Row as NHS experts warn of risk to children’s health after MPs vote for heart surgery review

MPs passed a motion yesterday calling for the review – which is looking at plans to concentrate surgery in fewer centres to raise standards – not to be restricted to the four options currently being consulted on, three of which would see surgery in Leeds come to a stop.

Patients and their families face having to travel to Newcastle, Liverpool or Leicester if surgery is moved, but campaigners say the review contains inconsistencies, has not taken into account travelling times and failed to provide consultation material for minority communities until several weeks had elapsed.

Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew, who secured the House of Commons debate, said he wanted to send a “clear message” to the NHS review team that there were serious concerns over the existing proposals.

He was assured by Health Minister Simon Burns that the review – which is being carried out independently of Government – was “open minded” and “flexible”.

Campaigners – who delivered a 500,000-signature petition to Downing Street this week in support of the Leeds unit – hope that thinking outside the existing four options could allow for more centres to be kept open, although experts say change is necessary to prevent repeats of scandals such as in Bristol in the 1990s when as many as 35 children died as a consequence of poor care.

Last night, the NHS team carrying out the review said its decisions will be based on evidence during the four-month consultation, which ends next month.

Sue Hobbins, a member of the Safe and Sustainable steering group, said: “Politicians have a legitimate interest in raising issues on behalf of their constituents.

“However, in our view political interference is most unwelcome if it leads to further delay.

“The clinical benefits of pooling surgical talent in fewer locations must not be blocked or delayed by politicians seeking to save local services.

“We urge politicians and others to think beyond local interests and to remember that changes to existing services are essential to ensure all England’s children receive safe and sustainable care.”

She said it was “England’s opportunity to avoid another catastrophe in children’s cardiac services”, but MPs defended their stance.

Mr Andrew said it was his “duty” to scrutinise the review and he wanted the best for children but added: “It is right and necessary that we learn from past mistakes in other units, but serious concerns about the process have been raised with me by clinicians and parents.”

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith said: “The debate raised a number of legitimate and detailed concerns with the consultation process.

“Strong representations were made relating to the need for better consideration to be made for consequences of children and families living in rural areas, the failure of the consultation to consult early with members of the Asian community in Yorkshire and inconsistencies in projected numbers.

“I’m surprised by Sue Hobbins’ comments because these issues were raised in a balanced but passionate way. MPs of all parties have been contacted by concerned constituents over this issue and it is absolutely right that these issues were raised.”

Mr Burns said the review is independent of Government but said it would “remain open-minded and flexible as to the number of centres”.

Decisions will be made on clinical grounds.