Newborn Baby Airlifted from UK to Italy for Heart Surgery

A one-month-old with a severe cardiac condition was flown to a Vatican hospital after the NHS deemed the operation too risky.

The baby was transferred from Bristol Royal Hospital to Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome, facilitated by Italian authorities.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally intervened to ensure the child could travel for the critical surgery.
The operation was initially deemed too risky by NHS doctors, but was successfully performed in Italy.
Legal and diplomatic efforts, including those by lawyer Simone Pillon, were crucial in arranging the transfer.
The case highlights ongoing debates about international cooperation and medical ethics in life-saving treatments.