Call for NHS to explain why heart surgery was suspended

MPS AND campaigners last night called for an investigation into why a “reckless” decision was made to suspend children’s heart surgery at leading UK ­hospital.

Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to launch a review as plans were made to reopen the unit at Leeds General Infirmary, which was closed last week after NHS figures suggested it had a death rate double that of other centres.

NHS and trust bosses said the decision to halt surgery was a “prudent and precautionary step” as they outlined the issues which needed reviewing before the unit will be allowed to reopen next week.

But Mr Mulholland said there had still been no proper explanation as to why the unit was closed and demanded those responsible were held to account.

Medical bodies, doctors and other experts also questioned the accuracy of the data used to support the suspension of surgery, which they said was unverified and not fit to base such a decision on.

The MP said: “I think the whole thing has been handled shambolically. The communication has been woeful and the handling has been deeply questionable, and indeed the motivation behind the decision in the first place is something that I think people want to get to the bottom of.”

Tory MP Stuart Andrew said he hoped the parliamentary Health Select Committee would look at “whether or not the right processes were made”.

A Department for Health spokeswoman said: “The key consideration must always be patient safety. We support the decision to suspend surgery last week on the basis that there were serious concerns that needed to be investigated.”