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Baby's heart surgery cancelled five times by Leeds hospital | Baby's heart surgery cancelled five times by Leeds hospital |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A baby born with a hole in her heart had to wait four months for a major operation to repair the defect, after the procedure was cancelled five times. | A baby born with a hole in her heart had to wait four months for a major operation to repair the defect, after the procedure was cancelled five times. |
Leanne Smith, 20, said her daughter Evelyn Johnston-Smith was at risk of cardiac arrest as she waited for surgery at Leeds General Infirmary. | Leanne Smith, 20, said her daughter Evelyn Johnston-Smith was at risk of cardiac arrest as she waited for surgery at Leeds General Infirmary. |
She said the wait had been "traumatic" but she did not blame the hospital. | She said the wait had been "traumatic" but she did not blame the hospital. |
A hospital spokesperson said the "difficult" decision to cancel the operation was "not taken lightly". | A hospital spokesperson said the "difficult" decision to cancel the operation was "not taken lightly". |
Evelyn's condition was spotted at the 20-week scan, and shortly after she was born she underwent a 14-hour operation in September 2016. | Evelyn's condition was spotted at the 20-week scan, and shortly after she was born she underwent a 14-hour operation in September 2016. |
Doctors said she would need a second operation within a year. | Doctors said she would need a second operation within a year. |
The procedure was scheduled for September 2017 and medics put a deadline of 17 November in place. | The procedure was scheduled for September 2017 and medics put a deadline of 17 November in place. |
However, the operation was cancelled five times because of staff shortages, lack of beds and an emergency case. | However, the operation was cancelled five times because of staff shortages, lack of beds and an emergency case. |
It was eventually carried out on 22 December. | It was eventually carried out on 22 December. |
More stories from across Yorkshire | |
Ms Smith said: "It's just traumatic having it cancelled five times and being dragged into hospital three times. | Ms Smith said: "It's just traumatic having it cancelled five times and being dragged into hospital three times. |
"By leaving it so long my daughter could have gone into cardiac arrest but the hospital was working as fast as they could to reschedule." | "By leaving it so long my daughter could have gone into cardiac arrest but the hospital was working as fast as they could to reschedule." |
Evelyn, one, is now recovering at home following the eight-and-a-half-hour open heart procedure. | Evelyn, one, is now recovering at home following the eight-and-a-half-hour open heart procedure. |
Dr Yvette Oade, chief medical officer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said non-emergency, planned operations are sometimes postponed if there is no bed available in the paediatric intensive care unit. | Dr Yvette Oade, chief medical officer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said non-emergency, planned operations are sometimes postponed if there is no bed available in the paediatric intensive care unit. |
"These decisions are not taken lightly but we have to ensure we put patient safety first and continue to provide the highest standards of care for our patients," she said. | "These decisions are not taken lightly but we have to ensure we put patient safety first and continue to provide the highest standards of care for our patients," she said. |
"We empathise with Evelyn and her family and we are very sorry that their experience didn't match our high standards." | "We empathise with Evelyn and her family and we are very sorry that their experience didn't match our high standards." |
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