Calls for NHS chief to resign over heart unit

Over 560 people signed an online petition demanding the medical director of NHS England stands down after he suspended operations in a move the British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA) says could put a massive strain on services in the North.

Sir Bruce said the suspension was imposed for a “constellation of reasons” including leaked data showing death rates in the unit at least double the average but Dr Tony Salmon, the BCCA’s president, said he was not aware of any centres having a higher than expected mortality rate.

He said relevant data has been compiled by the Central Cardiac Audit Database (CCAD) for the past 10 years, adding: “We are very concerned that some of this preliminary ‘raw’ data, which has not been verified, has entered the public domain before CCAD or any of the hospitals have had an opportunity to assess or ratify the information.

“CCAD must be given the opportunity to examine, audit and correct the data before any conclusions can be drawn about mortality, including risk stratified outcomes, in Leeds or indeed any of the UK centres.

“As a result of the fact that the data has not undergone stringent checks, the suggestion that there is a higher than expected mortality rate in Leeds or any other centre, is premature.”

He warned: “It is a matter of urgency that the events in Leeds that resulted in the temporary suspension of paediatric cardiac surgery and intervention are understood and resolved.

“The clinical fallout of ceasing surgical and catheter interventions, even for a short period, could lead to acute under provision of services in the North of England.”

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland tweeted a link to the epetition calling for Sir Bruce to step down and said he was hopeful the suspension would be lifted this week.

Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East, believes calls for Sir Bruce to resign was the wrong tactic.

He said: “I think what’s important is that very, very rapid action is taken to restore operations at Leeds. There is a systematic problem here that Sir Bruce Keogh is part of.”

Mr Hamilton is writing to the Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to urge them to intervene.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Patient safety must always be the first consideration for the health service.

“We support the Trust’s decision to carry out a review of the safety of its child heart unit as a precautionary measure, on the basis of the concerns raised by NHS England and the Care Quality Commission. They have assured us that these decisions have been made for clinical reasons, and the discussions that follow must also be clinically-led, and always in the best interests of patients.”

An internal meeting is due to go ahead at the hospital today.