On Friday 10th February I led a group of patients, NHS staff, local campaigners and MPs to deliver a petition of 128,356 signatures to Number 10 Downing Street calling for a public review into NHS England’s plans to stop children’s heart surgery services at Glenfield Hospital.
The sheer number of people who signed the petition shows the strength of public opposition to the plans. It wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and commitment of local campaigners, patients and staff – and I want to thank everyone who has been involved from the bottom of my heart.
I am more convinced than ever that it would be a huge mistake to stop children’s heart surgery at Glenfield. Our service has amongst the best clinical outcomes of any children’s heart surgery unit in the country and was recently rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.
If the plans go ahead, the East Midlands would be the only region in the country without a children’s heart surgery unit, denying choice to hundreds of parents who want their children to be treated at Glenfield.
I’m determined to make sure the views of local people are heard loud and clear, and to continue our campaign against these proposals.
I would urge people to take part in the public consultation on NHS England’s plans here and sign up to attend the question time event on Thursday 9th March at Leicester Tigers stadium here.
Watch the BBC’s coverage of the delivery of the petition here, watch ITV’s coverage here and read coverage in the Leicester Mercury here.
