Heart unit petition will be debated

100,000 signatures trigger time in Commons

THE PETITION to protect children’s heart care at Glenfield Hospital has reached the 100,000 signature milestone required to trigger a Commons debate.

The protest document now has more than 42,000 names online and more than 59,600 offline.

Leicestershire MP Liz Kendall is working with other East Midlands poli- ticians to drive forward a Parliamentary discussion and will present the combined petition to the House in the new year.

The achievement has bolstered campaigners who want NHS England to reverse a decision on commission future cardiac services at Glenfield Hospital.

The health body says the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre is not - and is unlikely to - meet new standards of care.

A fresh assessment of the provision, plus backup evidence from partners is part of a fight-back by Leicester hospitals chiefs.

Actions have been taken to improve the environment and facilities on the children’s ward while trust bosses also hope to prove that doctors will be able to meet an increase in the number of surgeries performed - one of the key issues according to NHSE.

A further area of con- cern raised by NHSE that two of the unit’s consultant surgeons are employed on locum contracts is being tackled.

John Adler, trust chief executive said: “While there is no requirement in the standards for our consultants to be employed substantively, we have held interviews for a second substantive consultant surgeon post for the service.

“We were delighted to have nine very strong applicants and we shortlisted five candidates. Attracting such a strong field in obviously uncertain circumstances is remarkable evidence of the reputation and quality of our service.”

An announcement on the position is expected imminently.

The online petition can still be signed at petition. p a r l i a ment . u k / p e t i - tions/160455.