CHANGE often encounters fear and this is especially the case when looking at the highly emotive issue of heart surgery for children. But an improved medical service for children with cardiac conditions is long overdue. As a national charity that offers support and information to children and their families born with the most complex heart conditions, we are only too aware that the current service offers a mixed standard of surgical care.

The Safe and Sustainable Service reconfiguration offers a monumental opportunity to ensure that every child with a heart problem has access to the best heart surgery service that this country can offer – a Gold Standard service.

Over the next three months parents of children with life-threatening and complex heart conditions will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the options for the new service. Their children require the most complex surgery that exists and face a lifetime of medical support. Without a high standard of surgery, alongside superior post-operative care, these children will have a reduced quality of life or may even die.

Little Hearts Matter’s parent and youth members come from communities across the UK. It is time for their voice to be heard so that every child diagnosed as having only half a working heart is referred to a team with the skill, innovation and zeal to give them the very best chance of a life.

SUZIE HUTCHINSON RGN RSCN

Chief Executive

Little Hearts Matter

Greenfield Crescent

Edgbaston

Birmingham