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Child heart surgery reform suspended Child heart surgery reform suspended
(35 minutes later)
Controversial plans to reform children's heart surgery in England have been suspended as the decision was based on a "flawed analysis", Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.Controversial plans to reform children's heart surgery in England have been suspended as the decision was based on a "flawed analysis", Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.
The NHS had planned to concentrate care in fewer, bigger centres.The NHS had planned to concentrate care in fewer, bigger centres.
There was opposition to ending surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London.There was opposition to ending surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London.
Mr Hunt ordered an independent review of the decision.Mr Hunt ordered an independent review of the decision.
Repairing the hearts of children born with congenital defects is one of the most complex procedures in the NHS. About 3,700 such procedures take place each year.Repairing the hearts of children born with congenital defects is one of the most complex procedures in the NHS. About 3,700 such procedures take place each year.
Ten hospitals currently perform the delicate surgery required, but last year "Safe & Sustainable review" performed by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts ruled expertise was spread too thinly. Ten hospitals currently perform the delicate surgery required, but last year the "Safe & Sustainable review" performed by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts ruled expertise was spread too thinly.
It said surgery should be concentrated in seven specialist centres by 2014 in order to improve safety. They were:It said surgery should be concentrated in seven specialist centres by 2014 in order to improve safety. They were:
Mr Hunt asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), an advisory body, to assess the decision. Campaigners were concerned at a loss of local services and a High Court judge quashed the decision to stop surgery in Leeds saying the consultation was flawed and "ill judged".
Amid the tension, Mr Hunt asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), an advisory body, to assess the decision.
'Serious criticism'
He told the Commons: "The IRP report also concludes that the outcome of the Safe & Sustainable review was based on a flawed analysis of the impact of incomplete proposals, and leaves too many questions about sustainability and implementation.He told the Commons: "The IRP report also concludes that the outcome of the Safe & Sustainable review was based on a flawed analysis of the impact of incomplete proposals, and leaves too many questions about sustainability and implementation.
"This is clearly a serious criticism of the Safe & Sustainable process. I therefore accept their recommendation that the proposals cannot go ahead in their current form and am suspending the review today.""This is clearly a serious criticism of the Safe & Sustainable process. I therefore accept their recommendation that the proposals cannot go ahead in their current form and am suspending the review today."
He said the consultation did not have the confidence of the public with some feeling the decision was predetermined.He said the consultation did not have the confidence of the public with some feeling the decision was predetermined.
He said choosing which hospitals provided surgery was one of the most flawed areas of the review, but he said "we need to get on with this" as the original argument for improving care was unchanged.He said choosing which hospitals provided surgery was one of the most flawed areas of the review, but he said "we need to get on with this" as the original argument for improving care was unchanged.
The IRP's report said: "The Panel's advice addresses the weaknesses in the original proposals, but it is not a mandate for either the status quo or going back over all the ground in the last five years.The IRP's report said: "The Panel's advice addresses the weaknesses in the original proposals, but it is not a mandate for either the status quo or going back over all the ground in the last five years.
"There is a case for change that commands wide understand and support, and there are opportunities to create better services for patients."There is a case for change that commands wide understand and support, and there are opportunities to create better services for patients.
"The challenge for NHS England is to determine how to move forward as quickly and effectively as possible.""The challenge for NHS England is to determine how to move forward as quickly and effectively as possible."
Mr Hunt set NHS England, which has taken over the responsibilities of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts, a deadline of the end of July to come up with the next step in the process.Mr Hunt set NHS England, which has taken over the responsibilities of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts, a deadline of the end of July to come up with the next step in the process.
The Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "When it was published, while I fully support the reduction in sites, I expressed concerns about the distribution of the seven sites, skewed towards the western half of England and leaving a large swathe of the east, from Newcastle to London, without a surgical centre.
"For a family in Hull or Lincoln, already at their wits' end with worry, the wrench of leaving home to travel hundreds of miles with the cost of accommodation and time off work would add to high levels of stress and anxiety."