Freeman Hospital Ongoing Redevelopment | Newcastle | Various | U/C

[Newcastle Historian]

Verdict today on North East’s children’s heart unit
at the Newcastle Freeman Hospital
by Helen Rae, The Journal, July 4th 2012


The babytherm, ECMO machine at the Freeman Hospital

THE ANXIOUS WAIT to discover the fate of the North East’s children’s heart unit will finally be over today when a decision is made about its future. Operations at Newcastle Freeman Hospital Childrens Heart Unit could face the axe after plans were revealed to cut the number of places performing youngsters’ heart surgery in the UK from 11 to as few as six or seven.

The review outlined four options, and all involve stopping operations at either four or five hospitals. In one of the plans the Freeman’s unit would be affected, and children in the region needing specialist heart surgery would be transferred hundreds of miles to the nearest unit at Leeds. Last night, MPs and parents alike highlighted the importance of the unit remaining in Newcastle to serve the youngsters of the region and further afield.

Newcastle East MP Nick Brown said: “The children’s heart unit ought to remain at the Freeman Hospital as it is facility that is well renowned and well respected. “I have visited the unit and been very impressed with what I have seen. The Freeman Hospital has a long-standing reputation, and I have confidence that the right decision will be made.”

Last night, bosses at the Freeman Hospital maintained they were optimistic that the children’s heart unit would remain in the North East. Kingsley Smith, chairman of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The children’s heart unit at the Freeman Hospital provides a gold standard service which is highly respected and supported by the many families whose children have benefited from its life-saving and pioneering work. The unit has an international reputation for its outstanding performance and ongoing innovation.

“The coalition Government has said that decisions will be made on the basis of a quality track record and, if this is to be the case, then there has to be every expectation that these world class facilities will continue and grow for the benefit of young people from across the region, nationally and abroad.”


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1ze3izLhq

[Ken O'Heed]

Freeman Hospital to continue performing child heart surgeries


This is full story from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-18715127

The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle will continue to perform child heart surgery operations.

It was one of six hospitals in England under threat after an NHS review claimed expertise was being spread too thinly.
Patients using Leeds General Infirmary will now have to travel to Newcastle for treatment.

However the Leeds centre will continue seeing patients for diagnosis, monitoring and non-surgical treatment.

Chief Executive Sir Leonard Fenwick said of the decision: "Let's go from strength to strength."

Out of the ten hospitals offering the service in England, the units at Leicester, Leeds and London's Royal Brompton hospitals will cease performing the surgeries so care can be concentrated at fewer, larger sites to improve standards.

Dr Richard Kirk, a consultant at the hospital, said: "This is fantastic news, the staff are all delighted. We're so thrilled and we're looking forward to carrying on our work now and making everyone better."

[toonlad]

Excellent news. The Freeman is an excellent unit, to close it would have been madness.

[jkkne]

Seconded. Great news. The Freeman does some amazing things across medical fields and as a City we really don't sshout out about it enough

[bigchrisfgb]

My sister texted me the news earlier.

As I have already said I have my life to owe to that unit and it's great to see it will still be there especially after seeing first hand what such great work they do, not only to me but to other children.

[Newcastle Historian]

More on this . . . and I'm sure there will be YET EVEN MORE on it to follow . . .


JOY as Children's Heart Unit at Freeman Hospital is saved
by Helen Rae, The Journal, July 5th 2012


CHILDREN’S HEART SURGERY will continue in Newcastle after a landmark decision was made to keep the life-saving service in the region. A National Health Service review into the streamlining of paediatric heart surgery services in England has decided that children’s heart operations should remain at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. The NHS has looked at how it delivers services and decided the best option is to cut the 10 specialist sites that perform children’s heart surgery to seven.

Hospitals in Leicester, Leeds and the Royal Brompton in London are to stop performing children’s heart surgery following the ruling.

Last night, cardiologists welcomed the decision by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts and said it was great news for the region. Dr Richard Kirk, consultant paediatric cardiologist at the Freeman, said: “All the staff are delighted. It has been a long, long time to get to this decision and we are thrilled that the evidence put forward for Newcastle has highlighted our high quality of work."

“We are very much looking forward to working with colleagues in Leeds to give children the best possible service and outcomes. We always hoped that the decision would be in our favour and it has been a very gruelling process as everything we do has been scrutinised. We feel for those in Leeds, who will lose their children’s heart surgery, but we know that we can extend our welcome and quality of care to them.”


