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Children's heart surgery unit ruled safe after death rate fears
A children's heart surgery centre in Leeds that was temporarily closed last year due to fears over mortality rates is safe, a report has ruled. But the NHS Trust has apologised after a lack of compassion and poor care was also highlighted.
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LGI 'so sorry' for families who received substandard care
The chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Julian Hartley has apologised for the level of care received by 16 families at the children's heart surgery unit.
Apology just the beginning for heart surgery unit mum
Michelle Elliott from Doncaster is one of the mothers to receive an apology from the Leeds Teaching Hopsitals NHS Trust in the report about mortality rates.
She believes her 13-year-old daughter Jessica waited so long for a heart transplant, after doctors said she wasn't sick enough, that she ended up having a stroke.
Jessica was finally referred to Newcastle where she had the operation - but the stroke has left her debilitated for life. Michelle, who has fought for all the families through her group Fragile Hearts says the apology should only be the beginning.
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Report outlines 'lack of compassion' at Leeds hospital
The second part of a report that ruled Leeds General Infirmary's children's heart unit is safe, outlined the experiences of 16 families who complained about care their children received at the unit, prompting six to have their child's treatment transferred to another centre.
- One mother said she felt pressurised into having an abortion, which was against her Muslim beliefs
- A bereaved parent told the investigators: "We were given no support by the staff after Annie died. We were given a leaflet. Nobody asked how we were getting home in the early hours of the morning."
- Another described how a book had gone missing in which their son had been writing about his experiences before his death. "It was like losing another part of him," the parent said. "They [staff] didn't seem bothered ... We had been going to Leeds for 10 years and no-one has rung to see how we are."
NHS Trust 'sincerely apologises' to families
Responding to an NHS report that ruled Leeds General Infirmary's children's heart unit safe but outlined the experiences of families who complained of poor care, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised to those families.
Care at children's heart surgery centre ruled 'safe'
A children's heart surgery unit in Leeds that was temporarily closed last year due to fears over mortality rates is safe, according to a comprehensive NHS report of its services out today.
However, the review of Leeds General Infirmary's children's heart surgery centre outlined the experiences of 16 families who complained of poor care at the unit, prompting apologies from both NHS England and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital.