Chi slams transplant hospital

13 Sep 01
Heart and lung transplant patients who died at a south London hospital could have survived had they been treated elsewhere, an investigation by the Commission for Health Improvement said this week.

14 September 2001

Out of 11 patients who had heart transplants at St George's Hospital, Tooting, between December 1999 and September 2000, eight died within 90 days of the operation. Two out of the three patients who received a lung transplant during the same period also died.

Transplant units are normally expected to achieve an 80% survival rate one year after operation. The death rate at St George's of almost 75% was five times the national average.

The large number of deaths ruled out that the hospital had been the victim of an 'unlucky run'.

Chi said the number of deaths had occurred because the hospital had wrongly assessed patients as to their suitability for undergoing a transplant.

St George's was also criticised for a lack of effective surgical leadership, not keeping patient records properly and for keeping a 'run down and dirty' transplant unit.

Peter Homa, Chi chief executive, said the deaths were caused by a number of errors. 'The wrong patients were given the wrong operations by a team whose leadership had broken and who failed to follow their own rules about which patients should receive heart transplants.

'No one doctor or manager is responsible for this, but many people in many roles share an accountability for what happened,' he said.

Chi recommended that St George's should check the quality of its patient reports and ensure that infection control policies are implemented properly.

Ian Hamilton, the chief executive of St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, said the trust was 'saddened by the deaths' and had already implemented changes following an internal inquiry.

He added that it would draw up an action plan to address other recommendations contained in the Chi report.

Health minister Lord Hunt said the report would have implications for the rest of the NHS, such as the need for team-working, a culture of openness and better communication between clinicians and management.

'It also reinforces the need to act swiftly when problems are identified,' said Hunt.

Chi said that it would review clinical governance arrangements at St George's within the next year.

PFsep2001

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top