About us
Our service is a rapidly developing field of medicine with an international reputation for treating heart problems in children. We care for around 6,000 patients each year. Our service:
- cares for children from before they are born (fetal life) through to childhood and into adulthood
- offers both outpatient heart services and inpatient services, with 32 dedicated inpatient beds used for planned and urgent treatment
- Children requiring specialist cardiac intensive care are also looked after by our critical care teams on Forest PICU.
Our service is internationally recognised, with names like Donald Ross, Mike Tynan, and other famous children's heart doctors and surgeons connected to the department.
We work across Evelina London Children's Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital. Your child may be cared for at either or both of these hospitals depending on their needs. We'll carefully plan your child's care and discuss this with you.
Our facilities at Evelina London Children's Hospital
Echocardiography
The diagnosis of congenital heart disease is usually made by echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart). Our excellent facilities allow diagnosis to be made in the fetus, in preterm babies weighing 500 grams as well as in fully grown adolescents and adults.
MRI
Our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners allow us to make detailed images and measurements of the heart's pumping chambers (ventricles), valves and the blood flow in the different vessels attached to the heart.
Ward facilities
The children's heart ward is based on Edward ward. Edward ward is a new, dedicated children's cardiology ward located in the North Wing of St Thomas' Hospital, which is on the same site as Evelina London Children's Hospital. It has 28 beds, including 4 cubicles for children with infections that may need isolation, or children who need special precautions. All beds have equipment to monitor the heart rhythm, oxygen levels and breathing. The ward is covered by one consultant on a weekly basis.
Heart surgery
We carry out between 480-520 surgeries on congenital heart disease each year. Find out more about children's heart surgery.
Heart catheterisation
We see about 400-450 patients in our catheter laboratory. Find out more about heart catheterisation.
Types of heart problems treated