PRESSURE is building on health chiefs to host a third public meeting for the scores of campaigners fighting to save children’s heart surgery in Southampton.

All 400 places for the city’s two consultation events later this month at the Guildhall have been snapped up, leaving those without a seat fearing their views will not be heard.

With more than 50,000 already backing the Daily Echo’s Have a Heart campaign the strength of support for the threatened unit at Southampton Hospital is clear.

But despite calls for a third meeting those leading the consultation have refused to host another event in the city sparking criticism from campaigners and councillors who argue that face to face discussions are vital because the consultation document and response form are too complex.

Councillor Pat West, chairman of Hampshire County Council’s Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “It’s imperative that the young people and families in Hampshire who will be affected by any changes are given plenty of opportunity to ensure their views are heard.

“Just weeks into the consultation process we find events planned for this area being fully booked and no prospect of further meetings being announced. We do not consider that this is fair.

“The importance of face to face discussion through public meeting events is heightened by the fact that both the consultation document and the response form are exceedingly complex making it challenging for those without a health or clinical background to understand them.

“I am concerned that both the length and style of the form will deter people from sharing their views rather than encourage them to do so.”

To help those finding it difficult to plough their way through the 230- page consultation document to fill out the response form and give more people a chance to share their views, Southampton Local Involvement network (LINk) is hosting its own public meeting on May 11.

It has invited a panel of experts to the event at the Southampton Novotel to be quizzed by campaigners.

Harry Dymond, from Southampton LINk, said: “The role of Southampton Local Involvement network is to ensure that the views of patients and the public are communicated clearly to those that make decisions that affect their health and social care services.

“The recent Echo campaign clearly shows that people are passionate about the future of children’s cardiac services in Southampton.”

Despite being ranked the second best in the country our paediatric heart unit is under threat as health chiefs look to cut the UK’s 11 centres down to six or seven.

Southampton was featured in just one of four options which will be put out for public consultation, before the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) makes its final decision.

If Southampton closed, families would be forced to get life-saving treatment in London or Bristol.

A spokesman from Safe and Sustainable, which is running the consultation, said it had “no plans”

to hold more than two events in one location but added there would be a focus group for young people.

• Visit the consultation website

Daily Echo: Daily Echo Have a Heart Campaign to save paediatric heart surgery in Southampton

Download the Have a Heart petition form


Print it out, get as many signatures as you can and send it to Have a Heart, Southern Daily Echo, Test lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX
Daily Echo: Have a Heart poster

Download the Have a Heart poster


Print out our A4 sized Have a Heart poster