First reported 5 Sep 2016•Latest report 9 May 2022
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in the availability, staffing, beds, facilities or service capacity specifically needed to provide time-critical cardiac interventions, including rescue PCI and urgent cardiac surgery, where the deficiency can delay treatment or cause unsafe diversion.
Not included
Excludes elective or non-time-critical cardiac procedures where urgency is not a material part of the reported concern.
Excludes generic hospital, critical-care or bed-capacity shortages unless they directly restrict capacity for a time-critical cardiac intervention.
Excludes delays caused solely by referral, communication, transfer or clinical decision-making failures when cardiac intervention capacity is not itself deficient.
Excludes non-cardiac services and cardiac diagnostic testing unless the report explicitly identifies its capacity as limiting a time-critical cardiac intervention.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
3
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2016–2022
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
6
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Cardiff & Vale University LHB1
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board1
Next of kin1
NHS England1
St George's Hospital1
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board1
Welsh Government1
Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee1
Devolved government1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Healthcare site1
Health-system partnership1
Local health board1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Restrictions in cardiac surgical capacity causing diversion to overstretched units
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Introduce and implement transitional arrangements, including dual-consultant operating, to support the safe return to full cardiac surgery activity.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 May 2022.
Action
Appoint an external cardiac surgery lead to provide experienced clinical leadership and operate on restricted-risk planned cases.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 May 2022.
Action
Appoint locally employed specialty doctors to maintain uninterrupted clinical service during trainee removal.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 May 2022.
Action
Increase substantive cardiac surgery consultants and strengthen cardiac anaesthesia capacity through substantive appointments, including conversion of a locum post.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 May 2022.
Action
Continue supporting the Trust as the South London Cardiac Surgery Network evolves, including its collaborative approach to capacity and patient safety.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 May 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
South London cardiac surgery units were not overstretched, and restrictions did not increase patients’ risk of death.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Restrictions did not reduce capacity or increase the risk of death for patients awaiting cardiac surgery.
Stated by St George'S University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The cardiac surgery restrictions were necessary and proportionate responses to serious concerns, rather than apparently unnecessary measures increasing mortality risk.
Stated by NHS EnglandDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
There is no evidence that the Review or resulting actions caused patient harm, increased mortality, or lower-quality care.
Stated by NHS EnglandDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The regional cardiac surgery network and alternative capable centres provide appropriate access when patients are diverted or complex care is unavailable locally.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised2
Insufficient capacity for admission to designated hospitals for PCI
Lack of capacity for rescue PCI at designated hospitals
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Develop an all-Wales longer-term strategy for patients not admitted to a hospital offering primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
Stated by NHS Wales Joint Commissioning CommitteeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 September 2016.
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Includes deficiencies in the availability, staffing, beds, facilities or service capacity specifically needed to provide time-critical cardiac interventions, including rescue PCI and urgent cardiac surgery, where the deficiency can delay treatment or cause unsafe diversion.
