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High Court legal bid to save Leeds child heart surgery High Court legal bid to save Leeds child heart surgery
(1 day later)
The High Court is hearing a legal challenge over plans to end child heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.The High Court is hearing a legal challenge over plans to end child heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.
An official review concluded last July that the hospital should stop operations so that care could be concentrated at fewer, larger sites.An official review concluded last July that the hospital should stop operations so that care could be concentrated at fewer, larger sites.
Children will instead have to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool for surgery.Children will instead have to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool for surgery.
The Save Our Surgery group is seeking a judicial review of the NHS decision. It says the consultation process behind the plan was unfair and legally flawed.The Save Our Surgery group is seeking a judicial review of the NHS decision. It says the consultation process behind the plan was unfair and legally flawed.
The review, by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), ruled that children's heart units at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital and London's Royal Brompton should also stop surgery.The review, by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), ruled that children's heart units at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital and London's Royal Brompton should also stop surgery.
'Stopped breathing''Stopped breathing'
It proposed that surgery would continue at Great Ormond Street in London, Evelina Children's Hospital, also in London, Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Alder Hey in Liverpool and the Royal Children's Hospital in Bristol or Southampton General.It proposed that surgery would continue at Great Ormond Street in London, Evelina Children's Hospital, also in London, Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Alder Hey in Liverpool and the Royal Children's Hospital in Bristol or Southampton General.
The NHS review of children's heart services in England may have been designed to improve care but closing some surgical units was never going to be straightforward. The NHS wants fewer, bigger centres carrying out more operations so that surgeons' skills are kept sharp, but campaigners have proven fiercely protective of local hospitals.The NHS review of children's heart services in England may have been designed to improve care but closing some surgical units was never going to be straightforward. The NHS wants fewer, bigger centres carrying out more operations so that surgeons' skills are kept sharp, but campaigners have proven fiercely protective of local hospitals.
In July last year the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) decided that three hospitals - including the Leeds General Infirmary - should stop children's heart surgery.In July last year the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) decided that three hospitals - including the Leeds General Infirmary - should stop children's heart surgery.
In Leeds it sparked a committed campaign, spearheaded by a charity called Save Our Surgery Ltd, which has led all the way to the High Court.In Leeds it sparked a committed campaign, spearheaded by a charity called Save Our Surgery Ltd, which has led all the way to the High Court.
If successful it could derail the whole review, but the JCPCT say they stand ready to defend their process with confidence. The hearing will last for two days but it will be at least a couple of weeks before we know the result.If successful it could derail the whole review, but the JCPCT say they stand ready to defend their process with confidence. The hearing will last for two days but it will be at least a couple of weeks before we know the result.
As part of the review process, each hospital was visited by a panel of experts and given a score based on its performance.As part of the review process, each hospital was visited by a panel of experts and given a score based on its performance.
The Save Our Surgery (SOS) legal challenge centres on how those scores were worked out and the level of scrutiny they were subjected to.The Save Our Surgery (SOS) legal challenge centres on how those scores were worked out and the level of scrutiny they were subjected to.
Philip Havers QC, appearing for SOS, said today that nearly 600,000 people had signed a petition against the Leeds closure.Philip Havers QC, appearing for SOS, said today that nearly 600,000 people had signed a petition against the Leeds closure.
He told Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, sitting at London's High Court, the consultation process was unfair because the JCPCT denied those consulted the chance to question how the quality of their service was assessed.He told Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, sitting at London's High Court, the consultation process was unfair because the JCPCT denied those consulted the chance to question how the quality of their service was assessed.
Mr Havers said the Kennedy Panel, a group of experts set up to advise the JCPCT, had produced "sub-scores" measuring the quality of service under various criteria.Mr Havers said the Kennedy Panel, a group of experts set up to advise the JCPCT, had produced "sub-scores" measuring the quality of service under various criteria.
But the JCPCT chose only to look at the panel's total scores, and "bizarrely" refused to disclose the sub-scores to consultees, although it made them available "almost immediately" after it made its decision on how heart surgery services were to be reconfigured.But the JCPCT chose only to look at the panel's total scores, and "bizarrely" refused to disclose the sub-scores to consultees, although it made them available "almost immediately" after it made its decision on how heart surgery services were to be reconfigured.
The result of not giving centres any clue how the panel scored various criteria was that centres were "shooting in the dark" when it came to consultation, he said.The result of not giving centres any clue how the panel scored various criteria was that centres were "shooting in the dark" when it came to consultation, he said.
The JCPCT, having refused to look at the sub-scores itself, was also "assessing in the dark", said Mr Havers.The JCPCT, having refused to look at the sub-scores itself, was also "assessing in the dark", said Mr Havers.
Dinah Rose QC, appearing for the JCPCT, later told the court the suggestion the sub-scores were the key to understanding the assessments was "wrong".
Consultees were given enough information "to respond intelligently" in the consultation process, she said.
"Provision of the sub-scores is not going to give them extra information".
The judge suggested there had been "a paucity of information" emanating from the Kennedy Panel, but Ms Rose said she did not accept that.
"Leeds knows perfectly well what was being assessed and what decisions were being made," she said.
The hearing is expected to last two days.The hearing is expected to last two days.