Read More http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1zjaW0ZUz

[Newcastle Historian]

Specialists at Freeman Heart Unit are set to double
by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle, July 6th 2012


THE NUMBER of specialists at the children’s heart unit in Newcastle will double when a nationwide change in services is implemented. As reported in the Chronicle yesterday, children’s heart surgery will continue at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital after a decision was made to keep the life-saving service.

Hospitals in Leeds, Leicester, and the Royal Brompton in London are to stop carrying out child heart operations, the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts ruled after an eight hour meeting. As a result, children using Leeds General Infirmary will now have the option of travelling to Newcastle for heart surgery and to cope with the increase in demand, the number of cardiologists at the Freeman hospital’s children’s heart unit will double to eight. The number of cardiac surgeons will increase from three to four and the number of nursing staff is also expected to rise.

Dr John O’Sullivan, consultant paediatric and adult congenital cardiologist at the Freeman, said: “There will be a 100% increase in the number of cardiologists who will work at the children’s heart unit and the number of cardiac surgeons will also rise."


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1zsVLnCkh

[Newcastle Historian]

Freeman Heart Unit backed as row heads to courts
by Michael Brown, The Journal, September 22nd 2012


HEALTH chiefs have vowed to fight Newcastle’s corner as the row over changes to children’s heart units across the country heads for the courts. The Leeds-based charity, the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, look set to launch legal action against the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trust (JCPCT), which said future operations should be carried out at the Freeman Hospital, not their city’s General Infirmary.

Now, with a deadline passing for the JCPCT to cave in to the Yorkshire group’s demands – which could also have seen the decision put off until 2014 – it seems a lengthy and expensive judicial review is likely. Chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals, Sir Len Fenwick said he was “very disappointed” by the situation, but his staff would attempt to ignore the legal battle and continue efforts to improve the centre of excellence here in the North East.

“It is disappointing following such a protracted process that it has come to this,” he said. “The worst thing that could happen is if we had to start all over again with the extremely complex and lengthy assessment process.” In a statement, a spokesman for the JCPCTs said they would continue to prepare for their original decision to be implemented across the country while fighting the case and are very confident of victory.


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz27BRCNLSe

[Newcastle Historian]

Freeman Hospital Children's Heart Unit under threat again
by Helen Rae, The Journal, October 23rd 2012


THE North East’s Children’s Heart Unit in Newcastle, at the Freeman Hospital, could once again be under threat as the Health Secretary orders a review into the decision to close three other units across the UK. Jeremy Hunt has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to carry out a review into the decision to close the children’s heart surgery units at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London. The panel will decide by the end of February whether it believes the recommendations of the Safe and Sustainable Review will streamline paediatric heart services.

It was announced in July that children’s heart surgery would remain at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital after a decision was made to keep the life-saving service. The review by Mr Hunt comes after councillors in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire contacted him with concerns about the closure of the unit at Glenfield.

Earlier this month a campaign group which is fighting to keep the Leeds unit open launched legal proceedings against NHS officials who made the decision.
Save Our Surgery said it has filed for permission for a judicial review against the decision made by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) to close the unit. If the judicial review goes ahead, the IRP review will be put on hold.

Last night, parents said any decision to overturn the initial ruling would prove devastating for those in the North East.


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz2A6hXEpMG

[Newcastle Historian]

North East MPs turn on Health Secretary over
children’s heart services review
by William Green, The Journal, October 24th 2012


Tory Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who is to review the review into childrens heart units

NORTH EAST Labour MPs have rounded on Tory Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt for plunging the future of the region’s children’s heart unit back into doubt. Mr Hunt has ordered a review into the decision that saved surgery at the Freeman Hospital unit in Newcastle, but meant three others would close, sparking a vociferous campaign in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to save the heart unit in Leeds. Defending his decision in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Hunt said: “It’s going to be a totally impartial review, it’s going to be a very thorough review. It’s an extremely important decision and that’s why I asked the independent reconfiguration panel to take the time that they need in order to do this review properly.” The panel will make a recommendation by the end of February. It will look at the decision to close the children’s heart surgery units at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London.

Health bosses have insisted that Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will continue with its £12m investment in building infrastructure, specialist equipment and staff recruitment in light of the decision earlier this year to keep paediatric surgery at the Freeman. Newcastle East MP Nick Brown, who was in the Commons yesterday to hear the Health Secretary, said the move had renewed uncertainty for children, parents and staff. The Labour MP said Mr Hunt should have had a very good reason to set aside the initial review, given its thrust was that a smaller number of units was the best way to provide the best outcome for young patients. “I really don’t see what reason he has got for not accepting the review,” said Mr Brown. “He has just said he wants a further review of the review.”


