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Ex-heart tsar's Leeds safety fear
The government's former heart tsar has said he would not send his own daughter for treatment at Leeds General Infirmary's child cardiac unit. Low-risk operations have resumed there after surgery was suspended over concerns about the death rates.
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Leeds hospital 'must provide evidence' heart unit is safe
The Leeds hospital where children's heart surgery was suspended still needs to convince NHS bosses its cardiac unit is safe to reopen, the Guardian newspaper reported.
Leeds hospital executives today said they were "extremely confident" surgery would resume next week, but the reopening of the unit reportedly depends on the hospital providing vital data over the weekend.
The Guardian says the hospital needs to answer questions over governance and missing data on 18 operations when they meet NHS England chiefs in the coming days.
Heart campaigner: Safety assurances a 'tick box exercise'
Campaigners who have been fighting to save the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary say they believe surgery will start again next week.
The NHS bodies that have been in talks since surgery was suspended last Thursday have released a statement saying: "Agreement was reached to work together to restart surgery on the site early next week subject to independent assurance of concerns raised."
But Sharon Cheng from the campaign group Save our Surgery says she believes the "independent assurance" is a "tick box exercise."
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'Key consideration is patient safety' at Leeds heart unit
A spokesperson for the Department of Health has commented on the decision to reopen the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
Staff at Leeds heart unit 'deserve a medal'
A mother from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has said she is "absolutely thrilled" that the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary is set to reopen.
Jo Lancaster, whose six year old son Toby has undergone two operations on his heart at the unit, said she has never had any doubts about its safety.
Families 'very worried' over Leeds heart unit suspension
Anne Keatley-Clarke, chief executive of the Children's Heart Federation, has said that families affected by the suspension of the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary are "very worried".
MPs react to 'great news' of Leeds heart unit
Several MPs based in the Leeds area have welcomed the news that the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary is set to reopen.
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NHS 'scrabbling around' over Leeds heart unit decision
Roger Boyle, director of the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR), has told Radio 4's Today programme that the decision to restart the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary needs to be investigated.
'Questions need to be answered' over Leeds heart unit
Parents have reacted positively to the news that the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary is set to restart.
Jon Arnold, whose daughter Zoe underwent heart surgery at the unit in 2007, said:
MP thanks 'inspirational' Leeds heart unit supporters
Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, Horsforth & Aireborough, has tweeted his thanks to all who support the reopening of the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds, has also welcomed the news.
Leeds children's heart surgery to restart
A children's heart unit is set to restart at Leeds General Infirmary after being suspended over patient care concerns.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust will work with other agencies, including NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority and the Care Quality Commission to provide "sufficient assurance" that the unit is ready to reopen.
In a statement, Maggie Boyle, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “I am extremely confident that this service is safe and effective and should recommence at the earliest opportunity. I want partner organisations to be as confident in the service as I am."
The children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary has remained suspended for the past week.
Latest ITV News reports
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Calls for investigation into 'reckless' heart ops move
MPs have called for an investigation into why a "reckless" decision was made to stop children's heart surgery at a Leeds hospital.