Leeds Children's Heart Unit Investigation

EDM number 1269 in 2012-13, proposed by Greg Mulholland on 15/04/2013.
Categorised under the topics of Children and families, Death and Health services.

That this House expresses serious concern over the recent suspension of children's heart surgery at Leeds Children's Infirmary; acknowledges that statistics used to inform the suspension have since been declared inaccurate and showing a false picture of mortality rates at the unit; notes the misleading description of individuals involved in providing negative reports about Leeds, including Sir Roger Boyle, as whistleblowers and believes this is a misuse of welcome measures to protect genuine whistleblowers; is deeply suspicious of both the timing and motivation of the decision, the day after a High Court ruled that the decision to propose closure of the unit had been unlawful, on the first day of the House of Commons Easter recess; further notes that the suspension of a safe unit puts children at greater risk so doing so when the evidence is flawed and does not justify it is a very serious matter; further acknowledges the lack of objectivity and bias shown throughout the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts' consideration of the Safe and Sustainable Review into children's heart surgery in England and Wales and its failure to provide documents to the Yorkshire and Humber Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee leading to its decision being declared unlawful; believes that this episode shows the need for greater accountability in the NHS including for senior officials; further believes that the suspension of children's heart surgery in Leeds has been a fiasco; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to launch a full investigation into this matter.

This motion has been signed by a total of 2 MPs.