Bristol: Cardiac Review Underway

23 June 2014, 11:58 | Updated: 23 June 2014, 12:50

An independent review has begun into heart patient services at Bristol Children's Hospital, after several families whose children died made allegations about the care they had received.

It is called The Bristol Review and was announced in February by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, who is the medical director of the NHS. 

Twelve families had said they were taking legal action against the trust that runs the hospital. 

They include Steve and Yolanda Turner from Warminster, Wiltshire, whose son Sean died in March 2012.

Eleanor Grey QC, who is chairing the review, told Heart: 

''We'd like to say to all potential witnesses, and clearly staff are very important in that, that we'd like to hear from everyone who's got relevant experience to offer to the enquiry. 

"We want to hear your experiences, whether they are positive, negative or mixed.

"All those from whom we haven't heard yet, it important that we hear from all those families who've got something to contribute to this review. 

"It is really important to us that we can understand the full range of everyone's experiences so there is no reason to feel disloyal.''

The findings will be published by NHS England. 

Families of patients affected are asked to submit their contributions via the Bristol Review website (see link above right).