The parents of a six-month-old boy with a rare heart condition have expressed their 'massive relief' after the NHS agreed to fund life-saving surgery in the United States. Oliver Cameron, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, was born with cardiac fibroma, a condition that causes his pulse to race dangerously fast. Fewer than ten patients in England have been diagnosed with the condition.
Oliver's family had launched a fundraising campaign to raise £150,000 for treatment at a specialist hospital in Boston. However, NHS England announced on Tuesday that it would cover the cost of the operation. Doctors in Southampton had deemed the surgery 'extremely high risk' due to limited UK experience with the condition.
Parents Lydia and Tim Cameron said they were initially told it was 'highly unlikely' they would receive NHS funding. They were advised to start a fundraising campaign, as it is rare for the NHS to finance overseas treatment. A previous application by Oliver's consultant had been refused, but the family believe public support and media attention helped reverse the decision.
The surgery was originally planned for after Oliver's first birthday in January, but doctors said it might be needed sooner if his condition worsens. NHS England confirmed the funding, stating there is not currently a surgical service in the UK with experience of treating this exceptionally rare condition.
The NHS also said it is exploring whether a UK surgeon could accompany Oliver to Boston to learn the procedure, so it could potentially be offered in the UK in the future.
