Guy's and St Thomas’ welcomes new chief of paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery

Professor David Barron, an internationally renowned congenital cardiac surgeon with an outstanding clinical and academic record, has joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as the new chief of paediatric and congenital cardiac surgery.

He joins the organisation having been the Director of Cardiac Surgery at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children ('Sick Kids') for the last 5 years, home to Canada's largest cardiac surgery programme. During this time, Sick Kids reported its highest quality outcomes in the institution's history.

Professor Barron has enjoyed a highly successful career, carrying out over 4,500 congenital heart surgeries in both adults and children. He undertook his medical training at St Thomas' and later completed his cardiothoracic specialty training and a research fellowship at Royal Brompton Hospital and Great Ormond Street. He spent the first two decades of his consultant career at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where, as the senior surgeon he developed a philosophy of mentorship and a reputation for excellent outcomes. 

Professor Barron said: "It's great to be returning home to where my medical career began, and I have a huge affection for both St Thomas' Hospital and the Royal Brompton.

"Evelina London and Royal Brompton both have remarkable legacies and high-quality programmes of cardiac research and innovation. The combined sites, perform the largest number of congenital cardiac procedures in the country. I am looking forward to working with colleagues to build on these strengths and believe that we can create an outstanding paediatric and adult congenital heart surgery service."

As a Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' provides a unique, comprehensive service to patients with congenital heart disease from before they are born and throughout their lives, with fetal, neonatal, children's and adult services all provided for across the specialist services at Evelina London, St Thomas', Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals.

The most recently published data for 2022/23 showed that 2,112 congenital cardiac procedures were carried out across the Trust, 1,300 of which were carried out in children including neonates and infants with congenital heart disease. Children's cardio-respiratory and intensive care services are provided at both Evelina London Children's Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital, with a shared children's cardiac surgery waiting list across the two hospital sites.

Dr Marilyn McDougall, Evelina London's clinical director for children's cardio-respiratory and intensive care services, said: "I am delighted Professor David Barron has joined us as the new chief of congenital cardiac surgery. He is an outstanding, globally recognised surgeon, with an excellent academic record and cares about developing and mentoring others.  Welcome to the team, David!"