This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-merseyside-16070864
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alder Hey Hospital paediatric surgery no longer 'world class' | Alder Hey Hospital paediatric surgery no longer 'world class' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Surgery at Liverpool's Alder Hey children's hospital is no longer "world class", a report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has found. | Surgery at Liverpool's Alder Hey children's hospital is no longer "world class", a report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has found. |
| The RCS was asked by the hospital to carry out a review of 20 cases in the paediatric surgery department after two whistle-blowers raised concerns. | |
| Reviewers visited Alder Hey in May and found it had a "safe surgical service" but was no longer a "national leader". | Reviewers visited Alder Hey in May and found it had a "safe surgical service" but was no longer a "national leader". |
| The trust said it was taking action to address the report's findings. | The trust said it was taking action to address the report's findings. |
| In five out of the 20 cases reviewed by the RCS, over a six-year period, the care was "sub-optimal, or clinical governance appears to have been weak", the report found. | In five out of the 20 cases reviewed by the RCS, over a six-year period, the care was "sub-optimal, or clinical governance appears to have been weak", the report found. |
| It found there was a discrepancy between "Alder Hey's aspiration to be a world-class centre for paediatric surgery, and the standards that it currently achieves". | It found there was a discrepancy between "Alder Hey's aspiration to be a world-class centre for paediatric surgery, and the standards that it currently achieves". |
| Strategic plan | Strategic plan |
| "In the view of the panel, Alder Hey is not at the present time attaining world-class standards of care or world-class standards of research in the department of paediatric surgery," it said. | "In the view of the panel, Alder Hey is not at the present time attaining world-class standards of care or world-class standards of research in the department of paediatric surgery," it said. |
| "Although it has been acknowledged to be a national leader in the past, on the evidence that the panel reviewed relating to clinical case management, clinical governance and research output, the department would not merit such a ranking today." | "Although it has been acknowledged to be a national leader in the past, on the evidence that the panel reviewed relating to clinical case management, clinical governance and research output, the department would not merit such a ranking today." |
| It said the course of action the hospital trust chose to take to resolve the issues would depend upon its "true aspirations, a realistic assessment of its present circumstances, and the scale of the resources that are available to it to support its ambitions". | It said the course of action the hospital trust chose to take to resolve the issues would depend upon its "true aspirations, a realistic assessment of its present circumstances, and the scale of the resources that are available to it to support its ambitions". |
| The children's hospital - one of the largest of its kind in Europe - receives referrals from hospitals across the country. | The children's hospital - one of the largest of its kind in Europe - receives referrals from hospitals across the country. |
| The paediatric surgery department, which incorporates neonatal surgery, general surgery and urology, treats about 4,500 children each year. | The paediatric surgery department, which incorporates neonatal surgery, general surgery and urology, treats about 4,500 children each year. |
| RCS reviewers recommended the trust and university leaders "review the strategic aims of their partnerships, their joint strategic plan and the resources they have in place for meeting them". | RCS reviewers recommended the trust and university leaders "review the strategic aims of their partnerships, their joint strategic plan and the resources they have in place for meeting them". |
| Recommendations 'helpful' | Recommendations 'helpful' |
| They also recommended the department focus more on working as part of the wider trust. | They also recommended the department focus more on working as part of the wider trust. |
| They made 22 other recommendations including providing more individual support to consultants, reviewing its consent practices and improving written records. | They made 22 other recommendations including providing more individual support to consultants, reviewing its consent practices and improving written records. |
| The RCS suggested the recommendations were achieved within six months of the report, which the hospital received in August. | The RCS suggested the recommendations were achieved within six months of the report, which the hospital received in August. |
| Louise Shepherd, Chief Executive at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The safety of the children in our care is our highest priority. | |
| "We are pleased that the review concluded that clinical standards of surgical practice were within UK acceptable standards and that we provide a safe surgical service at Alder Hey." | "We are pleased that the review concluded that clinical standards of surgical practice were within UK acceptable standards and that we provide a safe surgical service at Alder Hey." |
| She said the report's recommendations were "helpful" and the trust had started "putting actions in place to ensure Alder Hey continues to be a leading children's trust". | She said the report's recommendations were "helpful" and the trust had started "putting actions in place to ensure Alder Hey continues to be a leading children's trust". |
| She added: "We will continue to subject ourselves to rigorous scrutiny to continue to provide the best care for children and young people at Alder Hey." | She added: "We will continue to subject ourselves to rigorous scrutiny to continue to provide the best care for children and young people at Alder Hey." |