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Shortcomings in cardiac unit at St George’s hospital linked to 67 deaths

BMJ 2020; 368 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1281 (Published 27 March 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;368:m1281
  1. Clare Dyer
  1. The BMJ

Significant shortcomings in the care given to heart surgery patients at St George’s Hospital in London “probably, most likely, or definitely” contributed to 67 deaths between April 2013 and December 2018, an independent panel of experts has concluded.1

NHS Improvement convened the panel of 12 assessors after St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust fell below national safety levels for heart surgery from April 2013 to March 2017.2

The review follows an investigation in 2018 by former NHS England deputy medical director Mike Bewick, which found a “persistent toxic atmosphere,” with surgeons “working in camps” and displaying “tribal-like activity.” …

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