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Report clears child heart surgery team

The review, conducted by experts in paediatrics and surgery, reported that results from the Royal Brompton Hospital were, in most cases, better than other hospitals.

The panel also found no evidence that children with Down's syndrome suffered any discrimination, whether in individual cases or in general.

It said: "We would firmly refute the allegations made about poor results and consider the accusations to be unfounded."

Dr Stewart Hunter, who chaired the inquiry, said: "Surgery is excellent, as good as anywhere in the UK and in many cases better."

Communication criticised

But the report is critical of communication between doctors and patients, and a fresh panel is to be set up to examine complaints made by parents since the inquiry was launched.

The woman leading the parent's group says this is "only the beginning" of their efforts.

Josephine Ocloo, whose 17-year-old daughter Krista died under the care of the Royal Brompton, said: "We want to hear from that panel, and we want to work with them. We hope they will look in detail at the concerns we are raising."

She added: "It certainly isn't the end of the the matter. The report didn't offer much comfort to the families within our group whose concerns haven't been dealt with."

The Royal Brompton and Harefield Heart Babies Action Group had alleged various problems both with surgery, and with the general management of paediatric cardac cases at the hospital.

More than a dozen who lost children while they were under the care of the hospital, and also at the sister hospital, Harefield, rang a helpline set up after the allegations were made public.

And Labour MP Ken Livingstone has threatened to use parliamentary privilege to "name and shame" those doctors he considers responsible.

Anonymous letter started inquiry

The parents' group had demanded an open inquiry, and complained that some had not been given the opportunity to present their cases.

The inquiry was sparked by an anonymous letter from a member of staff at the Brompton sent to a barrister at the public inquiry into heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

The whistleblower, who remains anonymous, was criticised in the report.

The panel said: "Since we can find no substance in the allegations, it makes it even harder to accept that a person is able to cause so much disruption to a major and worthy medical institution using unsubstantiated allegations and statements shrouded by the cloak of anonymity."

The parent's group has also threatened to report doctors to the profession's disciplinary body, the General Medical Council, which has the power to strike doctors off and prevent them practising.

The hospital maintained throughout the investigation that their results were satisfactory.

The separate complaint from the parents of Down's syndrome babies alleged that they were wrongly denied potentially lifesaving heart surgery at the Royal Brompton.

This was also dismissed by the panel of experts, who found no evidence of discimination.

The new panel is to be chaired by Ruth Evans, a former director of the National Consumers' Council.

The inquiry did not include the results at Harefield hospital.

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Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry
Royal Brompton Hospital

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