Concentrating services will give better care

Published: 05 July 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has said the NHS must continue to ensure better outcomes for children with congenital heart disease, following a review of children’s cardiac services.

It follows a Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts decision that children’s heart surgery should take place in seven rather than 10 hospitals as it was believed that services were spread too thinly. The decision will impact patients in England and Wales, and some from Northern Ireland.

Dr Peter Carter, the RCN’s Chief Executive & General Secretary, urged implementation as soon as possible – now the decision has been made.

He said: “The RCN believes that concentrating surgical expertise and developing networks of expert cardiology care will give children born with complex heart conditions the best quality of care.”

Dr Carter acknowledged that the process had not been easy.

He added: “On top of cardiac problems, many children have other complex conditions so it is vital to have experienced and highly trained teams of nurses and surgeons in these centres, ensuring better outcomes for children and young people. Children’s cardiac specialist nurses working across the networks will enable children and families to receive as much care as possible closer to home.”