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Leeds campaigners hope Jeremy Hunt will save children's heart unit Leeds campaigners hope Jeremy Hunt will save children's heart unit
(4 months later)
Campaigners fighting to save a children's heart unit are hoping the health secretary will reverse the decision to close it on Wednesday.Campaigners fighting to save a children's heart unit are hoping the health secretary will reverse the decision to close it on Wednesday.
Jeremy Hunt is expected to make a statement to the Commons on the results of a review into the decision to reorganise children's cardiac services across England into fewer, more specialised units.Jeremy Hunt is expected to make a statement to the Commons on the results of a review into the decision to reorganise children's cardiac services across England into fewer, more specialised units.
This review was ordered by Hunt following protests against plans to shut the centre at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) as well as ones at Glenfield hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in west London.This review was ordered by Hunt following protests against plans to shut the centre at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) as well as ones at Glenfield hospital in Leicester and the Royal Brompton in west London.
Campaigners in Leeds fought a successful battle in the high court and the situation was thrown into sharp focus earlier this year when paediatric heart surgery was stopped for almost a fortnight at the LGI when fears were raised about success rates.Campaigners in Leeds fought a successful battle in the high court and the situation was thrown into sharp focus earlier this year when paediatric heart surgery was stopped for almost a fortnight at the LGI when fears were raised about success rates.
This provoked outrage from the Leeds campaigners and local politicians who feared the decision was linked to the bigger issue of which units would stay open nationally.This provoked outrage from the Leeds campaigners and local politicians who feared the decision was linked to the bigger issue of which units would stay open nationally.
Hunt asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to look again at the original review. Its report is expected to be published later, after Hunt's announcement.Hunt asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to look again at the original review. Its report is expected to be published later, after Hunt's announcement.
Jon Arnold, a trustee of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund at the LGI whose daughter Zoe, six, was treated at the hospital, said: "After a three-year campaign led by parents and patients in our region we're hopeful that the public's voice will be listened to.Jon Arnold, a trustee of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund at the LGI whose daughter Zoe, six, was treated at the hospital, said: "After a three-year campaign led by parents and patients in our region we're hopeful that the public's voice will be listened to.
"More than 600,000 people signed a petition to keep the surgery at the unit in Leeds and a high court judge ruled the decision to end surgery there was unlawful."More than 600,000 people signed a petition to keep the surgery at the unit in Leeds and a high court judge ruled the decision to end surgery there was unlawful.
"Our families and supporters have everything crossed that common sense has prevailed and that Jeremy Hunt has decided to let the staff at the unit keep on doing what they do best – saving lives.""Our families and supporters have everything crossed that common sense has prevailed and that Jeremy Hunt has decided to let the staff at the unit keep on doing what they do best – saving lives."
The original decision to close the three units was part of a general review of services across England based on the premise that there was a need to concentrate expertise in more specialist centres. The plan was to reduce the current 10 units to seven.The original decision to close the three units was part of a general review of services across England based on the premise that there was a need to concentrate expertise in more specialist centres. The plan was to reduce the current 10 units to seven.
The campaign in Leeds focused on how a huge region would be left without any local services, saying families would have to make long trips to either Newcastle upon Tyne or Liverpool with extremely sick children.The campaign in Leeds focused on how a huge region would be left without any local services, saying families would have to make long trips to either Newcastle upon Tyne or Liverpool with extremely sick children.
Campaigners took their protest to the high court and a senior judge quashed the process in March.Campaigners took their protest to the high court and a senior judge quashed the process in March.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said aspects of the Leeds consultations were flawed and "ill-judged".Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said aspects of the Leeds consultations were flawed and "ill-judged".
But the Leeds campaigners' joy over the judgment turned to dismay a day later when serious questions were raised about death rate figures and other alleged problems at the LGI unit and surgery was suspended. This decision was made just before Easter after an intervention by Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of NHS England.But the Leeds campaigners' joy over the judgment turned to dismay a day later when serious questions were raised about death rate figures and other alleged problems at the LGI unit and surgery was suspended. This decision was made just before Easter after an intervention by Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of NHS England.
Later, Keogh said death rate figures were among a "constellation of reasons" the decision was made.Later, Keogh said death rate figures were among a "constellation of reasons" the decision was made.
But medical bodies, doctors and other experts questioned the accuracy of the data used to support the suspension of surgery. After more than a week of high-profile controversy, surgery was resumed amid calls from MPs and parents for an inquiry into what happened.But medical bodies, doctors and other experts questioned the accuracy of the data used to support the suspension of surgery. After more than a week of high-profile controversy, surgery was resumed amid calls from MPs and parents for an inquiry into what happened.
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