Fewer, larger centres are needed to improve children’s heart surgery, report says

A report on children’s heart surgery in England is recommending fewer, larger centres, each with a minimum of four full time surgeons, as part of efforts to ensure that all children have equal access to the highest standards of care.

Four of the 11 heart surgery centres in England currently have two or fewer paediatric surgeons, says the report, produced by an expert group at the request of the NHS’s National Specialised Commissioning Group. A public consultation this autumn will decide which centres should continue to provide surgery.

After reviewing the current service the expert group found that some centres cannot provide care round the clock and …