Riley Ann Moss pictured with her mother Teresa McGirr
CHILDREN’S cardiac services are to remain in the North for the time being, in a huge boost for local families.
The proposed closure of the Clark ward at the Children’s hospital in Belfast had generated a mass opposition in Fermanagh as families with young children suffering from heart afflictions were up in arms at the prospect of travelling across the water for treatment.
In a decision made on Monday by Health Minister Edwin Poots and Minister James Reilly TD they announced that a team of three international clinicians will carry out an independent assessment of current and future needs for cardiology and cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in North and South to recommend the optimal all-island hospital service.
The assessment is due to start in January 2014 and be completed in six months.
In the interim, pending the completion of the assessment in June 2014, health service management and clinicians in the South will continue to work with their colleagues in Belfast to provide and develop support to the services in Northern Ireland.
Teresa McGirr, whose two-year-old daughter Riley Ann Moss suffers from heart problems admits local parents were quite happy, but slightly disappointed a definitive decision had not yet been made.
“I’m quite pleased, I was up in Belfast with some of the families and they were quite hopeful. They were quite confused at first at what it meant, but it is certainly good news in the interim period.
“We are quite hopeful for the first time, this is a step in the right direction and finally there is talk of retaining services rather than removing them. It is a step forward to hopefully retaining children’s heart surgery in Northern Ireland and the children deserve that.”
Local councillor Raymond Farrell added his satisfaction that services have been retained in Belfast.
“I have consistently argued and campaigned that Belfast must and can provide a comprehensive and safe service for the most vulnerable in society. I sought to impress this upon Minister Poots some months ago when I met him and I am glad that he has listened to the great many other voices as well, particularly the parents of sick children.”
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