More than 16,000 people sign petition to save Glenfield Hospital unit

An online petition to save children's heart surgery at Glenfield Hospital has received more than 16,000 signatures.

The campaign began after the announcement was made by NHS England to close the unit in Leicester.

NHS England has said surgery for children born with heart defects should stop next year as Leicester's hospitals are not meeting not standards and officials at NHS England do not believe they will be able to meet them.

The petition, begun by Nick Kirk, from Hinckley and who works at Leicester's hospitals, calls for ministerial intervention to overturn the decision.

Karen Chouhan, chairman of Healthwatch Leicester City, said:

Deputy city mayor Councillor Rory Palmer has already written to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt demanding the decision be reversed.