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Reports and findings

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