement is [...]
01/05/12 - Heartnews Issue 6
In this newsletter you will find information on a public engagement exercise being held by London Specialised Commissioning Group on the possible closure of the paediatric intensive care unit at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Stakeholder_newsletter_Spring_2012
25/04/12 - Uxbridge Gazette – Harefield Hospital Trust must shell out £1.2m after losing court battle
Apr 25 2012 by Jenny Coombes, Uxbridge Gazette THE trust that runs Harefield Hospital will have to pay out £1million in costs, after losing a court case. On Thursday last week, a panel of Appeal Court judges overturned a previous ruling that a consulation carried out by another arm of the NHS into plans to shut a [...]
19/04/12 - BBC London – Legal bid over Royal Brompton Hospital heart unit lost
Legal bid over Royal Brompton Hospital heart unit lost The Royal Brompton Hospital says closing the unit would be “bureaucratic vandalism” Continue reading the main story Related Stories Heart unit legal bid ‘premature’ Brompton wins heart surgery case Review into heart unit’s closure A consultation that led to the proposed closure of a paediatric heart [...]
19/04/12 - ITV London – Royal Brompton Loses Appeal
The Court of Appeal has decided that NHS consultations over the future of children’s heart services were lawful. The Royal Brompton Hospital launched a legal challenge, after the review led to proposals that their kids’ heart unit should be closed. Latest ITV News reports Hospital loses appeal 7:35 PM, THU 19 APR 2012 Royal [...]
19/03/12 - 2011 Safe and Sustainable Children’s Heart Surgery Services Public Consultation Events
The Safe and Sustainable children’s congenital cardiac services review team published a Pre Consultation Business Case document in February 2011. In the words of the programme team: “This document sets out recommendations for a superior congenital heart service for the children of England and Wales – a service that is safe and sustainable. The recommendations are [...]
07/11/11 - CHF comment on the outcome of the Royal Brompton Hospital Judicial Review
In the light of today’s ruling on the Judicial Review of the Safe and Sustainable Children’s Cardiac Review, CHF, the UK’s leading children’s heart charity, urges everyone affected by the decision to keep children with heart conditions and their families in the forefront of their thinking and push forward until new service standards for paediatric [...]
24/08/11 - Statement from CHF on the publication of findings from the Safe and Sustainable consultation
CHF, the leading UK charity dedicated to supporting children with congenital and acquired heart conditions and their families, welcomes the publication today (Wednesday 24 August 2011) of the analysis of the responses to the Safe and Sustainable Children’s Heart Services in England consultation. The findings reflect the respondents’ overwhelming emphasis on quality of service, which [...]
01/08/11 - Safe and Sustainable Review of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England: Report of the public consultation
An independent report has found quality is the public’s top priority when it comes to shaping the future of children’s congenital heart services. External Link
01/08/11 - HeartNews Issue 5
August 2011 edition of HeartNews. This publication contains the latest updates from the Safe & Sustainable children’s heart surgery programme. HeartNews_August_2011
26/07/11 - Statement from the Children’s Heart Federation about asking the Care Quality Commission for reassurance about the paediatric cardiac surgical service in Leeds
The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF) has written to the Care Quality Commission seeking reassurance that children’s heart surgery at Leeds is managed and delivered to consistently high standards to ensure that the long term quality of life outcomes for the children under the care of the unit reach the standards appropriate for UK paediatric cardiac [...]
18/07/11 - Children’s Heart Federation response to the consultation on the Green Paper: Special Education Needs and Disability – Support and Aspiration
Children’s Heart Federation (CHF), the leading UK charity and umbrella organisation for charities working to support children and young people with congenital and acquired heart disease (CHD) and their families welcomes the government’s impulse to improve the support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. As a member of the Health Conditions in [...]
