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Children's heart surgery to move to Dublin Children's heart surgery to move from Belfast to Dublin
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland's health minister has backed the establishment of an all-Ireland children's heart surgery centre in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.Northern Ireland's health minister has backed the establishment of an all-Ireland children's heart surgery centre in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
It means surgery in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital will cease.It means surgery in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital will cease.
Jim Wells made the announcement to the assembly on Tuesday, following a review of children's cardiac services by a panel of international experts. Jim Wells made the announcement to the assembly on Tuesday, following a review of children's cardiac services.
In 2012, it emerged that services at the Royal were not sustainable with many operations taking place in either England or Dublin.
The review was commissioned by health ministers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.The review was commissioned by health ministers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Wells told MLAs he was recommending the implementation of a new cross-border model of co-operation that would "deliver safe and effective cardiac care to children in Northern Ireland". Mr Wells, a Democratic Unionist Party minister, told MLAs he was recommending the implementation of a new cross-border model of co-operation that would "deliver safe and effective cardiac care to children in Northern Ireland".
All heart surgery for the whole of Ireland will be based at Our Lady's children's hospital in Crumlin, south Dublin. Children's heart surgery for the whole of Ireland will be based at Our Lady's children's hospital in Crumlin, south Dublin.
The Royal in Belfast would develop as a centre for diagnostics and cardio interventions.
Mr Wells said a single children's heart centre in Dublin would see children being treated in accordance the highest standards of care.Mr Wells said a single children's heart centre in Dublin would see children being treated in accordance the highest standards of care.
He said the model provided significant opportunities for enhancing the support available to families, involving their representatives, as well as clinicians, in governance arrangements and improving communication and the flow of information between clinical teams in Dublin and Belfast.He said the model provided significant opportunities for enhancing the support available to families, involving their representatives, as well as clinicians, in governance arrangements and improving communication and the flow of information between clinical teams in Dublin and Belfast.
A leading international surgeon who has advised on the future of children's heart surgery in Northern Ireland has said there is a real willingness to make an "all-island" solution work.A leading international surgeon who has advised on the future of children's heart surgery in Northern Ireland has said there is a real willingness to make an "all-island" solution work.
In 2013, Dr John Mayer, was asked by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to review existing services.In 2013, Dr John Mayer, was asked by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to review existing services.
He looked at those in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.He looked at those in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
His conclusion and recommendations will have major ramifications for the Northern Ireland health service.His conclusion and recommendations will have major ramifications for the Northern Ireland health service.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School said what was required was not difficult and should be achievable in a relatively short space of time.In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School said what was required was not difficult and should be achievable in a relatively short space of time.
The panel that examined the cardiac services, was chaired by leading surgeon Dr John Mayer from Boston. The international panel that examined the cardiac services was chaired by leading surgeon Dr John Mayer from Boston.
In his report to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland he said surgical care of all children should be transferred to Dublin.In his report to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland he said surgical care of all children should be transferred to Dublin.
In a statement, Mr Wells and his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, said: "We recognise fully the importance of clarity for patients, their families, clinicians, and other stakeholders on the immediate implications for service delivery.In a statement, Mr Wells and his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, said: "We recognise fully the importance of clarity for patients, their families, clinicians, and other stakeholders on the immediate implications for service delivery.
"The immediate impact of the removal of surgery from Belfast is that more children from Northern Ireland are likely to receive elective surgery at a specialist centre in Great Britain, as required, until appropriate capacity is in place in Crumlin.""The immediate impact of the removal of surgery from Belfast is that more children from Northern Ireland are likely to receive elective surgery at a specialist centre in Great Britain, as required, until appropriate capacity is in place in Crumlin."
In 2012, a national report said that that while safe, the unit at the Royal in Belfast was not sustainable. It said such cardiac centres across the United Kingdom must perform a minimum of 400 children's surgical procedures each year.In 2012, a national report said that that while safe, the unit at the Royal in Belfast was not sustainable. It said such cardiac centres across the United Kingdom must perform a minimum of 400 children's surgical procedures each year.
Hundreds of families have campaigned for heart surgery to be retained in Belfast.Hundreds of families have campaigned for heart surgery to be retained in Belfast.