Yorkshire councils being asked to help with ‘fighting fund’ for children's cardiac services (From Wharfedale Observer)

Yorkshire councils being asked to help with ‘fighting fund’ for children's cardiac services

2:30pm Monday 15th October 2012 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

Local authorities are being urged to contribute to a ‘fighting fund’ to save the children’s heart unit in Leeds.

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Graham Latty, who is Leeds City Council’s shadow executive board member for health, called on counterparts around the area to follow the example set by LCC and give money to help fund a judicial review into the proposed closure.

Conservative Coun Latty pledge his own and his group’s support to the ongoing campaign against the closure of children’s cardiac services in Leeds.

Leeds City Council has donated £12,000 to the cause, and it is hoped other local authorities affected by the decision will follow suit.

Coun Latty stressed that keeping the children’s heart services in Leeds would bring huge benefits to youngsters and their families, not just in this area but throughout the North of England.

He said: “It is heartening to see our council donating £12,000 to this fighting fund, and I really hope other local authorities in the region will join us in offering some financial support for a judicial review that will hopefully lead to this unacceptable decision being reversed.

“In my view, the decision to locate these services in Newcastle is just plain wrong. Purely from a patient numbers point of view, the service would be much, much better off located in Leeds, where there is a much greater catchment area with far more families desperately needing and depending on these services.

“It is to be hoped that a judicial review will highlight this unexplainable judgment, and will result in children’s cardiac services being retained at the LGI, both now and in the future.”