In November 2017, NHS England (NHSE) announced that the threat to decommission heart services at the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC) had been lifted, meaning the centre is continuing to provide lifesaving surgery for children and adults in the region.
To meet the standards set by NHSE, EMCHC must relocate to the Royal Infirmary where the other children’s services are based, by March 2020.
John Adler, chief executive for Leicester’s Hospitals, announces: “I am delighted to announce that the Trust Board has now approved the option to relocate EMCHC into the Kensington building at the Royal Infirmary.
“This will form part of our major reconfiguration programme where all children’s services will move into the Kensington building and create a stand-alone Leicester Children’s Hospital. The project for the first phase of this to relocate EMCHC by March 2020 is well underway.”
This will be the first time all children’s services are under one roof in Leicester. Congenital heart services for adult will remain at Glenfield Hospital ensuring that we continue to provide lifelong care to our patients.
Elizabeth Aryeetey, acting head of nursing for children’s services, explains: “There is an exciting future ahead for the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre. We already have a fantastic team of nurses who are highly skilled to deliver care to children following Congenital Heart Surgery and we have opportunities for nurses to join our team.”
