NHS boss to face questions amid anger over children’s heart surgery axe

Sir Neil McKay, who headed the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts, will be questioned about the decision at a meeting in Leeds next week.

Hundreds of children from across the region will be expected to travel in some cases more than three hours to Newcastle for treatment following the decision to axe surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

The unit was formerly run by Sir Neil as chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust from 2002-6.

After questioning Sir Neil, members of Yorkshire’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will decide if they wish to refer the ruling to the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley on the grounds the move to close the Leeds unit is not in the interests of local health services.

Ministers have indicated they are likely to refer the decision to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel which rules on controversial NHS changes.

The committee in Yorkshire is instead likely to recommend retaining three children’s heart surgery centres including Leeds in the North.

Sharon Cheng, director of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund charity, said she believed the research into the performance of the hospitals which influenced the decision was incorrect.

“We are glad that Sir Neil is taking the time to explain the reasoning behind his panel’s decision to remove surgery from Leeds,” she said.

“We will continue to highlight the flaws and inaccuracies of the review until our voices are heard.”

Protesters will hold a demonstration and march against the closure on Monday which will be addressed by a number of MPs and campaigners in Millennium Square, Leeds, at noon.

The committee meeting begins at 10.30am on Tuesday at the Civic Hall in Leeds.