After Leeds cuts plan collapses, NHS unveils heart surgery standards

The move follows the collapse last year of highly-controversial changes which would have seen surgery axed in Leeds for hundreds of youngsters each year from Yorkshire, forcing them to travel further afield for treatment.

The new standards set out how services should be organised and delivered to achieve the highest quality for patients, requiring hospitals to work together within regions and across the country to improve care.

For the first time, it looks at the future of both children’s and adult services.

Thirteen areas are covered among them staffing with hospitals expected to provide 24/7 services employing a minimum of four surgeons who must carry out 125 operations each year. Patients may not be treated at their nearest unit and instead travel to the hospital best suited to their needs.

Latest figures for 2012-13 reveal 510 paediatric cardiac procedures were carried out in Leeds - the seventh highest out of 10 centres in the country - with a further 240 performed on adults with congenital heart disease - the second highest in England.

Centres that meet service and quality standards due to be implemented from 2016 will remain open, while those which cannot will close.

Jackie Cornish, national clinical director for children, young people and transition to adulthood at NHS England, said: “Congenital heart disease services in this country already provide good, safe care, with high survival rates after surgery. But we know there are areas for improvement, and we want consistent services of the highest quality for all our patients throughout their lives, wherever they live. Our aim is to ensure a high standard of service is sustainable for future generations of children.”

Sharon Cheng, of the Leeds-based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund charity, said the draft standards took into account some of its “fundamental concerns” about the previous review.

“We are now asking that NHS England ensures that all sections of the population are given adequate opportunity to contribute and we will be working on behalf of families across Yorkshire to help make that happen,” she said.

Anne Keatley-Clarke, chief executive of the Children’s Heart Federation, said there were significant variations between units, with some centres operating beyond their competence.

“An unreformed service is putting children’s lives at risk as the current children’s heart care system is not as safe as it could be,” she said.

A 12-week consultation on the standards will conclude in December and include a roadshow of drop-in events which will visit Leeds on November 3.