Decisions makers will be considering all the evidence soon in relation to the possible closure of Southampton Children’s Heart Surgery Unit (Read the background).
As readers will remember, the unit is under threat of closure as part of the Government’s funding cuts.
There has been much scrutiny of the paperwork, following which many people have criticised the details about retrieval times for Island patients, who if the unit in Southampton is closed, would have to travel to London or Bristol for treatment.
Travel to Bristol/London wouldn’t meet PICS standards
News reaches VB today that could see that aspect of the justification for closure turned on its head.
A report has been produced on the safe retrieval of critically ill children from the Isle of Wight and it reveals that “there is no available evidence that could reasonably suggest that a retrieval team from London or Bristol could reach the Isle of Wight in compliance with the time limits stipulated by the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS) standards, even if the Isle of Wight is considered to be a ‘remote area’ and measured by the higher time threshold of 4 hours.”
A report of all findings and comments from the public are to be considered by decision-makers in October.
We await the outcome with baited breath and for the sake of those children with heart problems on the Island, will be keeping our fingers crossed that the right decision is made.
