Day of action set to fund challenge over Yorkshire heart surgery axe

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund charity has branded Friday August 31 Fundraising Friday and is asking local people to raise cash to help the charity to fight the decision to end children’s heart surgery for hundreds of youngsters each year at Leeds General Infirmary.

The day of action across the region has been called by the charity which is setting up a fighting fund to pay for a judicial review to fight the move.

The decision by NHS chiefs to halt surgery in Leeds caused an outcry and now Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will have a final say on the closure.

Youngsters and their families from some parts of the region face journeying more than three hours for life-saving surgery at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle under the reorganisation which is designed to improve the quality of children’s heart surgery across the country.

Charity director Sharon Cheng said: “We’re fully committed to saving children’s heart surgery in Leeds.

“We believe the consultation process was deeply flawed and there is a good chance a legal challenge could overturn this decision.

“Since we launched the fighting fund we have attracted an unprecedented amount of support and local people have asked how they can help us.

“Fundraising Friday provides a great opportunity for them to get involved and play a big part in helping to save surgery for the children of our region.”

For more information about how to register to take part call the charity on 0113 392 5742 or email [email protected].

A number of fund-raising ideas can be found at www.chsf.org.uk. Any surplus funds will be put back into the charity for its traditional activities.