WCH senior doctor Gavin Wheaton challenges claim that babies died because of lack of paediatric cardiac surgery service
A senior WCH doctor is concerned at the link drawn between the death of four babies and lack of a certain service – saying there’s no evidence it would have made a difference.
SA News
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There is no guarantee a paediatric cardiac surgery service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital would have saved the lives of four babies who have died in the past month, according to a senior doctor at the hospital.
WCHN medical director of Paediatric Medicine and senior cardiologist Dr Gavin Wheaton said there was no evidence “having a local cardiac surgery service would necessarily have made any difference to those babies’’.
“I am concerned about the direct link drawn between not having a surgical service here and the sad death of these babies,’’ he said.
The debate about whether the WCH should be able to carry out heart surgery ignited when respected obstetrician Professor John Svigos, who is also convener of the WCH Alliance, told Parliament three children had died because the WCH lacked the necessary cardiac service. Babies who need heart surgery are sent interstate.
Dr Wheaton said he was “aware of commentary by the so-called alliance and I am aware of Professor Svigos’ comments as well’’.
However, he said a report to be considered by the WCH board within weeks could reopen the possibility of a “local cardiac surgical service’’.
Professor Jayme Bennetts, a cardiothoracic surgeon at WCH, also played down suggestions by WCH’s paediatric intensive care unit head, Dr Michael Yung, that the hospital should pursue a UK-based surgeon with extensive experience in paediatric heart surgery and who was keen to move to Adelaide.
“It’s not just about the surgeon,” Prof Bennetts said.
“If you look at Formula One, it’s not just about the driver, he doesn’t turn up with a truck and push it out of the truck himself, start it up and drive it around.”
The state head of a charity aimed at helping families whose children are diagnosed with congenital heart disease is urging expectant parents to remain calm.
Heartkids SA/NT state manager Tania Potts said she was speaking daily to families who were feeling the impact of the coverage and blame game being played out in public.
“To receive (a diagnosis) for your child is obviously emotional at the best of times,’’ she said.
Ms Potts said she was in contact with two of the four families directly involved in the cluster of four infant deaths in four weeks.
She said they were finding the public nature of the debate heart-rending.