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz2ACoGrQo2

[bigchrisfgb]

Get out of hear, the Freeman hospital is the UK's leading hospital for heart surgery for babies and children, (and I would say it's certainly up there with the best when it comes to adults as well). I would rate it even higher than GOS. There is no way what so ever it should be closed, no way.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Get out of hear, the Freeman hospital is the UK's leading hospital for heart surgery for babies and children, (and I would say it's certainly up there with the best when it comes to adults as well). I would rate it even higher than GOS. There is no way what so ever it should be closed, no way.

There is a strong possibility that genuine mischief is afoot.

The result of the factually objective and accurate review (because the evidence for the Freeman was obvious, massive and unavoidable) has not suited people with a certain perspective.

Leeds Hospital now has a big chance of reversing the ruling, as there are marginal seats in that area to be won in 2015.

The Conservatives would not sanction such an expensive 'second review' if they did not have a political objective in mind.

All of this (of course) is just my opinion . . . or rather, my concern.

[BMS100]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

There is a strong possibility that genuine mischief is afoot.

The result of the factually objective and accurate review (because the evidence for the Freeman was obvious, massive and unavoidable) has not suited people with a certain perspective.

Leeds Hospital now has a big chance of reversing the ruling, as there are marginal seats in that area to be won in 2015.

The Conservatives would not sanction such an expensive 'second review' if they did not have a political objective in mind.

All of this (of course) is just my opinion . . . or rather, my concern.

I agree, it's purely political as well as the selfishness of the people of Leeds, who would have to travel to either Newcastle or Liverpool, whereas people in the north east may have to travel 170 miles to Liverpool (if Leeds was full)

It's as good as gone IMO.

[Andym]

i think facts need checking here. congenital heart defects are more prevalent in the immigrant paticularly asian population and this and access to the greatest number of patients within the shortest timescale/distance is a relevant discriminator for the choice of location. freemans results are average and leeds are disputing some discrepancies in the data provided-i would have thought that its essential the best performing unit is kept despite regional bias. freeman has struggled to recruit surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists in recent years which almost made the childrens service unsustainable.it also suffers from childrens general services being split with the rvi while other hospitals offer a true all singing all dancing childrens hospital on one site-important in such complicated cases as congenital defects often occur together eg gastrointestinal and heart defects. there is a lot of expertise at the freeman and it does a good job-but the royal brompton is even more world renowned and lost its service. dont get me wrong i hope it stays at the freeman but its important its entirely transparent and that the patients come first-if it takes a bit longer so be it.

[Andy Welsh]

Originally Posted by Andym

i think facts need checking here. congenital heart defects are more prevalent in the immigrant paticularly asian population and this and access to the greatest number of patients within the shortest timescale/distance is a relevant discriminator for the choice of location. freemans results are average and leeds are disputing some discrepancies in the data provided-i would have thought that its essential the best performing unit is kept despite regional bias. freeman has struggled to recruit surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists in recent years which almost made the childrens service unsustainable.it also suffers from childrens general services being split with the rvi while other hospitals offer a true all singing all dancing childrens hospital on one site-important in such complicated cases as congenital defects often occur together eg gastrointestinal and heart defects. there is a lot of expertise at the freeman and it does a good job-but the royal brompton is even more world renowned and lost its service. dont get me wrong i hope it stays at the freeman but its important its entirely transparent and that the patients come first-if it takes a bit longer so be it.

They are reviewing the review which is as ridiculous as it sounds in my opinion. The Thick Of It has nothing on this bunch.

[BMS100]

Originally Posted by Andym

i think facts need checking here. congenital heart defects are more prevalent in the immigrant paticularly asian population and this and access to the greatest number of patients within the shortest timescale/distance is a relevant discriminator for the choice of location. freemans results are average and leeds are disputing some discrepancies in the data provided-i would have thought that its essential the best performing unit is kept despite regional bias. freeman has struggled to recruit surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists in recent years which almost made the childrens service unsustainable.it also suffers from childrens general services being split with the rvi while other hospitals offer a true all singing all dancing childrens hospital on one site-important in such complicated cases as congenital defects often occur together eg gastrointestinal and heart defects. there is a lot of expertise at the freeman and it does a good job-but the royal brompton is even more world renowned and lost its service. dont get me wrong i hope it stays at the freeman but its important its entirely transparent and that the patients come first-if it takes a bit longer so be it.

