THE CONSULTATION process that led to the decision to save children’s heart surgery in Southampton was “procedurally flawed”, a high court heard.
Campaigners fighting to save the heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary have accused the 16-week consultation of being unfair and demanded that it should be rerun.
But lawyers representing the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) refused to accept that people were unaware of what was being assessed and what decisions were being made.
The challenge comes following the decision taken last July by the JCPCT to keep seven heart units open, including the one in Southampton, closing one in Leeds, Leicester and London’s Royal Brompton Hospital.
More than 250,000 signed the Daily Echo’s Have a Heart petition to save Southampton’s heart unit, which was shown to be the second best in the country.
The judicial hearing was due to continue today.
