'Let others face child death probe'

Parents of children who died or were left brain-damaged after heart surgery in Bristol have called for other medical staff involved in their treatment to face investigation.

Two surgeons and an NHS Trust chief executive already face being struck off the medical register after an inquiry by the General Medical Council (GMC) into the deaths of 29 children who had heart surgery in the city.

James Wisheart faces being struck off

Four other children were left with serious brain damage after the operations carried out at Bristol Royal Infirmary by James Wisheart, 60, and Janardan Dhasmana, 58.

The pair, along with former chief executive of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust Dr John Roylance, 67, all appeared before the longest-ever GMC disciplinary hearing, which is estimated to have cost £2.2m.

During the hearing in London it was alleged that the surgeons carried out heart operations on children, despite warnings that their number of fatalities was at least double that in other hospitals.

Now parents of the victims have called for other medical staff involved in their children's treatment to face investigation.

Maria Shortis, 40, of Clifton, Bristol, whose daughter Jacinta died after heart surgery, chairs the Bristol Heart Children Action Group, set up to campaign on the parents' behalf.

'Grave concerns'

She said: "We believe there are others involved in these cases, including cardiologists and anaesthetists, who need to give an account of themselves.

"That is why we want a public inquiry with full judicial powers to fully investigate this matter. We have grave concerns about the conduct of a number of people involved who have not had to explain their actions.

"We also want the Department of Health, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the United Bristol Healthcare Trust to be called before an inquiry."

The GMC is due to rule next month on what action will be taken against the three men at the centre of its inquiry.