MILLIONS of pounds have been spent on conducting a review into children's heart units across the UK – with still no final decision made.
The NHS has so far spent about £6 million on the Safe and Sustainable Review.
It has been the largest public consultation in the history of the NHS and included the decision to close Leeds children's heart unit.
Legal action has since been paid for, following which a judge in the High Court ruled in favour of keeping the Leeds unit open – however, there is still no final decision as to whether this will happen. A report by an Independent Reconfiguration Panel lists recommendations on the future of children's heart surgery services across the UK. This now rests with the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is expected to make a decision on it within the next month.
Joanne Rilatt, whose son Benjamin was treated at the Leeds unit, has campaigned to save it with other parents and local councillors across North East Lincolnshire.
However, she says that £6 million should never have been spent in this way.
She said: "If those that created the Safe and Sustainable Review just listened to parents and families who use the unit regularly, this amount would have never come about.
"Instead, it could have been spent directly on patient care and improving services already available.
"It is a shame that so much has been spent and still no final decision has been made.
"We said all along if we were not listened to then we would fight our case and this is what we have done."