Leeds child heart campaigners at Downing Street today

The number of units performing children’s cardiac surgery in England is to be cut to six or seven from 11.

Experts say the recommendation will lead to safer services and will ensure doctors and surgeons are able to maintain their expertise.

But hospitals whose units face the axe have argued that the decision-making process is fundamentally flawed.

The Royal Brompton in London has launched legal action over the plans and other units, including in Leeds, are under threat.

Today, Save Our Surgery campaigners from Yorkshire will travel to Downing Street to deliver a 500,000-signature petition calling for services to be saved at Leeds General Infirmary.

MP Stuart Andrew, representatives from the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF), doctors, children who have had surgery and their parents will arrive near No 10 in an ambulance.

The petition includes signatures from people in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire, and campaigners say they believe it is the biggest ever regional petition.

Sharon Cheng, charity director of CHSF, said: “There are 14.5 million people within two hours drive of the Yorkshire unit and if the Government decided to close it, families would be forced to take their children hundreds of miles for surgery.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support from the people of Yorkshire and hope that this petition has got the message across to the Government that the Leeds unit simply cannot be allowed to close.”

The idea of cutting the number of units in England was first raised following the Bristol baby heart scandal when children died needlessly.

An inquiry, led by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, said children should have heart surgery in fewer centres, which would be more specialist.

The John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford has already stopped its operations following several deaths last year.

A consultation on the plans is due to finish on July 1, with a final decision later this year on which units will close.

Jeremy Glyde, programme director for the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s heart services, said: “We welcome the fact that people are getting involved in this important consultation and having their say. Everyone’s view will be considered before final decisions are made.

“After the consultation period Ipsos Mori, an independent third party, will carry out a detailed analysis of all feedback.

“The findings will be published in a report to help inform the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts before a final decision is made.

“Support for having fewer, larger children’s heart surgery centres remains very strong.

“The British Heart Foundation, the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the British Congenital Cardiac Association, the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Little Hearts Matter, the Children’s Heart Federation and other organisations support the need for change.”