NHS: Children’s Congenital Heart Services

Baroness Howarth of Breckland Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I am informed by NHS England that it will be including adult heart surgery in its review of the care for people with congenital heart disease, but of course I cannot pre-empt in quite what way the conclusions will flow from that.

[Baroness Howarth of Breckland]

My Lords, during the previous difficulties and confusion when there was much lobbying and debate, the people who found it most difficult to follow the information and the evidence were parents. Presumably, they are the most important stakeholders, particularly in the case of children’s congenital heart disease. Can the Minister convey to NHS England the importance of finding clear and sometimes simple ways of helping parents at a time when they are stressed, anxious, worried about the geography and not able to understand the outcomes? They do not always have the best information with which to make decisions.

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Baroness makes an extremely important point. I know that NHS England is cognisant of the need to ensure not only that parents are included in this consultation but that there is a system going forward which will inform parents appropriately.