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02/08/2012
Parents Worried As Belfast's Child Heart Services Deemed 'Unsustainable'
Northern Ireland's services for children with congenital heart problems are no longer sustainable, a review has found.
The Belfast Health Trust carries out about 90 heart surgery operations a year, with a further 40 taking place in England or Dublin.
The review did not find any immediate safety concerns but said the trust's service for children was no longer sustainable.
Health Minister Edwin Poots said all options should be considered when the health board carry out a consultation into how best to cater for those children elsewhere.
Mr Poots said an all-Ireland service should be considered.
The Children's Heartbeat Trust said the closure of the Belfast service must be "strenuously resisted".
Speaking on behalf of about 1,000 families who use the service, Sarah Quinlan of the Heartbeat Trust said that an all-Ireland centre could work but that she hoped no child would have to travel to England for surgery.
Ms Quinlan said: "Removing this surgery in Belfast will mean that very ill babies, children and their families will forced to travel hundreds of miles for specialist treatment as well as surgery. It is imperative that the local service is retained."
The Heartbeat Trust met with officials from the Public Health Agency today to make their concerns known.
Ms Quinlan said: "The review team has concluded that pediatric cardiac surgery is not sustainable in Belfast and should cease. This is a very worrying development."
A working group including parents and patients will report on the matter in six months.
(NE)
The Belfast Health Trust carries out about 90 heart surgery operations a year, with a further 40 taking place in England or Dublin.
The review did not find any immediate safety concerns but said the trust's service for children was no longer sustainable.
Health Minister Edwin Poots said all options should be considered when the health board carry out a consultation into how best to cater for those children elsewhere.
Mr Poots said an all-Ireland service should be considered.
The Children's Heartbeat Trust said the closure of the Belfast service must be "strenuously resisted".
Speaking on behalf of about 1,000 families who use the service, Sarah Quinlan of the Heartbeat Trust said that an all-Ireland centre could work but that she hoped no child would have to travel to England for surgery.
Ms Quinlan said: "Removing this surgery in Belfast will mean that very ill babies, children and their families will forced to travel hundreds of miles for specialist treatment as well as surgery. It is imperative that the local service is retained."
The Heartbeat Trust met with officials from the Public Health Agency today to make their concerns known.
Ms Quinlan said: "The review team has concluded that pediatric cardiac surgery is not sustainable in Belfast and should cease. This is a very worrying development."
A working group including parents and patients will report on the matter in six months.
(NE)
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