Cardiothoracic Surgery
The National Clinical Programme for Cardiothoracic Surgery (NCP CTS) commenced in September 2024. The Clinical Lead is Professor Mark Redmond and the Programme Manager is Sara Kavanagh.
The aim of the NCP CTS is to design a framework for the delivery of high-quality, timely, accessible and equitable Cardiothoracic Surgery for all patients and provide a mechanism to monitor and continuously improve patient care, experience and outcomes.
The priorities of the NCP CTS centre on the following areas:
- establishing a national registry for Cardiothoracic Surgery;
- designing national networked system with defined clinical and corporate governance arrangements and agreed referral and discharge pathways for adult cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery, particularly for complex and high-risk cases; and
- identifying and capitalising on opportunities to enhance culture and collaboration across the CTS specialty.
A multidisciplinary working group is being established to help the programme achieve its objectives.
An overarching Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) will provide clinical oversight, assurance and strategic guidance to the programme.
The programme represents a strategic initiative between RCSI, the HSE’s Clinical Design and Innovation Division and the Acute Hospitals Division.
- Clinical Lead: Professor Mark Redmond
- Programme Manager: Sara Kavanagh
The programme can be contacted by emailing NCPCTS@rcsi.ie.
National registry for cardiothoracic surgery
Participation in a national registry is a key common feature of cardiothoracic surgery in developed health systems. This is a key driver for assurance, quality improvement and research in cardiothoracic units and a fundamental enabler of improved patient outcomes and consistent delivery of excellence in patient care.
The NCP is working with the National Office for Clinical Audit (NOCA) to develop and roll out a national registry to cover adult cardiac surgery (acquired and congenital), adult thoracic surgery and paediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Full and complete participation in this registry by all CTS units will enable the quality of cardiothoracic surgery and patient outcomes to be routinely measured, benchmarked, monitored and reported.
National networked system for cardiothoracic surgery
In recent years, there has been a focus on consolidating complex care, such as thoracic organ transplantation and mechanical circulatory assistance, into large centralised units while, at the same time, retaining geographically located regional units which deliver a defined spectrum of less complex surgery, often in mixed units combining cardiac and thoracic activity.
The NCP CTS will work with CTS units and a wide range of stakeholders across the health spectrum, including patient representatives, to design a network of CTS care pathways based on case complexity, international best practice, and patient and population needs. The national CTS network will facilitate integrated and joined up patient care, as mandated by Slaintecare.