MPs will debate Glenfield's children's heart surgery closure

A House of Commons debate will take place today (22 October) to discuss the closure of Glenfield's children's heart surgery.

The Committee has scheduled this debate using its new powers to convene a sitting in Westminster Hall for debates on e-petitions.

The East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester was one of 10 under review in a move to keep expert locations more focused.

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) in July decided the Glenfield unit should be one of three to close nationally.

It said the hospital would continue to diagnose young heart patients and provide non-surgical treatment but surgery would move to Birmingham, nearly 40 miles away.

Since the decision was made to close the surgical section of the unit a campaign to save it has been launched with 100,000 people signing an e-petition.

The e-petition opposing the move was set up by Adam Tansey from heart charity, Keep The Beat.

His son Albert, who was born with half a heart, had open heart surgery when he was seven days old and has received ongoing treatment.