Dinnington mum’s hope over heart unit

Cassie Symms’ son Zander was born with a hole in his heart and had life saving surgery at a unit at Leeds General Infirmary in June - just weeks before his first birthday.

The unit is under threat of closure in an NHS shake-up and hundreds of families have joined a campaign to keep it open.

If the unit is shut then children with serious heart problems would have to travel to Newcastle.

But this week Cassie and the other campaigners were given good news when a High Court judge ordered the consultation looking at closing centre across the country be quashed after London’s Royal Brompton Hospital claimed it was shot through with legal error.

Mr Justice Owen said the London unit had been unfairly rated - and ruled the consultation exercise was unlawful.

NHS bosses have said they will appeal, but if that is not successful the entire consultation will have to be repeated.

The ruling means a final decision over the Leeds unit which was due on 14th December, will now be delayed until the spring.

Cassie, of Clarence Street, said: “This is great news. It means a judge has agreed with what we are saying - that this isn’t fair.”

Cassie visits the unit every three months with Zander for pacemaker checks. The two-year-old will need replacements every few years as well as regular checks on his heart.

Recently Cassie and sister Vickie Poskitt threw themselves out of a plane in aid of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund

The vital charity enhances patient facilities and support, provides the latest medical equipment and funds world renowned research dedicated to babies, children and teenagers with heart defects.

Sharon Cheng, director of the Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, said: “This decision only hardens our resolve to safeguard the service.”