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Inquiry into child surgery deaths Inquiry into child surgery deaths
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation has begun at an Oxford hospital where children's heart surgery was suspended after four recent deaths.An investigation has begun at an Oxford hospital where children's heart surgery was suspended after four recent deaths.
The John Radcliffe Hospital said the fatalities involved some "very sick children" and happened in procedures during the past three to four months.The John Radcliffe Hospital said the fatalities involved some "very sick children" and happened in procedures during the past three to four months.
A spokesman said patients' families were being told and urgent cases were being transferred to other hospitals.A spokesman said patients' families were being told and urgent cases were being transferred to other hospitals.
He said each death would be reviewed but other patients would not be put at risk by any delay.He said each death would be reviewed but other patients would not be put at risk by any delay.
'Right questions'
Independent health regulator The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was not investigating the trust, but would monitor the trust's own review.Independent health regulator The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was not investigating the trust, but would monitor the trust's own review.
The hospital said the patients involved all had congenital heart problems, a general term for birth defects that affect the heart.The hospital said the patients involved all had congenital heart problems, a general term for birth defects that affect the heart.
Other cardiology procedures at the hospital will continue as usual.Other cardiology procedures at the hospital will continue as usual.
Managers at the John Radcliffe are now contacting the families of 26 patients who were expecting to have surgery in the near future. MONITORING SURGERY Fergus Walsh, Medical Correspondent
Since the Bristol heart scandal more than a decade ago the monitoring of all cardiac surgery has been stepped up.
Any unexplained series of deaths should automatically trigger an investigation which will be both internal (at Trust level) and external.
Survival rates for heart surgery units and individual surgeons are published and can be compared.
It is not possible to say how long the inquiry will take at Oxford, but it maybe some weeks. The investigation will examine all aspects of care involving the four children who died, rather than limiting itself to the surgery.
The Care Quality Commission, which regulates healthcare, said it would monitor the situation "extremely closely".
Managers at the John Radcliffe are contacting the families of 26 patients who were expecting to have surgery in the near future.
In a statement, the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We have temporarily suspended the paediatric cardiac surgery service while we investigate concerns that have been raised.In a statement, the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We have temporarily suspended the paediatric cardiac surgery service while we investigate concerns that have been raised.
"Our investigations are likely to include an external review of the deaths of some very sick children [four children] who underwent surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in the last three to four months. "Our investigations are likely to include an external review of the deaths of some very sick children [four children] who underwent surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in the last three to four months."
"The families of children awaiting cardiac surgery are being contacted and we will be placing those patients who need to be seen urgently with other hospitals. Elaine Strachan-Hall, John Radcliffe's director of nursing, told BBC News: "Many children who are born with heart conditions do have a high mortality [rate].
Any hospital might, at some time, have a run of deaths in a service that provides treatment for patients who are very unwell Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust "We have had four deaths, we wanted to take the decision very quickly to pause our surgery to look back at those deaths and look at anything around those that might help anyone for the future.
"This is high-risk surgery and the trust is taking the right steps in conducting this review. "It could absolutely be coincidence, it could be absolutely nothing and just that these were very sick children.
"We are reviewing each of these patients to ensure that they are not put at risk by any delay in their treatment." "We don't know that anything has gone wrong. We want to make sure that we make our surgery as safe as possible."
Roger Davidson, of the CQC, said: "We will monitor the situation extremely closely. It is not known how long the investigation will take.
"It is reassuring that the trust has taken action to ensure the immediate safety of patients." Ms Strachan-Hall added: "It is important we look at every area [including surgeons and operating theatres] and ask the right questions to see if there is, indeed, a causal link."
The hospital said surgery outcomes are "nationally validated" and Oxford had been "within normal outcome ranges".
The statement added: "This is one of the reasons why we felt it was necessary to take a close look at our service to ensure we continue to provide a high quality safe service for our children.
"Any hospital might, at some time, have a run of deaths in a service that provides treatment for patients who are very unwell.
"However, it is right that we take a pause while we look in to the individual cases, to see if there is anything to learn from them."
'Urgently needed improvement'
It is not known how long the investigation will take but the entire treatment process for patients will be examined, not just the surgery, the trust said.
The president of the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leslie Hamilton, said children needing heart surgery would be sent to one of the country's 10 other specialist units while the Oxford service is suspended.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "They will look at the whole package of care.
"It will take a period of time to set up a review because they will want people from outside to come in and look at things, and that will be practising surgeons and cardiologists from other units."
In 2007 the hospital was criticised for its death rates among adult heart patients.In 2007 the hospital was criticised for its death rates among adult heart patients.
Two years earlier the Healthcare Commission began an investigation after it emerged that the number of trust patients who died between April 2002 and March 2005 after their first coronary artery bypass graft was more than double the national average - 4.01% compared with 1.83%. In 2005 the Healthcare Commission began an inquiry after it emerged the number of patients who died between April 2002 and March 2005 after their first coronary artery bypass graft was more than double the national average.
Its report said that while rates at the John Radcliffe's cardiac surgery unit were "acceptable" improvements were urgently needed.
The hospital, which opened in the 1970s, is Oxford's main accident and emergency site and also provides acute medical and surgical services.