Timeline: Key events in the fight for Leeds heart unit

  • Calendar
Leeds Heart Unit Credit: Calendar

  • 17th June 2010 - Parents of children who have undergone surgery round-up support for the Leeds Heart Unit, following a review of services across the country.

  • 16th February 2011 - More details are released about the potential closure of the site. It is revealed operations would stop and young patients would have to travel hundreds of miles for operations.

  • 28th February 2011 - A campaign is launched to save the heart surgery. More details about that campaign and their work here.

  • 9th March 2011 - 18 thousand people have already added their support to save the unit. Health professionals tell government experts how - if the site closes - desperately ill young patients would have to travel hundreds of miles for operations.

  • 15th March 2011 - The campaign to save the unit gathered pace with a public meeting in Sheffield to find out the strength of feeling there.

  • 30th March 2011 - David Cameron is called upon to help. The issue of closing the Leeds Heart Unit is raised during Prime Minister's questions.

  • 30th April 2011 - At this stage, more than a quarter of a million people signed a petition against the closure of the unit.

Key equipment used at the site Credit: Calendar

  • 17th May 2011 - ITV Calendar was given access to the heart unit to see the work they do. Our cameras filmed a life saving operation on one young patient.

  • 21st June 2011 - Campaigners make the trip to Downing Street to speak with ministers there about the closure. They put their case across to keep surgery in Leeds.

  • 23rd June 2011 - Just days later, a backbench debate on the potential closure took place.

  • 29th June 2011 - Campaigners have written to health ministers asking them to re-think the plans, claiming lives would be put at risk if the unit closes.

  • 26th July 2011 - LGI hits back at claims some of the operations carried out at the heart unit may not be safe. A charity asked a healthcare watchdog for 'reassurances' over what it claims are fears about high death rates linked to surgery.

  • 22nd September 2011 - Half a million people have now added their name to a petition to keep the site open. A debate on the issue was held in Leeds.

  • 11th October 2011 - An influential committee says children and families will be "disproportionately disadvantaged" if the Leeds heart unit is closed down.

Operation underway at hosptial Credit: Calendar

  • 2nd November 2011 - Families meet with the Health Minister in London to put their point across, calling the site to stay open.

  • 23rd January 2012 - We were told to expect the announcement at Christmas, it has now been put back until Easter.

  • 19th April 2012 - The consultation process was given the all clear by the High Court in London. It was a blow to campaigners who want to keep the unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

  • 4th July 2012 - Decision is made to end Children's heart surgery at LGI.

  • 23rd July 2012 - Campaigners take to streets to fight decision.

Campaigners in London speak to our reporter Ben Erlam Credit: Calendar

  • 23rd October 2012 - Health Secretary orders review.

  • 8th February 2013 - Decision moves to the high court.7th March 2013 - Campaigners have won a High Court challenge over proposed changes to children's heart surgery services in England.