Absolute claptrap! The Freeman carried out the uk's first succesful child heart transplant, it has the better team in place right now.

Indeed, if it were to close, some of them would be transferred to Leeds. The medical/patient decision has already been made, now we await the POLITICAL one.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Andym

i think facts need checking here. congenital heart defects are more prevalent in the immigrant paticularly asian population and this and access to the greatest number of patients within the shortest timescale/distance is a relevant discriminator for the choice of location. freemans results are average and leeds are disputing some discrepancies in the data provided-i would have thought that its essential the best performing unit is kept despite regional bias. freeman has struggled to recruit surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists in recent years which almost made the childrens service unsustainable.it also suffers from childrens general services being split with the rvi while other hospitals offer a true all singing all dancing childrens hospital on one site-important in such complicated cases as congenital defects often occur together eg gastrointestinal and heart defects. there is a lot of expertise at the freeman and it does a good job-but the royal brompton is even more world renowned and lost its service. dont get me wrong i hope it stays at the freeman but its important its entirely transparent and that the patients come first-if it takes a bit longer so be it.

The above is quite surprising!

The detail in it seems to conflict with everything I have ever been told by friends who work in the NHS around the country (not just locally) who were very clear in explaining how the Freeman has one of the best performing heart units (not just childrens) in the world, never mind just in the UK.

What they have also told me (which has relevance to the above "the Royal Brompton is even more world renowned" statement) is that London hospitals rarely need to be very good at all to be classed as "world renowned". The mere fact that they are in London gives them a huge head-start in being 'referred to' as that!!

That is true in many walks of life, not just in hospitals.

[Andym]

not sure which bit you think is claptrap. the leeds centre applied for a judicial review on a point of data submitted by freeman which they are contesting-a bit like virgin did on the west coast line and we know what happened there. freeman has very good adult cardiac and transplant results which are available to the public even down to individual surgeons. paediatric cardiac surgery is a different entity entirely and freeman has ecmo,lvad and berlin heart experience which is cutting edge but the fact is uk centres are comparable with europe but are worse than the us (this is based on case adjusted data used in the review) hence this exercise to centralise the expertise, as volume is strongly associated with better results but that has to be balanced by access. a lot of this work is congenital heart defects ie the kids are born with them and this often goes along with other developmental problems such as trisomy 21 or tracheoesophageal fistulae although there is more acquired disease like myocarditis leading to heart failure these days. they did do the first infant heart transplant in 1987 not the first child transplant. theres great people there (you may have twigged i am in the trade)but the best thing for freeman is to keep the excellent unit they have in a transparent way ie im sure they can counter any arguments leeds puts forward as it has no advantage other than catchment area. in terms of reputation i think the review has actually ignored reputations like the brompton and been as pragmatic a review as theres been in healthcare in the uk which has been refreshing. its as emotive for those patients and parents in yorkshire and lincolnshire etc as it is for us in the north east so i dont hold with conspiracy theory even though jeremy hunt fills me with dread.

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by Andym

not sure which bit you think is claptrap. the leeds centre applied for a judicial review on a point of data submitted by freeman . . . .

Different standards apply to Policy-making by an internet forum.

Originally Posted by Andym

. . . the best thing for freeman is to keep the excellent unit they have in a transparent way ie im sure they can counter any arguments leeds puts forward as it has no advantage other than catchment area.

Indeed; and strategically, that is a very significant consideration - for any centre of excellence.
Most expert personnel and equipments can be moved or replaced - geography is immutable.

Originally Posted by Andym

its as emotive for those patients and parents in yorkshire and lincolnshire etc as it is for us in the north east . . .

That's our problem, isn't it?
We 'want' the centre of excellence to be here because we are here.
If we were not here, what would we wish for? and what evidence would we want to consider before deciding?

From where I see the Service at present (which is not in a happy position), Leeds seems to be a rational choice (whether any of us like it or not).

[BMS100]

Originally Posted by Andym

but the best thing for freeman is to keep the excellent unit they have in a transparent way ie im sure they can counter any arguments leeds puts forward as it has no advantage other than catchment area.

Your words

And if that is what you believe, then the rest of your post is.......well, pointless!