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| Leeds child heart unit death rates 'worst in England' | Leeds child heart unit death rates 'worst in England' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A leading expert on hospital mortality data has told the BBC he would not send his child to the Leeds children's heart unit because of its death rates. | A leading expert on hospital mortality data has told the BBC he would not send his child to the Leeds children's heart unit because of its death rates. |
| Prof Sir Brian Jarman of the Dr Foster research group at Imperial College said mortality rates for planned operations at Leeds were the worst in England. | Prof Sir Brian Jarman of the Dr Foster research group at Imperial College said mortality rates for planned operations at Leeds were the worst in England. |
| He has analysed data from the country's 10 children's heart units. | He has analysed data from the country's 10 children's heart units. |
| Yvette Oade, the chief medical officer at Leeds, said she refuted his claims and "parents shouldn't be concerned". | Yvette Oade, the chief medical officer at Leeds, said she refuted his claims and "parents shouldn't be concerned". |
| She said the "only validated data" was that provided by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (Nicor) which produces official mortality statistics for children's heart units. | She said the "only validated data" was that provided by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (Nicor) which produces official mortality statistics for children's heart units. |
| "We are within the limits of the statistical analysis of the data and we will be working to ensure that the service we provide… continues to be a safe one and continues to improve," she told the BBC's Inside Out programme. | "We are within the limits of the statistical analysis of the data and we will be working to ensure that the service we provide… continues to be a safe one and continues to improve," she told the BBC's Inside Out programme. |
| 'Relative risk ratio' | 'Relative risk ratio' |
| Prof Jarman says that between 2009 and 2012 mortality rates in the Leeds children's heart unit for planned operations were the highest of the 10 units in England. | Prof Jarman says that between 2009 and 2012 mortality rates in the Leeds children's heart unit for planned operations were the highest of the 10 units in England. |
| Of the 485 admissions to Leeds in those four years, eight children died compared with an expected number of 5.03. That translates to a so-called relative risk ratio of 158.93 - more than double the figure of 70.42 for all 10 hospitals. | Of the 485 admissions to Leeds in those four years, eight children died compared with an expected number of 5.03. That translates to a so-called relative risk ratio of 158.93 - more than double the figure of 70.42 for all 10 hospitals. |
| The only other hospital with a worse-than-expected death rate was Guys' and St Thomas' in London where five children died compared with an expected figure of 4.10 (a relative risk ratio of 122.04). | The only other hospital with a worse-than-expected death rate was Guys' and St Thomas' in London where five children died compared with an expected figure of 4.10 (a relative risk ratio of 122.04). |
| The best figures were at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where four patients died compared with an expected nine (relative risk ratio of 44.46). | The best figures were at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where four patients died compared with an expected nine (relative risk ratio of 44.46). |
| Prof Jarman acknowledged that the number of deaths was small but said the data was checked against controls to ensure there was only a small chance of random findings. | |
| "The figures are not very high but if your child is one of those it does not matter," he said. | |
| "Personally, if it were me, I would not take my child to Leeds because it [the mortality rate] is much higher than the other hospitals. | |
| "For electives [planned operations], I would certainly go to the best place with the lowest mortality. | "For electives [planned operations], I would certainly go to the best place with the lowest mortality. |
| "I don't think travel times make any difference at all for electives. I would be willing to drive anywhere in the country to get the lowest death rate for my child." | "I don't think travel times make any difference at all for electives. I would be willing to drive anywhere in the country to get the lowest death rate for my child." |
| However, he said this was not an argument for stopping surgery at the Leeds unit but should be an incentive to improve it by committing more resources. | However, he said this was not an argument for stopping surgery at the Leeds unit but should be an incentive to improve it by committing more resources. |
| Flawed analysis | Flawed analysis |
| Ms Oade, who was appointed chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: "I absolutely take on board that looking at mortality is an important thing for the NHS to do, but I would refute his statement with regard to our service." | Ms Oade, who was appointed chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: "I absolutely take on board that looking at mortality is an important thing for the NHS to do, but I would refute his statement with regard to our service." |
| She said that even though Nicor's data placed Leeds in the higher level of risk since 2009 "we are within the normal limits and we are not outside those areas". | She said that even though Nicor's data placed Leeds in the higher level of risk since 2009 "we are within the normal limits and we are not outside those areas". |
| Asked whether parents should be concerned, she replied: "No, parents shouldn't be concerned." | Asked whether parents should be concerned, she replied: "No, parents shouldn't be concerned." |
| In April, Sir Roger Boyle stepped down as director of Nicor after he also said he would not want his daughter treated at Leeds General Infirmary's heart unit. | In April, Sir Roger Boyle stepped down as director of Nicor after he also said he would not want his daughter treated at Leeds General Infirmary's heart unit. |
| Earlier this month, a controversial plan to reform children's heart surgery in England was suspended after an independent review ruled it was based on flawed analysis. | Earlier this month, a controversial plan to reform children's heart surgery in England was suspended after an independent review ruled it was based on flawed analysis. |
| The NHS had planned to concentrate care in fewer, bigger centres by ending surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London. | The NHS had planned to concentrate care in fewer, bigger centres by ending surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London. |
| Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has set NHS England a deadline of the end of July to come up with the next step in the process. | Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has set NHS England a deadline of the end of July to come up with the next step in the process. |
| How Safe is Leeds Children's Heart Unit? An Inside Out investigation at 19:30 BST, Friday 28 June | How Safe is Leeds Children's Heart Unit? An Inside Out investigation at 19:30 BST, Friday 28 June |