The Ulster Unionist Party has today led a debate in the Assembly calling on the Health Minister to reject the recommendation of a Dublin only service for the future commissioning of regional Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology; and to select instead a model which retains primary provision, and the ability to operate on emergency admissions, in Belfast.
Robin Swann MLA, whose three month old son Evan is awaiting cardiac surgery said;
“The current service in Belfast provides a complex surgery affecting only a small number of children. There are only around 100 paediatric cardiac operations every year, with about 40 more undertaken in England or Dublin.’
“Everyone’s expectation of this service, as with all aspects of health delivery in Northern Ireland, should be that, no matter what, it should always remain safe. I was pleased that the original review panel did not find safety concerns about the current service in the Clarke Clinic. They did, however, deem the surgical service as being unsustainable.’
“We have often challenged the Minister on how the service is unsustainable. It is deeply unfortunate that the whole debate in regards to future of children’s cardiac surgery in Belfast has turned into a numbers game.’
“There are also disparities regarding what makes a service sustainable – for instance one UK report said a service of 400 operations was necessary, yet in the cases of Southampton University Hospital & Newcastle Upon Tyne, both of them are to remain open despite both carrying out less than 250 operations.’
“Indeed only 15% of Hospitals with Paediatric Cardiac Services throughout the world preform that number of surgeries. Now is the time for the Minister to detail whether he has received evidence detailing that if this number isn’t achieved then children will suffer, or is this merely a case of a Minister blindly taking the advice of officials.’
“The case for retaining the service in Belfast is clear, as are the potential consequences of it moving to a Dublin only service. Despite what Minister Poots and his Southern counterpart may believe; towns such as Ballymena in my own constituency are still a significant distance from Dublin. In some emergency cases, time may very well mean the difference between life and death.”
In conclusion Robin Swann said;
“This is an incredibly treasured service – it is dealing with some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Northern Ireland every year. While some families know before the birth that a medical difficulty exists, unfortunately for some babies, their congenital heart disease will only become apparent after it. Having a local service is crucial in these circumstances. The decision now lies with Minister Poots to reject this unacceptable recommendation."