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Child heart surgery may stop at Royal Brompton hospital Child heart surgery may stop at Royal Brompton hospital
(about 1 hour later)
Children's heart surgery may stop at the Royal Brompton in London after the hospital failed to have the courts reject NHS reorganisation plans as illegal.Children's heart surgery may stop at the Royal Brompton in London after the hospital failed to have the courts reject NHS reorganisation plans as illegal.
A decision by the court of appeal is a blow to doctors and managers at the Brompton – and the patients and families who supported them in their campaign to keep paediatric heart surgery. An NHS review had decided that London would be best served with two children's heart surgery units instead of three. The plans, as yet unconfirmed, would keep heart surgery at Great Ormond Street and Evelina Children's hospital, but close the Brompton unit.A decision by the court of appeal is a blow to doctors and managers at the Brompton – and the patients and families who supported them in their campaign to keep paediatric heart surgery. An NHS review had decided that London would be best served with two children's heart surgery units instead of three. The plans, as yet unconfirmed, would keep heart surgery at Great Ormond Street and Evelina Children's hospital, but close the Brompton unit.
The Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust argued that children's heart surgery was integral to its other medical care for children and adults. It won a high court bid for a judicial review, but the NHS went to the court of appeal, which ruled against the Brompton.The Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust argued that children's heart surgery was integral to its other medical care for children and adults. It won a high court bid for a judicial review, but the NHS went to the court of appeal, which ruled against the Brompton.
In a statement, the trust said it was disappointed but still hoped the joint committee of primary care trusts (JCPCT), which drew up the Safe and Sustainable NHS plans, would reconsider.In a statement, the trust said it was disappointed but still hoped the joint committee of primary care trusts (JCPCT), which drew up the Safe and Sustainable NHS plans, would reconsider.
"The trust took this legal action on behalf of patients and their families. It was action of the last resort and taken with a heavy heart, after a number of attempts to settle the matter at an earlier stage failed. But it was taken because we remain convinced that there is a vital role for specialist cardiac and respiratory care for children and older patients to be fully integrated in a specialist trust such as ours, which works with the significant research power of our partner Imperial College," the statement said."The trust took this legal action on behalf of patients and their families. It was action of the last resort and taken with a heavy heart, after a number of attempts to settle the matter at an earlier stage failed. But it was taken because we remain convinced that there is a vital role for specialist cardiac and respiratory care for children and older patients to be fully integrated in a specialist trust such as ours, which works with the significant research power of our partner Imperial College," the statement said.
"We remain convinced that our highly respected services for patients in England and Wales will be harmed if our unit is dismantled as a consequence of the Safe and Sustainable process to date. We believe that the JCPCT's recommended four options – none of which includes Royal Brompton – distorted the consultation process.""We remain convinced that our highly respected services for patients in England and Wales will be harmed if our unit is dismantled as a consequence of the Safe and Sustainable process to date. We believe that the JCPCT's recommended four options – none of which includes Royal Brompton – distorted the consultation process."
The appeal court ruled that the consultation process on the reorganisation of children's heart services had been carried out properly.
Those involved in the attempt to rationalise the service across the NHS, which has been going on since the Bristol babies inquiry in the mid-1990s, were relieved. The ruling may also smooth the way for other reorganisations of health services, which have always been politically difficult because of the public outcry that follows any closure decision.
In a statement, Sir Roger Boyle, former national director for heart disease and stroke, said: "I am very pleased that three court of appeal judges have found the Safe and Sustainable process for the public consultation to be fair, lawful and proper and that they have dismissed all of the unfounded allegations raised by the Royal Brompton hospital.
He said the judgment was an important milestone because it brought improvements to services for children with congenital heart disease a step closer.
"This is a landmark judgment for future NHS reconfigurations. The court of appeal has recognised that the process of public consultation – not costly litigation – is the most appropriate way for public bodies to express their views on proposed changes. The NHS must ensure that the clinical benefits for children and other patients come first – not the vested interests of individual hospitals."
The trust had alleged bias and impropriety on the part of the JCPCT, which Sir Neil McKay, its chair, called "hurtful accusations".
He said the committee would now get on with its task, taking account of the many responses to the consultation on its reorganisation proposals.