01/07/11 - The response of the Children’s Heart Federation to the consultation: Safe and Sustainable – A new vision for children’s congenital heart services in England
About Children’s Heart Federation The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF) is the leading national charity and the umbrella body for voluntary organisations working to meet the needs of children and young people with congenital and acquired heart conditions (CHD) and their families. Our vision is that all children with heart conditions have both their medical and [...]
22/06/11 - ‘Stalling the heart review will put children at risk,’ charity warns MPs
The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF), the umbrella organisation for charities supporting children and young people with a heart condition, has contacted all MPs in advance of the Adjournment Debate on the Review of congenital cardiac services for children in the Chamber on Thursday 23 June (Member in charge: Stuart Andrew) urging them to vote against [...]
04/05/11 - Comment from the Children’s Heart Federation in support of applying the Safe and Sustainable standards
The Children’s Heart Federation has been following the campaigns supporting children’s heart care at units around the country with respect and admiration for the passion, commitment and organisational skills of the parents, combined with a deep concern that in the rising wave of support for ‘Save Our Surgery’ lobbying, important issues are being drowned out. [...]
01/03/11 - Consultation Document – Safe and Sustainable: A New Vision for Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England
“We believe change is needed in the way in which children’s congenital heart services are planned and delivered. Change will improve outcomes for children and ensure services are safe and sustainable” External Link
16/02/11 - ‘Being at sixes and sevens is good for children’s heart care’ asserts Children’s Heart Federation
The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF) is today urging politicians and healthcare practitioners to accept that being at sixes and sevens is good for children’s heart care, a reference to the need to reduce the number of active surgical units from ten to six or seven, in order to achieve the best possible health outcomes for babies [...]
01/02/11 - Safe and Sustainable Review of Childrens Congenital Cardiac Services in England Pre Consultation Business Case
This document sets out recommendations for a superior congenital heart service for the children of England and Wales – a service that is safe and sustainable. S&S Business Case
01/12/10 - Children’s Cardiac Services News Issue 4
Fourth issue of HeartNews. This newsletter is packed with the latest information about the NHS Safe and Sustainable review into children’s congenital heart services. Surgery_Services_News_04_Winter_2010
04/10/10 - Consultation response on ‘Liberating the NHS’ White Paper
Response to: Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS Vision We welcome all the elements of the vision of an NHS laid out at 1.10, except for ‘puts clinicians in the driving seat’. We contest the polarisation ‘clinicians good, managers bad’ advanced by this strategy. We support a competency-based approach to the National Health Service, [...]
01/05/10 - Children’s Cardiac Services News Issue 3
Third issue of Children’s Cardiac Surgery Services News. This newsletter aims to provide you with the latest update on the journey towards providing the best possible care for children and young people with heart conditions. Surgery_Services_News_03_Spring_2010
01/04/10 - The Need for Change (April 2010)
A document produced by the NHS. Safe, sustainable and world class. Not ordinary, OK or just good enough. Children and young people who need heart surgery must have excellent care. The_Need_for_Change
15/11/09 - The Children’s Heart Federation response to consultation on Draft service specification standards for children’s heart surgery services
Response to: Children’s heart surgery centres in England – Draft service specification standards You will have already received comments from several of CHF Member Groups including Tiny Tickers, HeartLine, ECHO and Little Heart Matters and so we will not repeat the detail of their comments. Most parents welcome the development of the standards, and the [...]
01/11/09 - Children’s Cardiac Services News Issue 2
Second issue of Children’s Cardiac November 2009 Surgery Services News. “If we embrace change we can develop services that are better, safer and more sustainable” says Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS Medical Director. Surgery_Services_News_02_Winter_2009
01/10/09 - CHF MORI Poll Presentation
Presentation detailing the findings of a CHF commissioned MORI poll of heart parents into the organisation of children’s heart surgery services. CHF_MORI_Poll_Presentation
01/10/09 - CHF MORI Poll Presentation Speech
Speech given by CHF Chief Executive Anne Keatley-Clarke to accompany CHF MORI Poll presentation. CHF_MORI_Poll_Speech
