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Heart surgery review 'cost over £6m' Leeds MP is told | |
(1 day later) | |
A review of specialist heart surgery units for children has cost more than £6m, a Leeds MP has been told. | |
Conservative Stuart Andrew said that included £300,000 on legal fees, and another £1.7m on external communications consultants. | |
A written answer he was given by Health Minister Anna Soubry did not give details of the remainder of the costs. | |
Ms Soubry said the "Safe and Sustainable review" costs had been incurred since 2009. | |
Mr Andrew, the MP for Pudsey, is urging NHS England to drop its appeal against a High Court ruling that its decision to cut the number of specialist centres was "legally flawed". | Mr Andrew, the MP for Pudsey, is urging NHS England to drop its appeal against a High Court ruling that its decision to cut the number of specialist centres was "legally flawed". |
MP's Commons plea | MP's Commons plea |
Ms Soubry's answer revealed that £301,000 was spent on legal fees to fight a judicial review brought by the campaign group Save our Surgery against its decision to close the unit at Leeds General Infirmary last month. | Ms Soubry's answer revealed that £301,000 was spent on legal fees to fight a judicial review brought by the campaign group Save our Surgery against its decision to close the unit at Leeds General Infirmary last month. |
Another £1.74m was spent on "external communications consultants". | |
Mr Andrew told MPs in the Commons on Thursday that NHS England should not appeal against the High Court's ruling. | Mr Andrew told MPs in the Commons on Thursday that NHS England should not appeal against the High Court's ruling. |
He said after being given the figures: "This is around £6m in total and now we hear that NHS England plans to add to these costs by appealing a High Court decision and potentially delaying the IRP (Independent Reconfiguration Panel) report. | |
"Given the time available, is there any way we can urge NHS England not to appeal against the decision , so that we can finally get a resolution to children's heart surgery in this country." | "Given the time available, is there any way we can urge NHS England not to appeal against the decision , so that we can finally get a resolution to children's heart surgery in this country." |
In reply, Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said the decision about whether to appeal was down to NHS England. | In reply, Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said the decision about whether to appeal was down to NHS England. |
The decision on heart units - if it eventually stands - will mean the closure of the Leeds unit as well as those at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and London's Royal Brompton. | The decision on heart units - if it eventually stands - will mean the closure of the Leeds unit as well as those at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and London's Royal Brompton. |