Royal Brompton's Children's Cardiac Services due to close.

[Ian Lethbridge-Stewart]

I wonder if you guys could do Oksana and I a big favour and sign this petition if you agree with it (follow the link).

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/sav...diac-services/

A review of children's heart services in England has recommended that Royal Brompton's cardiac surgery for children should stop. This is in spite of the fact that Royal Brompton's treatment is among the safest in the country, and feedback from patients and their families is very positive.

The petition has to be submitted by Thursday lunch time as it's due to be discussed at Parliament soon (sorry for the short notice; I only just got the full details).

There is more information on the petition website but in short the hospital is one of the best in Europe.
2 other hospitals that dealt with children's heart surgery were also at risk but have been saved (for the time being) because they carry out general surgery for children as well as heart surgery (Great Ormand Street & Guys Hospital). Royal Brompton seems to have lost out because it specialises in heart and lungs surgery and similar.

Obviously Oksana and I have a very personal reason to want Royal Brompton children's heart surgery to continue; it is no exaggeration to say that without them our daughter Daniella would not be here today. Danni underwent surgery when she was 4 weeks old. Thanks to the surgeons there she is out of any immediate danger but will need further surgery later on in life (and we would like that to be carried out in the same place).
We can't thank them enough as I'm sure will be the case with any other parents that went through anything like we did.
When we were there with Danni we saw many parents from all over Europe, such is the reputation of the hospital and the surgeons. It would be a travesty if these services were to stop.

Anyway, that's enough of me going on about it. If you would like to sign the petition please click on the link - it only takes 1 minute.

I hope I haven't broken any forum rules posting this - if I have then please accept my apologies and remove the post (or re-locate it if I've chosen the wrong location).

Many Thanks

Andrew & Oksana

Here are some pictures of our Danni (apologies for the massive pictures; I've changed them all to 'small' in Photobucket, but it does't seem to make any difference - perhaps a mod can sort them or delete them if need be - A couple of the pictures may be a bit traumatic - but I've put a couple of 'now' pictures on the end to cheer you up)

In Royal Brompton's Intensive Care Unit and pre/post surgery wards:









How Danni turned out! - The Good Bit!!!

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Grrr - will try to do later. Alas my work web manager deems it a "site with offensive content" ...

[SiHart]

I've signed. After both my nephew and niece had heart trouble after birth, I know just how important units like this are to save the lives of children. It'd be such a shame to lose a top unit just because of money and so anything we can all do to help them out is a good thing.

Don't worry Andrew, you've not broken any forum rules.

[Rob McCow]

I've signed up for this!

I hope it makes a difference.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

I've signed this - silly work web browsers are *so* overprotective!

[Ian Lethbridge-Stewart]

Thanks Guys. Let's hope this petition has some sort of impact.

[Stuart Wallis]

Since I've been doing one or two bits to try and get the Prime Monster to rethink his NHS reforms...

[Perry Vale]

Signed. Sounds like a very short sighted decision.

[Anthony Williams]

Signed!