This in from Isle of Wight LINk in response to the NHS Safe and Sustainable consultation document, of which one proposal is to close the children’s heart surgery unit at Southampton General Hospital. In their own words. Ed
In the opinion of the Isle of Wight LINk, the location of the Specialised Surgical Centres in all but Option B would have a serious detrimental impact on the care of children in need of cardiac treatment and of adults receiving care for congenital heart defects living on the Isle of Wight.
Supporting Option B
The Isle of Wight LINk strongly supports Option B and strongly opposes Options A, C and D. Option B is supported because it contains centres which:
- Score the highest for quality.
- Score the lowest for mortality rates.
- Currently carry out complex surgery.
- Are readily accessible from all parts of England and Wales.
The Isle of Wight LINk is concerned that Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust is only in one of the four options despite ranking the second highest for quality.
Travel times not considered
There is also concern that travel times to and from the Isle of Wight to Specialised Surgical Centres having not being taken in to consideration due to the Isle of Wight having been classed with Portsmouth because of its PO post code.
The financial cost of travel to Bristol or London in addition to the cost of crossing the Solent; which itself can cost £105 for a day return* is a factor which the IW LINk feels should be taken into account with regards to patients from the Isle of Wight.
Possible psychological distress
The IW LINk is also concerned about the possible psychological distress caused by the separation of children and their parents from family and other social support networks during prolonged hospital stays, where travel costs and distance prevent regular contact.
The IW LINk is aware that the team of expert clinicians at Southampton may not wish to relocate to other Specialised Surgical Centres, thus losing the skills and experience which have created Southampton’s record of high quality and low mortality rates.
Supporting London centres too
The IW LINk supports the proposal for two Specialist Surgical Centres in London; those of the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Great Ormond Street hospital.
The LINk agrees with the five key principles which have driven the Safe and Sustainable Consultation Document, that:
- The needs of the children should be paramount.
- The highest quality of NHS care should be provided.
- This same high quality should be available to all children.
- The care planned and provided should be personalised to each child.
- Cardiac treatment should be delivered as close to the child’s home as possible.
The IW LINk recognises the benefits of reducing the number of children’s cardiac units in England; including preventing infrequent practice and allowing 24/7 care within the Specialist Surgical centres.
However, the LINk is feels that by closing down the second best children’s cardiac unit in the country, children in need of cardiac treatment on the Isle of Wight will have to travel further to receive a possibly lower quality of care, together with the psychological and financial burdens this will put upon their family. This is why the IW LINk supports Option B.
Laura Spooner
Chair, Isle of Wight LINk
* (Price based on one adult and one infant travelling on a flexible short break ticket from East Cowes to Southampton on a Red Funnel vehicle ferry on a bank holiday. Information accessed from the Red Funnel website on 17th May)
