ChronicleLive - Chronicle People

Where do we go from here?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:30:00 +0000

I really wonder where we're heading now with the restructuring of children's heart units in this country.

It seems to me that a combination of self-interest and political interference is threatening to derail the entire process.

Back in July, the outcome of the Safe & Sustainable review was announced, with paediatric heart operations set to continue at seven hospitals, including Newcastle, and cease at Leeds, Leicester and the Royal Brompton in London.

Some reassurance is called for

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Campaigners in Leeds have vowed to fight this week's decision to stop children's heart surgery at the city's Royal Infirmary.

I won't criticise them for fighting their corner, but my own view is that it's time we all moved on and looked to the future.

It's time to move on

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Today has been a long time coming, but finally we have a decision.

Children's heart surgery will continue at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, meaning the end of such operations at Leeds Royal Infirmary.

My first thoughts are with the Leeds parents. There will be people in turmoil at today's outcome, and who can blame them?

Ivan's off and running again

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:30 +0000

He has run twice across the country and skied through the Alps in a fluorescent mankini to raise money for the hospital where his son had lifesaving heart surgery.

But the biggest challenge of all lies ahead of Ivan Hollingsworth this Easter weekend.

While most of us relax with the family and start cracking open the chocolate eggs, Ivan will be pushing himself to the limit as he attempts to run 100 miles in 24 hours.

We all need protecting

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

The world of football appears determined to improve players' health checks in the wake of Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest at the weekend.

The sight of an athlete in peak condition slumping suddenly to the ground, then being surrounded by a swarm of paramedics desperately attempting to save his life, has caused widespread shock and bewilderment.

Fit young men don't just collapse like that for no apparent reason, do they?

Sadly, the answer is yes.

A momentous day

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:15:00 +0000

A fortnight before Christmas, the Wylie family got the best present they could possibly have asked for.

Two-year-old Kiera, daughter of Graham and Andrea, twin sister to Zahra, and already a veteran of three major heart operations, was about to go under the knife for a fourth time.

The plan was to carry out a full repair of the heart defect she had been born with.

Never mind the bollards, here's Seb4Chuf

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Somewhere in south Wales, a well-known TV presenter is out on a training run.

A couple of senior citizens up ahead rouse his competitive spirit.

But he pushes himself just too far and suffers a painful groin strain in his efforts to overtake them.

It's hardly surprising - those mobility scooters are deceptively quick you know.

Over to you

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:22:12 +0000

We've had our say, now it's over to the decision-makers.

The public consultation phase of the review of children's heart surgery has now ended, and no doubt more than a few people breathed a sigh of relief as the deadline passed on Friday.

With heart units effectively competing against one another, it has become something of a battleground, and those deciding the way ahead must do so against a backdrop of unrest and fearful uncertainty.

The bigger picture

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:34:33 +0000

Debate has raged, opinions have been canvassed and petitions have piled up in mountainous proportions.

But the time for talking, typing and texting is almost up.

In just under a week's time, it will be over to the decision-makers to determine the way ahead for children's heart surgery.

Helipads and heart units

Sat, 14 May 2011 11:31:58 +0000

The best part of £135,000 spilled into the coffers of the Freeman Hospital's Children's Heart Unit this week.

The hefty total was raised at a star-studded charity golf day held at Close House Hotel in Northumberland, owned by Graham Wylie, dad to 17-month-old heart patient Kiera.

A-list celebrities and sports stars descended on the venue - quite literally in the case of world No 1 golfer Lee Westwood, who was helicoptered in to play a round with his hero Alan Shearer.

A show of support

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:22:33 +0000

We're approaching a major turning point in the way children with heart conditions are treated in this country.

Here in the North East, tens of thousands stand firmly behind the Freeman Hospital and its world-renowned Children's Heart Unit.

A hundred miles down the road, supporters of Leeds Royal Infirmary are massing in equal numbers.

Home is where the heart is

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:30:00 +0000

The campaign to save the Children's Heart Unit at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital is gathering pace.

As is the battle on behalf of other threatened centres around the country.

With the number of hospitals offering heart surgery for children set to be cut from 11 to six or seven, it's down to a straight choice between Newcastle and Leeds.

This lot will go far

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0000

If you ran from one side of the country to the other, raising tens of thousands of pounds for a children's heart unit, you would be more than entitled to give yourself a hearty pat on the back and take a well-earned rest.

The Newcastle-based Seb4Chuf team did exactly that at the height of last summer, their stand-out achievement in a spectacular first year of fundraising.

But forget about them lighting up the cigars and revelling in their success - all eyes are fixed firmly on the future as they push on with ambitious plans for an even bigger 2011.

We're all in the same boat

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Six months ago, when my son George was admitted to hospital, the first dad I met on the ward was a man by the name of Graham.

We got chatting, as parents do, and soon discovered we had something in common.

We were both dads of twins who had seen our children undergo heart surgery shortly after they were born.

The wait goes on

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 09:59:16 +0000

The future of children's heart surgery in the UK has been up in the air for a while.

Now it's turning into a situation which badly needs sorting out.

At the moment 11 hospitals carry out paediatric heart surgery, but the Government wants to reduce this number.