Health chief defends axing of heart unit (From York Press)

Sir Neil Mckay defends axing of children’s heart unit in Leeds

8:19am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in Health & Wellbeing

THE man behind the decision to move children’s heart surgery services from Leeds to Newcastle has insisted it was the right decision.

Sir Neil Mckay defended the controversial move yesterday in front of a regional health scrutiny committee in Leeds, made up of council members from throughout Yorkshire.

Despite a 600,000 signature petition against the loss of services at Leeds General Infirmary, Sir Neil said there was always going to be disappointment and that the consultation and decision process had been fair.

He said: “Many people believe that our processes have been flawed. The Court of Appeal said our consultation process was not flawed.”

The Leeds unit serves a population of 14 million people within a two-hour drive time and campaigners argue that if surgery is moved, patients will have to travel to Newcastle, Liverpool or Birmingham.