It seems that closure of children’s heart surgery in Leeds has not gone down well with millions of patients as there are reports that families are hell bent to save the unit. It was last Wednesday that the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) announced its decision to close the unit at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

In consequent to the decision, patients would have no option but to move to Newcastle, Liverpool or Birmingham for surgery. Nonetheless, there is no change as far as diagnosis, monitoring and non-surgical treatment is concerned at Leeds.

Despite a Save Our Surgery petition signed by some 600,000, the decision could not be changed. Still, families are firm that they will do all possible to change the decision in their favor.

“There are just too many risks, the A1 is prone to accidents and we can’t be in the ambulance with him. Until things are absolutely final we can’t make a decision, but we’d be looking at Great Ormond Street, Liverpool or Birmingham”, said Ackworth mum Anne-Marie Sheard, who is shocked with the news as her son is in dire need of open heart surgery.

It has been claimed that efforts would continue to call for government’s intervention which might be able to change a lot for them.