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09/12/2013
All-Island Children's Heart Surgery Assessment Announced
A team of experts is to carry out an independent assessment of children's heart surgery on an all-Ireland basis.
NI Health Minister Edwin Poots and his Irish counterpart Minister James Reilly announced today that a team of three international clinicians will assess the current and future needs for cardiology and cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The assessment team will examine the existing hospital services in both jurisdictions and outline options for reconfiguration.
The assessment is due to start in January 2014 and be completed in six months.
When the Ministers receive this independent assessment, decisions will then be made on how to carry out the recommendations in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Pending the completion of the assessment next summer, health service management and clinicians in the Republic of Ireland will continue to work with colleagues in Belfast to develop support to services in Northern Ireland.
Minister Poots said: "I believe that the assessment by this external team of experts will bring international best practice and fresh thinking to bear on this challenging issue. I am pleased that they have accepted this assignment and look forward to receiving their advice. I want to thank health service management and clinicians in the Republic of Ireland for engaging with their colleagues in Belfast to provide and develop support to the services in Northern Ireland. My key priority throughout this process has been, and remains, to ensure the delivery of a safe and sustainable service for these vulnerable children."
Minister Reilly said: "This assessment is intended to lead to the establishment of an integrated service for cardiology and congenital cardiac surgery for all the children of this island, based on international best practice. I am very pleased that such an eminent group of clinicians have agreed to dedicate so much of their time over the next few month to help us achieve this goal of an [effective] integrated service which will be so important to the children of this island and their families."
(IT/CD)
NI Health Minister Edwin Poots and his Irish counterpart Minister James Reilly announced today that a team of three international clinicians will assess the current and future needs for cardiology and cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The assessment team will examine the existing hospital services in both jurisdictions and outline options for reconfiguration.
The assessment is due to start in January 2014 and be completed in six months.
When the Ministers receive this independent assessment, decisions will then be made on how to carry out the recommendations in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Pending the completion of the assessment next summer, health service management and clinicians in the Republic of Ireland will continue to work with colleagues in Belfast to develop support to services in Northern Ireland.
Minister Poots said: "I believe that the assessment by this external team of experts will bring international best practice and fresh thinking to bear on this challenging issue. I am pleased that they have accepted this assignment and look forward to receiving their advice. I want to thank health service management and clinicians in the Republic of Ireland for engaging with their colleagues in Belfast to provide and develop support to the services in Northern Ireland. My key priority throughout this process has been, and remains, to ensure the delivery of a safe and sustainable service for these vulnerable children."
Minister Reilly said: "This assessment is intended to lead to the establishment of an integrated service for cardiology and congenital cardiac surgery for all the children of this island, based on international best practice. I am very pleased that such an eminent group of clinicians have agreed to dedicate so much of their time over the next few month to help us achieve this goal of an [effective] integrated service which will be so important to the children of this island and their families."
(IT/CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
