Children's heart surgery court case starts today
A NEW legal challenge over proposals to change the provision of children's heart surgery begins this morning.
The highly controversial plans involve stopping operations at three hospitals, including Leeds General Infirmary - which performs operations for youngsters in East Yorkshire.
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The Jubilee building at Leeds General Infirmary
Children in the area will instead have to travel to Newcaslte or Liverpool for surgery if the proposals go ahead.
The case is due to start at 10.30am this morning and continue on Tuesday.
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Campaign group Save Our Surgery (SOS) is seeking a judicial review, arguing the consultation process was unfair and legally flawed.
If SOS wins its action there may have to be a rethink on delivering paediatric cardiac surgery nationwide.
The two other units currently facing closure are at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital and London's Royal Brompton. The Brompton hospital recently lost its own application for judicial review.
The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) decided care should be concentrated at fewer, larger sites to improve standards and chose units at Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southampton and two London centres.
Sharon Cheng, from SOS, said: "Taking legal action has always been our last resort option, pursued only after all other appeals to review the decision were rejected by the JCPCT.
"At the end of the day, this is about protecting the lives of children and this is why we believe that the challenges to NHS officials should be heard."
The former national clinical director for heart disease and stroke, Sir Roger Boyle, who was one of the experts advising the review, says the NHS made the right decision and that Leeds General Infirmary would continue to play a vital role providing cardiology services to children.
For more details, see tomorrow's Mail.
2 Comments
by Paul_at_Hull
Monday, February 11 2013, 1:39PM
“If someone from Hull wanted to travel by train for an appointment they would have to travel an hour to Leeds, change then 1.5 hours to Newcastle - then go on by bus; each way! Isn't Yorkshire big enough to justify such a facility?”
by noseyparker87
Monday, February 11 2013, 10:48AM
“Good luck today to the save our surgery ltd. We can do this! We have to do this! Our children's lives could depend on it.”