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Health: Cystic Fibrosis

Answer

The Safe and Sustainable review is being conducted by the NHS Specialised Commissioning Team. We have however been following its progress. No decision has yet been made on the location of paediatric heart surgery units. The proposed options for paediatric congenital heart services are currently being consulted on. The public consultation process enables patients and the public to have the opportunity to make their views known. This is an open process and is not predetermined. The consultation questionnaire specifically asks for views on whether two or three centres would be the optimal number for London and, if two is preferred, which of the three centres should be designated. Formal public consultation closes on 1 July 2011. The consultation document also makes it clear that the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) will consider any evidence submitted about the potential impact for children who access other relevant clinical services (such as cystic fibrosis). In response to concerns that have been set out by the board of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation about the potential impact to paediatric respiratory services at the Royal Brompton Hospital, the JCPCT has convened an expert clinical panel to investigate the issues and report to it in the autumn. We would expect the JCPCT, before taking a decision, to consider this report as well as an independent analysis of the consultation responses, reports from overview and scrutiny committees, and a health impact assessment. The JCPCT is expected to make a decision in November 2011. More information about the consultation can be found here: http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safe_sustainable/public-consultation-2011.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

10162; 728 c339-40WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Children Cystic fibrosis Heart diseases Paediatrics Royal Brompton Hospital

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk