Over 30 peers and MPs from across Yorkshire, the Humber and North East Lincolnshire were represented at a meeting with trustees from the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) at the House of Commons today (10 July), to show their support for the charity’s renewed fight to save children’s heart surgery in the region.
Representatives from the charity used the opportunity to discuss the flaws and inaccuracies they feel were apparent in the review, which concluded last week that heart surgery would be stopped at the Leeds General Infirmary, leaving Yorkshire, the Humber and North East Lincolnshire without a dedicated unit.
From L-R seated, Jason McCartney MP, Martin Vickers MP, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, Karl Milner, Director, External Affairs & Communication, Leeds Teaching Hospital’s Trust, Sharon Cheng, Director of the charity, Jon Arnold, parent and Trustee, Stuart Andrew MP, Kevin Watterson, Surgeon, Cllr John Illingworth (Joint HOSC), Steven Courtney (Joint HOSC), Nigel Adams MP, Andrew Jones MP
The meeting, hosted by Stuart Andrew MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, also outlined the charity’s plans for fighting the decision through the ministerial route.
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund director, Sharon Cheng, said:
We are extremely grateful to everyone for their time today in what was a very productive meeting. Since the decision was announced, the outcry from patients and parents has been overwhelming and we are glad that the MPs are listening to their constituents.
We believe the process and decision is fundamentally flawed. We are going to keep fighting as we believe the case for Leeds has never been stronger.
Last year over 600,000 people signed a petition supporting the children’s heart unit at the LGI, which provides life-saving surgery to hundreds of children in Yorkshire and the Humber and beyond annually. 14.2 million people live less than two hours drive time from the Unit, including over five million people in Yorkshire and The Humber alone. The campaign has received cross party support.
For more information on the fight to save these vital services in Yorkshire and to find out how you can help visit www.chsf.org.uk
