Download School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences Centre for

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
Centre for Infection and Immunity
Queens University
Health Sciences Building
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7BL
02890 972155
14 November 2011
Sir Neil McKay
Safe & Sustainable Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Services,
NHS Specialised Services,
2nd Floor Southside,
105 Victoria Street,
London SW1E 6QT
Dear Sir
I am writing to express my concerns for the impact the proposed changes at RBH will
have on the research programmes in childhood lung diseases.
The quality of the current paediatric respiratory research programme at RBH is
outstanding. It is one of very few centres with sustained internationally competitive
programmes in the UK or mainland Europe. The investigators at RBH have published
primary research which has resulted in changes in medical practice and the
understanding of fundamental mechanisms of chronic lung diseases. The report by the
panel of independent experts chaired by Adrian Pollitt clearly articulated the potential
for adverse effects on the Royal Brompton’s research programme if the PICU became
unviable as a result of the cessation of paediatric cardiac surgery.
This is an important issue for two reasons. The first is that high quality research
improves patient outcomes. This is a well recognised phenomenon in chronic disease.
The RBH has a long tradition of providing all levels of care including International
referrals. This reflects the high quality of care which is both informed and also
directly impacted by the high quality translational research undertaken. The second is
that sustained high quality research is a key determinant of the ability of a centre
such as the Royal Brompton to retain and recruit the world leading clinical and academic
staff on whom its respiratory services depend. Adverse impact upon the ability of the
clinical staff to carry out cutting-edge research will undermine the sustainability of
the clinical services, to the detriment of its patients.
2/
I am well aware of the letter from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to you dated 7 October
2011, to which I understand you have not yet responded. I support the contents, namely
that the impact upon research at the Royal Brompton Hospital is one which requires
careful consideration, and that there should be a full and proper investigation of the
potential impact upon respiratory research and CF clinical trials, including Gene
Therapy and small molecule treatments for CF, before your committee makes any final
decision about changes to children’s cardiac surgery service.
I unreservedly support the aims of the review into children’s cardiac surgery, but I
urge your committee to ensure that the desired improvements for paediatric cardiac
surgery patients do not adversely impact the care of paediatric respiratory patients at
the Royal Brompton Hospital and do not impede the potentially life changing research
at RBH.
Yours faithfully
Professor J Stuart Elborn
Director, Centre for Infection and Immunity
President, European Cystic Fibrosis Association
Chair, Research Committee, CF Trust
Cc;
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health
Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health
Mr Robert Bell, Chief Executive, Royal Brompton Hospital Trust
Professor Andy Bush, Honorary Consultant Paediatric Chest Physician, Royal
Brompton Hospital Trust
Mr Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, CF Trust
Mr Neil Churchill, Chief Executive, Asthma UK
Dr Felix Ratjen, Division Chief of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, The
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Chair, PCD Family Support Group
Brompton Respiratory Parents