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Martin Vickers challenges Health Secretary over Leeds Children's Heart Unit

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CLEETHORPES MP Martin Vickers has said the "uncertainty" surrounding children's heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary is "unacceptable". It came as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said temporary suspension of heart surgery at the hospital was correct. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Vickers said: "Parents whose children face major surgery are already particularly anxious and distressed, and that is before an unseemly public dispute breaks out between the medical experts that they rely on. "This also highlights the fact that the investigation has been going on for far too long. The uncertainty is unacceptable. May I urge my right honourable friend to do everything possible to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion?" In response, Mr Hunt said: "I completely agree with my honourable friend. I want this to be resolved as quickly as possible. "We have to operate within legal due process, but the sooner we can resolve the uncertainty, the better." Mr Hunt made a statement to MPs in response to an urgent question from Stewart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey, who has called for an inquiry. Surgery resumed on Wednesday after it was suspended on 28 March amid NHS claims the hospital had a mortality rate twice the national average. Mr Hunt told the House of Commons: "If there is evidence that patient safety is at risk it is absolutely right that the NHS acts quickly and decisively to prevent harm to patients." Operations were suspended while a review was carried out into concerns about the number of deaths at the hospital because of information about higher-than-usual mortality rates. Experts questioned the accuracy of the data and at a meeting earlier this month, NHS bosses decided to allow operations to resume. Sharon Cheng of Save Our Surgery said: "We are very encouraged by the Health Secretary's comments in Parliament today. "We particularly welcome his acknowledgement that the comments by Sir Roger Boyle appeared to pre-judge the outcome of the Safe and Sustainable Review of children's heart surgery and that, whilst accepting the premise of having medical specialisations in fewer, larger units, he needed to judge whether it was right in the case of children's heart surgery provision."

Martin Vickers challenges Health Secretary over Leeds Children's Heart Unit


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