In 2021 FASP published updated screening standards. “This is the first major review of the FASP screening standards since they were introduced in 2016”.
Concerning detection rates FASP suggested;
“Revised performance thresholds are:
Transposition of the great arteries – acceptable ≥ 70.0%, achievable ≥ 99.0%
Atrioventricular septal defect – acceptable ≥ 50.0%, achievable ≥ 80.0%
Tetralogy of Fallot – acceptable ≥ 55.0%, achievable ≥ 85.0%
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome – acceptable ≥ 80.0%, achievable ≥ 99.0%”
These significantly higher figures are suggested as “achievable” whilst FASP are simultaneously advising hospitals there is no need to keep any views of heart. This just doesn’t make sense to us. We’ve stressed in our petition why we feel there is value in keeping records. It's not surprising average CHD detection rates have "plateaued" at just over 50% for the last 6 years. Surely common sense would suggest that if records were kept, those children that were missed could have their scans re-visited for future learning.