NHS England say they will continue to commission congenital heart disease (CHD) services at Royal Brompton, subject to conditions

After the fantastic support we received from people all over the country, we are pleased to announce that 14,000 children and adults who receive life-saving care for congenital heart conditions at Royal Brompton Hospital will continue to receive the care they deserve at the hospital they know and trust, for the foreseeable future.

At today’s Board meeting, NHS England said they will support a plan set out by our hospital Trust that will allow it, and we the charity, the opportunity to shape its own destiny in a planned and rational way in the best interests of patients.

This development will involve the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust beginning a partnership with King’s Health Partners (the Academic Health Sciences Centre comprising Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts and King’s College London) to deliver world-class clinical facilities.

It would involve the development of a new purpose-built clinical academic facility on the St Thomas’ Hospital and Evelina London Children’s Hospital site.

The partnership would also provide substantial investment to other sites within the organisations at King’s College Hospital and Harefield Hospital, to support the provision of high-quality care in a new network for patients across the south of England.

This is a long-term plan that will not come to fruition for several years. In the meantime, patients will stay put at our wonderful hospital, which is why we take today’s news with a great deal of positivity.

As the Chief Executive of the Trust, Robert Bell, said: “For many of us, this has been a long and, sometimes, difficult journey. While we have not yet reached our destination, I do believe we now have a clear direction of travel. Any planning around the Trust’s future takes as its starting point the ability to build upon the truly remarkable work that is carried out here, each and every day.”

Suzy Newman, whose son Joshua was treated for a congenital heart condition as a small baby, welcomed the news: “At this very moment everyone is jumping for joy! It's an amazing result, all thanks to the fantastic team of people that helped to save our precious hospital! It’s without doubt the best Christmas present that all the Brompton families could ask for.

She added: “It is such a relief to think that the people I have learnt to trust and know so well, can continue to look after my precious boy!”

The Charity would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support throughout this long and frustrating fight. Though the decision by NHS England may not be a complete rejection of their original proposal, we wholeheartedly believe this plan will serve to benefit patients and avoid upheaval and further worry for them and their families.