Cardiac surgery outcomes website launches

A public website showing outcomes in adult cardiac surgery is due to be launched today by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, in conjunction with the Healthcare Commission.

This website, designed with patients in mind, is the first publication of the public portal pilot group which has been exploring ways to present outcomes in adult cardiac surgery. In the first instance this covers units in England and Wales but in the next few months it will incorporate all units in Scotland.

The link to the website will be active from 10.00am today (Thursday 27 April 2006) at http://heartsurgery.healthcarecommission.org.uk

Moves to make information about surgical outcomes more widely available to the public have been controversial; concerns have centred on the accuracy of data available and the scope for misunderstanding in the interpretation of figures, particularly those relating to an individual surgeon’s performance.

The society’s president, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, who is also a Healthcare Commissioner, has been in the forefront of developing methods for collecting and analysing data.

The initiative was welcomed by Dr Paul Miller, chairman of the BMA consultants committee who said: “It is absolutely right that patients have access to helpful and reliable information concerning their treatment or operation.

“The new website, giving information on the outcome of heart surgery, demonstrates excellent performance by surgeons and shows that they are providing high quality care for patients.”

The society says it expects the project to evolve over the coming months and years and is looking for feedback. Contact Professor Sir Bruce Keogh and the honorary secretary, James Roxburgh at sctsadmin@scts.org.  

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