§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay his Department's decision to advise the United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust that an arterial switch operation scheduled to be performed at the Bristol royal infirmary on 12 January 1995 should not take place as planned. [17716]
§ Mr. HoramMy Department did not advise that the operation should not take place. It would not be appropriate for my Department to become involved in matters of clinical judgment. Concern was expressed to my Department about the advisability of operating in view of concerns expressed previously by some members of staff of the Bristol royal infirmary about the performance of complex paediatric open heart operations including the "switch". The United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust was informed about the expressions of concern and asked to ensure that the concerns were taken into account when deciding whether the operation should proceed.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received from Professor G. Angelini since 1990 about the performance of neo-natal arterial switch operations at Bristol royal infirmary. [17715]
§ Mr. HoramProfessor Angelini expressed concern in the summer of 1994 about the results of an audit of performance of complex paediatric cardiac procedures including the neo-natal switch operation. These concerns were communicated to the United Bristol Healthcare NHS trust by my Department.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received during the last five years from the supra-regional services advisory group about the performance of paediatric cardiac operations at Bristol royal infirmary. [17713]