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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Papworth halts heart transplants | Papworth halts heart transplants |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Routine heart transplants have been suspended at a leading hospital after a rise in the early deaths of patients. | Routine heart transplants have been suspended at a leading hospital after a rise in the early deaths of patients. |
| This year seven of the 20 adult heart transplant patients at Cambridgeshire's Papworth Hospital - or 35% - have died within 30 days of their operation. | This year seven of the 20 adult heart transplant patients at Cambridgeshire's Papworth Hospital - or 35% - have died within 30 days of their operation. |
| The hospital says the UK average death rate is 10% and its normal rate is 7%. | The hospital says the UK average death rate is 10% and its normal rate is 7%. |
| The Department of Health has advised suspending operations pending a review. Lung transplants and other operations are being carried out as normal. | The Department of Health has advised suspending operations pending a review. Lung transplants and other operations are being carried out as normal. |
| Quick response | Quick response |
| Stephen Bridge, the hospital's chief executive, said: "It's expected 10% of heart transplant patients die within 30 days. | Stephen Bridge, the hospital's chief executive, said: "It's expected 10% of heart transplant patients die within 30 days. |
| "We've normally been around 7%, so below the national average." | "We've normally been around 7%, so below the national average." |
| We would like to reassure everyone this review applies to routine heart transplantation only Stephen Bridge class="" href="/1/hi/health/7075465.stm">What could be wrong? | |
| He said they were talking about "comparatively small numbers" but it was agreed the Healthcare Commission should undertake an external review to see if there are improvements that can be made. | He said they were talking about "comparatively small numbers" but it was agreed the Healthcare Commission should undertake an external review to see if there are improvements that can be made. |
| "The Department of Health has responded to this very quickly by sending in a team of independent experts to help us review our heart transplant service," said Mr Bridge. | "The Department of Health has responded to this very quickly by sending in a team of independent experts to help us review our heart transplant service," said Mr Bridge. |
| "The review is being conducted to help us identify what, if any, action needs to be taken. | "The review is being conducted to help us identify what, if any, action needs to be taken. |
| "We would like to reassure everyone this review applies to routine heart transplantation only." | "We would like to reassure everyone this review applies to routine heart transplantation only." |
| Patients informed | Patients informed |
| A hospital statement said: "Should an urgent case arise, clinicians in Papworth will discuss with the external advisors involved in the review how to manage the patients." | A hospital statement said: "Should an urgent case arise, clinicians in Papworth will discuss with the external advisors involved in the review how to manage the patients." |
| The review, which will last two weeks, will look at the individual case notes of those who died after a heart transplant to check the quality of care and to see if there are any common factors. | The review, which will last two weeks, will look at the individual case notes of those who died after a heart transplant to check the quality of care and to see if there are any common factors. |
| It will also look at how care is provided from the patient's first contact with the trust to post-operative care and will ensure the transplant service is linked "appropriately" to the rest of the organisation. | It will also look at how care is provided from the patient's first contact with the trust to post-operative care and will ensure the transplant service is linked "appropriately" to the rest of the organisation. |
| There will also be a review of the action already taken by the trust to identify possible causes for the rise in the heart transplant death rate. | There will also be a review of the action already taken by the trust to identify possible causes for the rise in the heart transplant death rate. |
| Patients on waiting lists and others affected directly by the review have been informed. | Patients on waiting lists and others affected directly by the review have been informed. |
| A heart valve reconstruction operation televised live from Papworth Hospital and watched by 250 people at the Wellcome Collection in London went ahead as planned on Thursday night. | A heart valve reconstruction operation televised live from Papworth Hospital and watched by 250 people at the Wellcome Collection in London went ahead as planned on Thursday night. |
| The hospital carried out the first-ever live broadcast of open heart surgery in Britain in July. | The hospital carried out the first-ever live broadcast of open heart surgery in Britain in July. |
| Last year surgeons at Papworth performed the UK's first "beating heart" transplant where the organ was kept supplied with blood until it was inserted into the patient. | Last year surgeons at Papworth performed the UK's first "beating heart" transplant where the organ was kept supplied with blood until it was inserted into the patient. |
| The hospital is asking patients or relatives with concerns to call 01480 830541. | The hospital is asking patients or relatives with concerns to call 01480 830541. |
| Have you been affected by this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |