Silent vigil in Parliament Square held in support of Glenfield Hospital children's heart unit
MPs and campaigners took part in a silent vigil in Parliament Square yesterday to show their support for Glenfield Hospital children's heart unit.
More than 150 people held banners, placards and posters as they stood in silence with politicians including Leicestershire MPs Liz Kendall and Keith Vaz, both Labour, and Conservative Nicky Morgan.
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Liz Kendall and young supporters of the Glenfield children’s heart service hold a silent vigil outside Parliament
They also popped 50 red balloons to signify the prediction by Swedish Ecmo expert Dr Kenneth Palmer that the transfer of the specialist unit could cost the lives of 50 children.
Organiser Robyn Lotto, 40, of Stoneygate, Leicester, said: "We want to remind Jeremy Hunt that he is the last line of decision making and it's down to him to keep this vital service open."
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Ms Kendall, Leicester West MP, said: "It was an honour to join the demonstration.
"The turn-out was fantastic, and I'm very grateful to everyone who came to Westminster to help raise awareness of the potentially grave consequences of moving children's heart and Ecmo services from Leicester to Birmingham."
Mr Hunt has referred the decision to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.
The panel has been asked to provide an initial review by Friday.
Loughborough MP Mrs Morgan said: "I have discussed this with both the new Secretary of State for Health and the new health minister, Anna Soubry, in the past week.
"I continue to make the argument this move should not happen."
If the Glenfield centre closes, children born with heart defects would have to travel to Birmingham for surgery.
The hospital's specialist Ecmo machine, which does the work of a patient's heart and lungs when they are seriously ill, is also due to move.
Leicester East MP Mr Vaz said: "The decision to move children's heart surgery from Glenfield, especially the pioneering Ecmo service, will impact heavily on children's care services in Leicester."
Charnwood MP Stephen Dorrell said: "The protest draws the attention of NHS management to the need to be clear about the factual basis of the important decisions it takes – and then explain them to the community.
"Most understand and accept the need for change. All they ask is that change is based on evidence and is explained to those most closely affected."
Leslie Hamilton, deputy chairman of the Safe and Sustainable steering group, which recommended Glenfield should close, said: "I recognise people have shown huge loyalty to the hospital.
"However, pooling surgical expertise means the clinical community can work together, develop new techniques and deliver improved care to keep more children with complex heart conditions alive.
"The decision will improve clinical outcomes and save more children's lives."
Comments
by Bob491
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:36AM
“Quote: "Why all thge reds against Bob491 comments?"
The Cons have always been able to manipulate the system dishonestly for their own selfish ends!
Mind you I have become quite proud of my red arrows - it shows I am upsetting the selfish and greedy. They especially do not like me mentioning wealthy tax avoiders who cost the country £billions in tax revenues.”
by LikeItaLot
Friday, September 21 2012, 5:39PM
“Why all thge reds against Bob491 comments? What he says is true, the south will benefit far more”
by SBfrustrated
Friday, September 21 2012, 4:21PM
“A child has died in Bristol after heart surgery, and a large contributary cause was "a shortage of trained staff." If the ECMO unit moves to Birmingham, there will be a shortage of trained staff. Birmingham admit they have no expertise in ECMO. Even if some staff do move, the 80 trained staff in Leicester won't all go. Babies and children will die as a result of lack of expert ECMO care. We can't allow this to happen.
Thank you to those who care enough to take the time to fight for what is right for others. Thank you to those who took the protest to Parliament.
Sign that petition. Your vote can count.”
by coeur
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 7:22PM
“Hi. Dr Palmer, plus all the other ECMO experts who are members of the ELSO community around the world, have predicted deaths. This is their speciality. Basically a review has been done into surgery, but no review has been done into providing ECMO. Perhaps you would like to read the Caesar trial then come back with an educated response. Your response is a bit like saying, don't bother to argue as after all, we may not even be having children in 5 years time.”
by chandramouli
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 6:07PM
“It should read Plamers report”
by chandramouli
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 6:05PM
“Does Dr Hamilton have any conflict of interest in terms of any expenses met etc.I find it astounding that this expert can make such a future prediction when we do not even know if ECMO would be the way we treat these patients in five years time.!50 people in spite of Keith Vaz? more pople came to see him when he accompanied the bollywoood actrtress.I would say lost cause move on!”
by coeur
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 10:04AM
“You are right Bob491, the geographical distribution of the units leaves nothing down the east coast of England, and a single unit in the Midlands to deal with a population size greater than London. What I would still like to know is how many lives does Mr Hamilton think this is going to save? What evidence is there to support his claim? The evidence for loss of life in relation to the moving of ECMO is strong. Mr Palmer from Sweden put it at 50 in the next 5 years. If Mr Hamilton can prove that more than 50 lives will be saved (which he has been unable to do) then this discussion could be justified. However at this point this evidence does not exist. I thought that medicine was an evidence based profession, not a best guess which suits some people profession.”
by Bob491
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 12:54AM
“Quote: "The decision will improve clinical outcomes and save more children's lives."
At least it will in the wealthy Con voting areas in the south of England.
The proposal is for four centres south of Watford, whilst the Midlands, East Anglia, Wales, the North, Scotland and Northern Ireland are allowed just four between them.
There's fairness for you!”