Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann has commented on an update on the current position concerning paediatric congenital cardiac services in Northern Ireland.

Robin Swann, who is Chair of the All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease, said; 

“In December last year the Health Minister announced that a team of clinicians were to carry out an assessment of current and future needs for cardiology and cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

“I am pleased that the final member of the review team has now been appointed and that they will shortly be visiting Northern Ireland to meet with clinicians and who currently deliver the services and representatives from the families. 

“The make-up of the team does give me a little comfort and I look forward to engaging with them as Chair of the All Party Group. Dr Mayer & Dr Moran have experience of managing and operating a multi-site service in the states, and the inclusion of Dr Sinclair a Consultant Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthetist from Glasgow, should be of benefit, as Scotland as a whole rejected the numbers of surgeries required under the "Safe & Sustainable" review which was later discredited.

“It is particularly welcome that arrangements are now allowing surgery to take place once again in Belfast. I am concerned, however, that the promise to relocate children’s heart surgery from the Royal Victoria to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, is being further delayed for yet another review. This will inevitably have an impact on the service, and as far as I am aware every review up until now has had this as one of its key recommendations, as it removes the need to transport children between hospitals.”