There are currently four centers of teaching hospitals that perform pediatric heart surgery. In addition to Utrecht, this involves Rotterdam, Groningen and a collaboration between Amsterdam and Leiden. To improve the quality of care, the ministry wants fewer hospitals to perform these specialist operations. The hospitals themselves also agree on this, but not a single hospital wants to voluntarily say goodbye to the specialisation.
Kuipers is sticking to two children’s heart centers, UMC Utrecht must have clarity by April 1 at the latest
