Calls for investigation into 'reckless' heart unit closure

MPs and campaigners have called for an investigation into why a "reckless" decision was made to suspend children's heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

Lib Dem Greg Mulholland called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to launch a review as plans were made to reopen the unit, which was closed last week after NHS figures suggested it had a death rate double that of other centres.

NHS and trust bosses said the decision to halt surgery was a "prudent and precautionary step" as they outlined the issues that needed reviewing before the unit will be allowed to reopen next week.

ITV News' Lewis Vaughan Jones reports:

NHS chiefs announced the cardiac unit was set to reopen following a summit late last night, and Maggie Boyle of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said:

MPs greeted the news but quickly called for an investigation into the closure:

Mulholland, the MP for Leeds North West, said:

Conservative MP Stuart Andrew said he hoped the parliamentary Health Select Committee would look at "whether or not the right processes were made".

A Department of Health spokeswoman said Hunt would support a decision to reopen the unit if the original concerns had been addressed.

Jon Arnold, whose daughter Zoe underwent life-saving heart surgery at the unit in 2007, said families would have questions about the closure:

An NHS England spokesman said data provided by the Trust yesterday would need to be validated and reviewed by independent clinical experts.

These reviews will be completed over the next few days and a final decision will be made next week.