Opinion divided over future of children's heart surgery centres

The government is looking to reduce the number of centres and focus on larger, regional centres in a bid to improve the quality of care.

Its consultation on the plans attracted 75,000 responses. The majority of those from the public supported an option that would see centres in Leeds and Southampton close.

In contrast, charities and NHS trusts have backed another option that would see centres in Leeds and Leicester close.

All four options involve the ending of children's heart surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital and for London to have two centres.

The government’s argument that fewer, larger centres would improve the quality of care was backed by the largest proportion of respondents.

When asked whether change was needed to ensure services were safe and sustainable in the future, 46 per cent of the public agreed, while 33 per cent disagreed. Among NHS organisations and charities support was even greater, with 64 per cent supporting change and just 19 per cent preferring to maintain the status quo.

The report will be considered by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), which is expected to make its decision by the end of the year. The changes are set to take place at the start of 2013.

The committee will also take into account an analysis of family travel patterns and an assessment on how the plans will affect children’s health.

JCPCT chair Sir Neil McKay said: "The scale of the response confirms to me the importance of ensuring excellent NHS care for children with congenital heart disease. The task for us now is to carefully consider the findings in detail along with other evidence before we reach final decisions later this year."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust said that due to the fact that none of the four options put forward for public consultation included Royal Brompton, people have had "scant opportunity to express their preference for keeping children’s heart surgery at [the hospital]".

She added: "Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust has been granted permission for a judicial review of the ‘Safe and Sustainable’ consultation. Although the decision to pursue legal action has been taken with the greatest reluctance and regret, we feel we have no alternative but to act in the best interests of out patients."

One in 10 responses was from a child or young person. The consultation also attracted 25 petitions from local campaigners. The largest, to save the children’s heart surgery centre in Leeds, was signed by 445,945 people.