This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/05/leeds-general-child-heart-surgery-resume

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Leeds General to resume child heart surgery next week Leeds General to resume child heart surgery next week
(6 months later)
Children's heart surgery is set to resume at Leeds General Infirmary after days of uncertainty over its future, hospital bosses have said.Children's heart surgery is set to resume at Leeds General Infirmary after days of uncertainty over its future, hospital bosses have said.
The decision to work together to reopen the unit early next week was reached at a summit between Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust, NHS England and other partners late last night.The decision to work together to reopen the unit early next week was reached at a summit between Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust, NHS England and other partners late last night.
A spokesman for the trust said the agencies would act over the weekend to provide sufficient assurance that the unit was safe to reopen.A spokesman for the trust said the agencies would act over the weekend to provide sufficient assurance that the unit was safe to reopen.
He said: "Following a productive multi-agency meeting to review the decision to suspend children's cardiac surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, agreement was reached to work together to restart surgery on the site early next week subject to independent assurance of concerns raised."He said: "Following a productive multi-agency meeting to review the decision to suspend children's cardiac surgery at Leeds General Infirmary, agreement was reached to work together to restart surgery on the site early next week subject to independent assurance of concerns raised."
All operations at the unit were halted last Thursday after NHS officials, led by its medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, suggested the unit had a death rate double that of other centres.All operations at the unit were halted last Thursday after NHS officials, led by its medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, suggested the unit had a death rate double that of other centres.
Medical bodies, doctors and other experts, however, have questioned the accuracy of the data, which they say was unverified and not fit to base such a decision on.Medical bodies, doctors and other experts, however, have questioned the accuracy of the data, which they say was unverified and not fit to base such a decision on.
Maggie Boyle, the chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust, said: "I am extremely confident that this service is safe and effective and should recommence at the earliest opportunity. I want partner organisations to be as confident in the service as I am."Maggie Boyle, the chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust, said: "I am extremely confident that this service is safe and effective and should recommence at the earliest opportunity. I want partner organisations to be as confident in the service as I am."
Mike Bewick, the deputy medical director of NHS England, said: "The risk summit has been extremely useful in moving a difficult situation forward constructively.Mike Bewick, the deputy medical director of NHS England, said: "The risk summit has been extremely useful in moving a difficult situation forward constructively.
"We will play our full part in supporting the safe reopening of the service at the earliest opportunity.""We will play our full part in supporting the safe reopening of the service at the earliest opportunity."
Parents had criticised the timing of the unit's suspension, which came just 24 hours after a high court judge ruled that a decision-making process to close it as part of an England-wide reorganisation of services was "legally flawed".Parents had criticised the timing of the unit's suspension, which came just 24 hours after a high court judge ruled that a decision-making process to close it as part of an England-wide reorganisation of services was "legally flawed".
Keogh, however, said at the time that the figures were among a "constellation of reasons" the decision was made.Keogh, however, said at the time that the figures were among a "constellation of reasons" the decision was made.
MPs had been waiting for the outcome of the meeting before deciding whether to ask the parliamentary health select committee to investigate, according to a West Yorkshire MP.MPs had been waiting for the outcome of the meeting before deciding whether to ask the parliamentary health select committee to investigate, according to a West Yorkshire MP.
Stuart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, said he hoped the committee would look at "whether or not the right processes were made".Stuart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, said he hoped the committee would look at "whether or not the right processes were made".
Parents have reacted to the news with joy.Parents have reacted to the news with joy.
Jon Arnold, whose daughter Zoe underwent life-saving heart surgery at the unit in 2007 when she was three weeks old, said the news was a relief.Jon Arnold, whose daughter Zoe underwent life-saving heart surgery at the unit in 2007 when she was three weeks old, said the news was a relief.
"There's been massive support from the parents and families for the unit, and this decision confirms what we thought about the quality of care all along," he said."There's been massive support from the parents and families for the unit, and this decision confirms what we thought about the quality of care all along," he said.
"My daughter had fantastic care at the unit."My daughter had fantastic care at the unit.
"It was difficult to understand as a parent how they could have shut the ward so swiftly on the basis of unverified data. It left parents feeling very confused about what to believe and what was best for their child."It was difficult to understand as a parent how they could have shut the ward so swiftly on the basis of unverified data. It left parents feeling very confused about what to believe and what was best for their child.
"Once the unit is reopened then a lot of the families will have a lot of questions that need to be answered about the manner in which it closed."Once the unit is reopened then a lot of the families will have a lot of questions that need to be answered about the manner in which it closed.
"The main thing is that babies and families that need urgent treatment can now get it on the unit without having to be shipped across the country to any available bed space.""The main thing is that babies and families that need urgent treatment can now get it on the unit without having to be shipped across the country to any available bed space."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.