Rotherham mum welcomes rethink over heart unit closure

Mums and dads from Rotherham joined a city centre demonstration to call for the region’s only dedicated children’s heart unit to be saved from the axe.

Hundreds of parents from across Yorkshire gathered with their children in the middle of Leeds on Monday to protest at a decision to close the Child Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary following a national review of services.

And there was some good news for the campaigners on Tuesday when the region’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee formally referred the decision to the Secretary of State.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will now be called on to inspect the reviews’ conclusions and could overturn the decision.

Dinnington mum Cassie Symms, who was among the parents who spoke to Monday’s 3,000-strong demonstration, described Tuesday’s decision as “a small step in the right direction.”

Cassie, whose son Zander had heart surgery at ten months, added: “Monday was an amazing day with an amazing turnout.”

Sir Neil McKay, chairman of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), pointed out that the closure decision followed a three-year review which explored several options.

Insisting that “the case for change has never been stronger”, he added: “ We listened to the views of the professional associations, parents and many others and decided that quality of care should be the primary factor in making our decision.”