Build-a-bear for Heart Week
We’ve a family event coming up soon for our members. If you’re interested contact Val, or email us. Our contact details, as always, are at the bottom of this page.
Liverpool Naval Club Charity Night
Liverpool Naval Club is holding a charity night and proceeds will go to Children’s Heart Association, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and also the purchase/training of a heart definbrillator for the club. If you’re interested please contact the club directly.
New charity merchandise
We have a new range of charity merchandise available for purchase:
Neck warmers £5
Wrist bands £1
Safety lanyards £2
Canvas bags £3
Baby grows £3
Child size T shirt £10
Adult size T shirt £12
(Either design available in adult or child sizes)
Adult and Child Fleeces £16
Postage cost additional.
Clothing is ordered specially so can take a couple of weeks to come.
If you would like to order, or need more information please email us or ask at your local branch meeting.
It’s our 40 year anniversary
The Children’s Heart Association was registered as a charity on the 4th September 1974 meaning this is our 40th year as a charity. Originally called The Association for Children with Heart Disorders (TACHD) we changed our name in October 2005 to become the Children’s Heart Association.
In that time, our aims of supporting families who are affected by congenital heart disorders; to push for improvements to facilities as heart units; to help push standards of care as new techniques are developed; and to raise funds to purchase specialised equipment haven’t changed.
As this is our 40th year we’re organising 40 events throughout the year to celebrate. Keep an eye on our website, our events page and with your local branch for further announcements.
Fantastic events
We’ve some fantastic events coming up over the next few months for our members.
Picnic and Swim, 11th August 2013
Take a trip into the Forest of Bowland where J.R.R Tolkien found inspiration for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Join us at Stonyhurst College for a picnic and games followed by a swim in their fabulous pool.
Teddy Bear’s Picnic, 17th August 2013
Manchester Cardiac Specialist Nurses are holding a party for young families in their care. If you are under RMCH and would like details please call the nurse team.
Bowling and Pizza, 21st August 2013
Join the Hearts 4 Teens and Children’s Heart Association for an afternoon of bowling and Pizza.
Medieval Banquet, 31st August 2013
Join King Arthur and his royal court for a night of medieval merriment and revelry. Dine in true Round Table style tucking into a medieval feast, whilst being entertained by jesters, fire-eaters and magicians.
Parent Information Day, 21st September 2013
Do you ever wonder why a heart condition happens? Come along to our Parent Information Day. Our teenagers are invited to come along for a separate Hearts4Teens event. They’ll be having fun with the transition team.
So, if you’re interested in any of the events check out our events page at heartchild.info/events for further details and get in touch.
Safe and Sustainable – Reaction to the High Court ruling
Please see below a statement from Sir Neil McKay following today’s judgment in the High Court.
http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/news/view/139
Thursday, 7th March 2013
Sir Neil McKay CB, Chair of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts said:
“I am very disappointed with the Court’s decision. The pressing need to reform children’s heart services is long overdue and experts have cautioned that further delay in achieving the necessary change would be a major set back in improving outcomes for children with heart disease.
“The judgment focuses on a single matter of process, but the case for the reconfiguration of children’s heart surgical services remains strong. There is a rare consensus on the need for change right across the board – NHS staff, medical royal colleges, professional associations and national charities all support the case for fewer larger surgical centres, new national quality standards and stronger networks of care.
“The consultation – which we undertook with an honest and open mind – was the largest carried out by the NHS and respondents were staunch in their support of the need for change. There is nothing in the Court’s judgment that supports the Claimant’s accusations that the consultation was a “rubber stamping” exercise. The judge in fact found that:
“This was a comprehensive consultation, lasting a matter of months and prompting 77,000 responses. Thought and care was given to the consultation process both as to its content and implementation. When considered necessary, independent work or advice was commissioned; professional groupings provided advice when requested. Those responsible for, and involved in, the setting up and implementation of this process aimed to provide one which was informed, detailed and transparent”.
“This case has focused on a narrow technical point relating to whether 450 sub-scores generated by the Kennedy panel should have been available to respondents to consultation. The Joint Committee of PCTs itself chose not to examine the sub-scores as it did not believe that it had either the expertise or the evidence to second-guess the panel’s conclusions. For the same reason the sub-scores would not have assisted respondents to consultation. Respondents were provided swathes of documentary evidence to consider during consultation, including a detailed 155 page narrative report prepared by the panel.
“The panel members agreed their scores after a rigorous on site assessment of the surgical units. I believe that most respondents – of whom there were around 77,000 – would have been very surprised had the JCPCT chosen to substitute its own scores for those of the independent panel, which is in essence the foundation of the Claimant’s case.
“We do not yet know what the Court will decide in terms of next steps. We are making representations to the Court that it should not quash the decision in its entirety as the Claimant seeks. Once we have the Court’s judgment on this point we will strongly consider the possibility of appeal.
“The Claimant wishes for the NHS to abandon its plans for the reconfiguration of children’s heart services against the express wishes of the vast majority of respondents to consultation. I never forget that the purpose of our work is saving lives and improving quality of life for children, and on behalf of the NHS I want to reassure families, patients and clinicians that we remain as determined as ever to reconfigure services for children with congenital heart disease in the interests of better outcomes and a more safe and sustainable service for children and their families.”