Glenfield Hospital won't take legal action over moving surgery from children's heart unit

Staff at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester say they will not take legal action to challenge the decision of an NHS review into its children's heart unit.

Following the review, it was announced earlier this year that the unit would stop performing the specialist surgery. It will continue to diagnose patients but all of those requiring surgery will be transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The NHS review into similar centres across the country concluded that expertise was spread too thinly among 10 sites and should instead be concentrated in fewer hospitals. The Royal Brompton in west London and Leeds General Infirmary will also stop performing the specialist surgery on children.

Staff at the NHS Trust say they are now no longer considering legal action, after a barrister concluded a legal case would have no merit.

However, they have prepared a clinical case, in which they argue Birmingham may not be able to cope with the extra demand as well as the possible impact of transferring the Glenfield-based ECMO unit (equipment used to oxygenate patients' blood) to Birmingham.

The Trust met with the chair of the Joint Committee yesterday

The chair of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), the organisation which announced the outcome of the NHS review, has agreed to examine the hospital's clinical case. However, any change to the decision would have to be assessed by scrutiny committees before being referred to the Health Secretary.