Rivalry between heart surgeons at two paediatric units whose futures were under threat has been criticised in an independent report.
Plans to cut the number of children’s heart units nationally led to problems between staff in Leeds and Newcastle, and caused anxiety among patients’ families.
In March last year children’s heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) _ which has treated many Huddersfield youngsters - was halted for more than a week amid concerns about the unit’s mortality rate, before it was allowed to resume.
Surgeons in Newcastle had been critical of the way some cases were transferred from Yorkshire to the North East.
That was against the background of campaigning to keep the LGI children’s unit open after it had been chosen to close as part of a national plan to streamline services. The plan is to be re-evaluated and Leeds and Newcastle remain open.
A review of the Leeds unit published concluded that improvements have been made and it can go from strength to strength.
But the report highlights tensions between staff in Leeds and those in Newcastle as far back as 2011.
The review made 17 recommendations about records, communication, whistleblowing and managing change and these should be adopted nationally.
NHS England’s deputy medical director Mike Bewick said: “Patients should be reassured that this service has been rigorously scrutinised and has improved as a result.
“Patients and the public can have confidence that this is a well-run unit and is now in a position to go from strength to strength. Not only have we learned about service in Leeds, we have learned lessons of relevance nationally.
“We are currently consulting on new standards for children’s heart surgery across the country and the review in Leeds has made a significant contribution.”
The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, a charity that supports the Leeds unit, welcomed the outcome.
Chief executive Sharon Cheng said: “The report’s findings confirm that the Leeds unit is safe and provides excellent standards of clinical care, treatment and outcomes for the children under its care.”
Huddersfield mum Gaynor Bearder, whose son Joel is under the care of the Leeds unit, said: “It has taken a long time but I’m delighted we fought for the unit and we have been vindicated.
“Joel faces at least two more operations there and we would never dream of taking him anywhere else. It’s just a shame that so many families have suffered because of the uncertainty”.
