Driving improvement in CHD care

According to figures cited by the British Heart Foundation, around 4000 children across the UK are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect each year. As a result of advances in early diagnosis and treatment, most children will grow up to become adults and lead full and active lives. However, concerns have been raised regarding variation in the quality of care received across the country and, in a bid to tackle the issue, NHS England has set out plans to implement exacting new standards that will ensure patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) receive the best possible care. Hospitals that do not currently fulfil these standards, which have been developed by specialists and patients, must either show that they have a programme to do so and meet strict milestones, or stop providing treatment. 

NHS England’s work has already seen patients with CHD benefiting from these standards, including full out of hours, seven-day cover across the country and safer practice as procedures are only carried out by specialists.

However, in future all children with heart disease will receive inpatient care in a place where all the specialists and services they need are on-site, so that they can receive the best care without either the patient or the specialist having to travel to another hospital.