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| Heart hospital gets the all-clear | Heart hospital gets the all-clear |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A leading heart transplant hospital has been told by inspectors it can resume operations after treatment was suspended following a rise in deaths. | A leading heart transplant hospital has been told by inspectors it can resume operations after treatment was suspended following a rise in deaths. |
| Cambridgeshire's Papworth Hospital alerted the government about the issue and agreed to stop operating while a watchdog investigated. | |
| The Healthcare Commission ruled the quality of care was good. | The Healthcare Commission ruled the quality of care was good. |
| It found there were no common factors to explain the rise in death rates following surgery. | It found there were no common factors to explain the rise in death rates following surgery. |
| We did not find any evidence of inadequate care, or that the deaths could have been prevented Nigel EllisHealthcare Commission Surgery fraught with risks | We did not find any evidence of inadequate care, or that the deaths could have been prevented Nigel EllisHealthcare Commission Surgery fraught with risks |
| But the inspectors said they would keep a close eye on future performance, and told the hospital it would have to tell patients about the mortality figures. | But the inspectors said they would keep a close eye on future performance, and told the hospital it would have to tell patients about the mortality figures. |
| The hospital raised the alarm last month following the deaths of seven out of 20 patients treated this year who died within 30 days of surgery. | The hospital raised the alarm last month following the deaths of seven out of 20 patients treated this year who died within 30 days of surgery. |
| The 35% mortality rate compared with 7% in the previous two years. | The 35% mortality rate compared with 7% in the previous two years. |
| An eighth patient has also died but this was beyond the key 30 day limit used to assess the success of surgery. | An eighth patient has also died but this was beyond the key 30 day limit used to assess the success of surgery. |
| Not categoric | Not categoric |
| Nigel Ellis, the Healthcare Commission's head of investigations, praised the hospital for alerting the authorities. | Nigel Ellis, the Healthcare Commission's head of investigations, praised the hospital for alerting the authorities. |
| He said it was not possible to categorically say the rise in deaths was just an anomaly. | He said it was not possible to categorically say the rise in deaths was just an anomaly. |
| But he added: "I want to be clear that we did not find any evidence of inadequate care, or that the deaths could have been prevented. | But he added: "I want to be clear that we did not find any evidence of inadequate care, or that the deaths could have been prevented. |
| "The quality of care was generally of a high standard." | "The quality of care was generally of a high standard." |
| But he said the recommendations made should "reassure the public that everything possible was being done to protect patients". | But he said the recommendations made should "reassure the public that everything possible was being done to protect patients". |
| The two-week investigation, which involved interviews with staff, statistical analysis, and evaluation of medical records, found that the patients who died tended to have a longer ischaemic time - the period the heart is without blood - from the removal of the organ to transplant. | The two-week investigation, which involved interviews with staff, statistical analysis, and evaluation of medical records, found that the patients who died tended to have a longer ischaemic time - the period the heart is without blood - from the removal of the organ to transplant. |
| The watchdog said this was a contributing factor, but that it was no different to other transplant centres. | The watchdog said this was a contributing factor, but that it was no different to other transplant centres. |
| Risky procedure | Risky procedure |
| Mr Ellis added: "The fact remains that heart transplantation is risky, and is carried out on extremely ill patients." | Mr Ellis added: "The fact remains that heart transplantation is risky, and is carried out on extremely ill patients." |
| Inspectors also told the hospital to bring some of its pratices in line with other centres, but again Papworth was not directly criticised. | Inspectors also told the hospital to bring some of its pratices in line with other centres, but again Papworth was not directly criticised. |
| In particular, the way it transported hearts in ice and a technique used to protect them during surgery were cited. | In particular, the way it transported hearts in ice and a technique used to protect them during surgery were cited. |
| Steven Tsui, the hospital's clinical director of transplant services, said: "There are certain clinical preferences even though there is a lot of information sharing between hospitals." | Steven Tsui, the hospital's clinical director of transplant services, said: "There are certain clinical preferences even though there is a lot of information sharing between hospitals." |
| He said this was because there are such a low number of transplants in the UK each year that it was not always possible to deploy evidence-based practice. | He said this was because there are such a low number of transplants in the UK each year that it was not always possible to deploy evidence-based practice. |
| And hospital chief executive Stephen Bridge described the transplant team as "highly professional and dedicated". | And hospital chief executive Stephen Bridge described the transplant team as "highly professional and dedicated". |
| He added: "We welcomed the report and embrace all its recommendations." | He added: "We welcomed the report and embrace all its recommendations." |