‘Disgrace’ as NHS chiefs plan appeal in Leeds children’s heart surgery row

campaigners last night condemned NHS chiefs after they announced plans for a new legal challenge into the future of children’s heart surgery in Yorkshire.
Leeds General InfirmaryLeeds General Infirmary
Leeds General Infirmary

Officials from NHS England were accused of a “disgraceful waste of time and taxpayers’ money” over the appeal against a High Court ruling throwing out plans to axe services at Leeds General Infirmary.

The decision comes only three weeks after NHS England stepped in to halt heart operations at the hospital amid claims the unit was unsafe, which within days proved unfounded.

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It has prompted fears a decision over the unit’s future could be further delayed and comes only days before a key report by experts from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) is due into the decision to end surgery in Leeds following the landmark NHS Safe and Sustainable review.

Last night campaigners, who successfully brought a judicial review against the closure, called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to intervene and withdraw the Court of Appeal application.

Sharon Cheng, from the Save Our Surgery group, said: “NHS England’s move to try and appeal against the outcome of the judicial review is a disgraceful waste of time and taxpayers’ money.

“The decision to appeal only underlines, once again, NHS England’s willingness to spend money on lawyers’ fees that should be used for patient care.

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“Pursuing this appeal serves no benefit to patients. Instead it is about protecting reputations and trying to salvage what is a flawed and thoroughly discredited process.

“We secured a strong and conclusive judgment in the High Court and the final decision regarding the future of children’s heart surgery services should now lie with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel and the Health Secretary.

“This is a cynical move that only delays things further and creates more uncertainty for patients and their families.

“At this point, enough is enough. The Health Secretary can no longer hide behind the case that it is the NHS’s responsibility to make decisions on the future of patient services.

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“The judge’s verdict along with the events of the last few weeks have shown clearly that the Safe and Sustainable review was not driven by sound clinical judgment or patients’ interests. Instead it has been driven by vested interests and bias against Leeds.

“The ultimate responsibility for the NHS lies with the Health Secretary as its head. It is now time for him to step in and take action, stop this appeal and look to the IRP to make a swift decision on the future of these critical children’s services.”

Bosses at NHS England, who have taken responsibility for the NHS Safe and Sustainable review, said they had been advised there were “good grounds” for appeal.

“There is broad consensus – among both clinicians and patient groups – that the NHS needs to concentrate the care of children needing these services into fewer, larger specialist centres, as an integral part of children’s heart networks,” they said in a statement.

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“NHS England believes that we must deliver this change as quickly as possible on behalf of children and their families.

“We now have an opportunity to take stock and assess the best way of achieving our objective in the fastest possible time.”

They said they would take into account information including last month’s High Court ruling and the IRP report due to be published before the end of the month.

Pudsey Tory MP Stuart Andrew said he was “very disappointed” at NHS England’s decision.

“I sincerely hope that we will see an early resolution to this dispute, with minimal cost to the taxpayer,” he added.