Two-year campaign to save Oxford's children's heart services is over (From Oxford Mail)

Two-year campaign to save Oxford's children's heart services is over

8:05pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Countywide

The future of Oxfordshire’s children’s heart services has been secured after a two year campaign.

A link between Oxford and Southampton hospitals — which sees county children cared for in Oxford but receive surgery in Southampton — was saved as experts deciding the future of children’s heart surgery gave it their full backing.

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), was tasked with deciding the future of children’s heart services after the government announced that it wanted fewer, larger centres carrying out more operations to make the process safer for ill children.

The Oxford hospital forged a unique working relationship with Southampton which allowed children to continue to receive all pre and post operation care at Oxford and undertake surgical procedures in Southampton.

Anne Thompson, paediatric consultant at the JR, said: “This is excellent news for Oxford.

The new look for Paediatric Heart services will see seven ‘surgical centres’ carry out surgery.

They are Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, and Southampton General Hospital, as well London's Great Ormond Street and Evelina hospitals.

They will be supported by a number of ‘cardiology centres’, which do not perform surgery but provide peripheral care for children, including the John Radcliffe.