Press release: NHS Confederation responds to the latest survival rates for heart surgery

08 Aug 2007

Responding to the latest survival rates published today by the Healthcare Commission, Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"The NHS Confederation welcomes today's report from the Healthcare Commission, showing that cardiac surgeons subscribe to the most thorough standards of performance monitoring and information sharing.

"The report also shows that the survival rates for heart operations remain consistently high, despite an increasingly rigorous method of performance assessment.

"We commend the work of cardiac surgeons and their trusts in providing transparent and easily accessible information about operation survival rates - helping to make patient choice a meaningful reality.

"This model of best practice highlights that the quality of data collection is always highest with the input and leadership of clinicians, supported by trusts and independent assessors.

 "We hope that other health specialties will follow this excellent example. By adopting this approach clinicians and trusts can continue to drive up standards and increase public trust in the health service."

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards

Contact details

2. Contact Joanna Clason (media relations manager) 020 7074 3306 or 077 9857 1078, Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 077 6777 0309 or Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 078 8447 3086.  For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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