THE Government will not bow to “political pressure” when deciding the future of the regional children’s heart centre, a minister has promised.
The unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital is under threat as part of the Government’s review into children’s cardiac provision. Up to five of the UK’s 11 heart units could close, with the review due to report to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley this autumn.
North East Labour MPs have expressed concerns over political lobbying of the Health Secretary led by Yorkshire Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs in favour of a unit at Leeds.
But Health Minister Simon Burns has promised that decisions will be based on clinical outcomes after North West Durham MP Pat Glass raised the issue in the House of Commons.
She said: “The minister will have to make some difficult decisions very soon about specialist children’s heart provision. In my part of the world, the choice will be between the NHS trusts in Newcastle and Leeds.
“Can he confirm that those decisions will be based on clinical outcomes, not political expediency?”
Mr Burns said: “I can give the honourable lady a categorical assurance that they will be based on clinical outcomes, not political considerations.
“I hope she will accept that it would be inappropriate for me to say anything further at this point in the proceedings, because we are in the middle of a consultation process at arms’ length from ministers.”
Speaking afterwards, the Labour MP said: “The children’s heart unit at Freeman Hospital is a world renowned centre for excellence that has benefited from significant recent investment.
“If the decision on closures is based on clinical outcomes, as the minister has assured me, then the future of the unit should be safe. The unit has saved many lives in the North and my constituency. It is vital that the Government supports the excellent work that it does and its future.”
She also urged people to take part in the consultation via the website http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safeandsustainable until July 1.
