'A third of heart ops outside NI'

Almost 450 heart operations had to be bought outside NI

Almost a third of heart operations on NI patients in the last year were carried out in England or the Republic, according to a leading medical charity.

NI Chest, Heart and Stroke said this places additional stress on the patient and their family.

Of 1,430 heart operations on NI patients in the last year, 990 took place at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

However, 440 were performed outside Northern Ireland at a cost of £14,000 each in London or £17,000 in Dublin.

"It's not acceptable that families should have to travel to Dublin or London to visit their loved ones," said NI Chest, Heart and Stroke's Andrew Dougal.

"We supported, but only in the short term, sending people elsewhere for their operations because the Royal Victoria Hospital couldn't cope with the numbers. Now we believe the Royal can cope with the numbers."

This means exporting jobs, which in the present employment situation in Northern Ireland could be seen as imprudent Andrew Dougal

The charity chief also said that a number of patients who travelled outside Northern Ireland received a poorer level of care.

"There's evidence that some of the operations fell short of the high quality standards which are commonplace at the Royal Victoria Hospital (NI's main cardiac hospital) in Belfast.

"In fact, in some cases additional surgery has been needed once the patient returned to Northern Ireland."

Mr Dougal continued that it made "no sense whatsoever" that people should have to travel outside Northern Ireland for a heart operation when "we have one of the best heart surgery hospitals in the UK".

"This means exporting jobs, which in the present employment situation in Northern Ireland could be seen as imprudent," he added.