In 2014, an Independent Review of children's cardiac
services in Bristol was launched after a number of families raised
concerns about the care and treatment their children received as
patients at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
(BRHC).
The review was set up by the medical director of NHS England to
look at children's cardiac services at the hospital and its
outreach clinics, to learn lessons, and to contribute to the
development of national standards of care.
At the same time, the Care Quality Commission conducted an
independent audit and review of the medical records of a sample of
children who were cared for by Bristol children's cardiac services
between January 2012 and December 2014.
What did the reviews find?
The reviews criticised the care we provided to some children and
the way in which we responded when some families raised concerns.
We fully accepted their findings and welcomed their publication as
a way of learning from our mistakes.
Although they focused on children's cardiac services, we have,
where possible, implemented learning and service changes throughout
the organisation, as we recognise the benefits this will bring.
Recommendations
The reports made a number of recommendations, which we have
fully achieved, and in some cases exceeded. The recommendations
were broadly spread across four categories:
■ Women's and children's services
■ Consent for surgery
■ Supporting families and staff through incidents and
complaints
■ National and local recommendations for services that the Trust
is not directly responsible for but which have an impact on the
experience of children and families.
View the report "
Improving children's cardiac services in Bristol: October
2017"
The
Independent Review of children's heart
services in Bristol, led by Eleanor Grey QC - June
2016
The
Trust's media response to the Independent
Review - June 2016
The
independent audit and review by the
CQC of the medical records of a sample of children - June 2016
