MPs pledge support for heart unit

Over 30 peers and MPs from across Yorkshire, the Humber and North East Lincolnshire were represented at a meeting with trustees from the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, at the House of Commons, to show their support for the charity’s renewed fight to save children’s heart surgery in the region.

Representatives from the charity used the opportunity to discuss the flaws and inaccuracies they feel were apparent in the review, which concluded that heart surgery would be stopped at the Leeds General Infirmary, leaving Yorkshire, the Humber and North East Lincolnshire without a dedicated unit.

The meeting also outlined the charity’s plans for fighting the decision through the ministerial route. Children’s Heart Surgery Fund director, Sharon Cheng, said: “ The outcry from patients and parents has been overwhelming and we are glad that the MPs are listening to their constituents.

“We believe the process and decision is fundamentally flawed. We are going to keep fighting as we believe the case for Leeds has never been stronger.” Last year over 600,000 people signed a petition supporting the children’s heart unit at the LGI.