The District Court of Midden-Nederland has overturned the concentration decision in pediatric heart surgery. The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport did not provide adequate justification for his decision. We agree. That's why we filed the lawsuit that was decided in our favor. This decision is good for patients with congenital heart defects, their families and pediatric heart surgery in general. The planned concentration of pediatric heart surgery into just two centers will not go forward as a result of this ruling.
Good news for pediatric oncology
A significant proportion of the Máxima Center's children with cancer also require the cardiac surgery- and anesthesia team from UMC Utrecht/WKZ for their treatment. The expertise and commitment of this team is essential for pediatric oncology. In addition, the care of children in the intensive care unit and the already centralized care of children with cancer will be kept up to standard.
Our starting point is our mission: to cure all children with cancer, with an optimal quality of life. The interest of each child, without exception, is utmost importance. We have a clear vision of the highly specialized care that is required, and we always make it known through the appropriate channels. Together with all the specialists, our colleagues at UMC Utrecht/WKZ , we will continue to ensure that children with cancer receive the best possible care.
The three MUMCs now call for work to begin on a viable alternative for the future of pediatric cardiac surgery, and look forward to discussing this with the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports and the other MUMCs.
24/7 availability required
In April 2023, the then Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Ernst Kuipers, decided to concentrate the care of patients with congenital heart defects at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam and UMCG in Groningen. Contrary to the earlier decision in December 2021 for Rotterdam and Utrecht. UMC Utrecht and the Prinses Máxima Center could not and cannot agree. The 24/7 availability of a pediatric cardiac team at UMC Utrecht is urgently needed for the pediatric oncology care at the Máxima Center. The court's decision ensures this.
Read also UMC Utrecht article (in Dutch)