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Archbishop of York shows support for troubled Leeds hospital Archbishop of York shows support for troubled Leeds hospital
(6 months later)
The archbishop of York visited the children's unit at Leeds General Infirmary on Saturday to demonstrate his support to staff as the hostility stemming from the decision to suspend cardiac surgery at the West Yorkshire hospital continued to intensify.The archbishop of York visited the children's unit at Leeds General Infirmary on Saturday to demonstrate his support to staff as the hostility stemming from the decision to suspend cardiac surgery at the West Yorkshire hospital continued to intensify.
Dr John Sentamu, who has previously offered his backing to campaigners fighting to keep children's heart surgery in Leeds, urged support for "all involved" at the troubled unit as he led a "pilgrimage of prayer and trust".Dr John Sentamu, who has previously offered his backing to campaigners fighting to keep children's heart surgery in Leeds, urged support for "all involved" at the troubled unit as he led a "pilgrimage of prayer and trust".
His arrival at the hospital coincided with a senior doctor at Leeds General robustly dismissing the death rate data used to justify the suspension as "simply wrong".His arrival at the hospital coincided with a senior doctor at Leeds General robustly dismissing the death rate data used to justify the suspension as "simply wrong".
Dr Elspeth Brown, a consultant paediatric cardiologist, said that not only were the mortality figures preliminary but NHS bosses had examined only 180 operations from more than 300 carried out when deciding to temporarily halt children's cardiac surgery at the site.Dr Elspeth Brown, a consultant paediatric cardiologist, said that not only were the mortality figures preliminary but NHS bosses had examined only 180 operations from more than 300 carried out when deciding to temporarily halt children's cardiac surgery at the site.
"We need to put this to bed, we need people to stop attacking us, and we need to resume surgery as soon as possible," she said."We need to put this to bed, we need people to stop attacking us, and we need to resume surgery as soon as possible," she said.
Brown also disclosed that the hospital, already embroiled in a long-running spat over the future of its children's heart services, had been told that the decision to suspend surgery was based solely on mortality data and she remained confident the unit's death rate was not out of the ordinary.Brown also disclosed that the hospital, already embroiled in a long-running spat over the future of its children's heart services, had been told that the decision to suspend surgery was based solely on mortality data and she remained confident the unit's death rate was not out of the ordinary.
The NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, had earlier revealed that data suggested a death rate twice the national average and therefore surgery should be suspended.The NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, had earlier revealed that data suggested a death rate twice the national average and therefore surgery should be suspended.
Campaigners have also strongly criticised the timing of the suspension, coming 24 hours after a high court judge ruled that the decision-making process to close the children's unit was "legally flawed".Campaigners have also strongly criticised the timing of the suspension, coming 24 hours after a high court judge ruled that the decision-making process to close the children's unit was "legally flawed".
Attempting to explain in more detail the thinking behind the decision to suspend services, Professor Sir Roger Boyle told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday that it was "pure coincidence" that the suspension arrived a day after the court ruled the Leeds unit should be kept open.Attempting to explain in more detail the thinking behind the decision to suspend services, Professor Sir Roger Boyle told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday that it was "pure coincidence" that the suspension arrived a day after the court ruled the Leeds unit should be kept open.
Boyle, director of the National Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research, which oversees NHS mortality data, added: "The email I had from my analysts appeared as the judge was giving her views in the Royal Courts of Justice. It was pure coincidence."Boyle, director of the National Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research, which oversees NHS mortality data, added: "The email I had from my analysts appeared as the judge was giving her views in the Royal Courts of Justice. It was pure coincidence."
Boyle also explained there were concerns about "relatively junior, locum surgeons" being left in charge, and about families of patients who claimed that their requests to be transferred to other units had been ignored.Boyle also explained there were concerns about "relatively junior, locum surgeons" being left in charge, and about families of patients who claimed that their requests to be transferred to other units had been ignored.
Sharon Cheng, from Save Our Surgery, the group co-ordinating the fight to keep children's heart surgery in Leeds, said: "It is now clear that there are serious errors in the data used as the initial justification for suspending children's heart surgery in Leeds. This drastic and ill-thought-out action has had far-reaching consequences for patients and their families."Sharon Cheng, from Save Our Surgery, the group co-ordinating the fight to keep children's heart surgery in Leeds, said: "It is now clear that there are serious errors in the data used as the initial justification for suspending children's heart surgery in Leeds. This drastic and ill-thought-out action has had far-reaching consequences for patients and their families."
Greg Mulholland, the Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, described the decision to close the unit as "an absolute scandal". In a statement on his website, Mulholland said: "To have done this, without warning, just one day after the decision to close the Leeds unit was proved in a court of law to have been unlawful, beggars belief."Greg Mulholland, the Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, described the decision to close the unit as "an absolute scandal". In a statement on his website, Mulholland said: "To have done this, without warning, just one day after the decision to close the Leeds unit was proved in a court of law to have been unlawful, beggars belief."
A campaign has been waged to save children's heart surgery at Leeds General since the unit was earmarked for closure as part of an NHS plan to consolidate services across England into fewer, more specialised centres.A campaign has been waged to save children's heart surgery at Leeds General since the unit was earmarked for closure as part of an NHS plan to consolidate services across England into fewer, more specialised centres.
Children who would have been treated in Leeds will be sent to other hospitals around England while a review, expected to last three weeks, is carried out.Children who would have been treated in Leeds will be sent to other hospitals around England while a review, expected to last three weeks, is carried out.
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