Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals providing congenital heart disease services (a) do not meet the standard for the co-location of paediatric services and (b) have been informed that they may be required to cease to provide those services as a result of not meeting that standard.

NHS England’s proposals for change, to ensure that all providers of congenital heart disease services for adults and children comply with new commissioning standards, are based on written evidence provided by the units themselves. The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust conducted a self-assessment against the nationally agreed standards which NHS England then considered. No inspection was undertaken as part of this process.

NHS England has met with the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust to discuss the impact of their proposals for change. On reviewing the material provided by the Trust, NHS England has asked for further information.

The standards for paediatric co-location are not currently met by the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. NHS England has informed these trusts of its assessment and whether this may involve further consideration of proposals to cease providing those services.

NHS England has not yet made any commissioning decisions. It will run a service change process, including a public consultation, on its proposals for change.