Just what do the LibDems stand for? That’s a question the last four and a half years have raised over and over again. And it was raised again this week – when they trooped through the lobbies to defeat the Lords’ amendments to Chris Grayling’s changes to Judicial Review. Sadiq Khan called on the LibDems … Continue reading Just what do the LibDems stand for? Coalition defeats Lords’ amendments on Judicial Review – with LibDem backing
Leeds Council’s statement on the Verita report into Leeds Children’s Heart Unit.
We've reported before on Leeds Children's Heart Unit, and especially on the need for transparency which the long-drawn out process surrounding the unit has thrown up. Councillor John Illingworth, who lives here in Leeds NW, worked tirelessly to try to achieve this. The release of the Verita report this week has highlighted that need - as well as … Continue reading Leeds Council’s statement on the Verita report into Leeds Children’s Heart Unit.
Leeds Children’s Heart Unit – Freedom of Information victory for Councillor John Illingworth
This week the long-running saga of the Leeds Children’s Heart Unit took a new turn. Labour’s Councillor John Illingworth has won an important Freedom of Information victory. In 2012 a review of the LCHU – known as a ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review – recommended closure. There were serious questions about the Safe and Sustainable Review … Continue reading Leeds Children’s Heart Unit – Freedom of Information victory for Councillor John Illingworth
Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery: the need for Information and transparency, by Councillor John Illingworth
I spent three hours on the afternoon of 23 April with the Information Rights Tribunal in the Leeds Magistrates Court, challenging secretive decision-making by senior NHS officials. This is the latest round in a dispute which started 15 months ago, when people involved in the campaign around the Leeds Children’s Heart Unit discovered an alarming … Continue reading Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery: the need for Information and transparency, by Councillor John Illingworth
Jarman: Leeds worst CHU in England! (Except for some others)
Read this to see how determined some people are to close Leeds Children’s Heart Unit – in spite of the evidence.
I don’t think there could be a much clearer example of the concerted, deliberate and wantonly inaccurate media campaign to undermine the NHS and achieve ulterior motives than today’s BBC News headline about the Leeds Children’s Heart Unit (CHU). It’s also perfectly in line with the track record of media and certain health interests in sullying the reputation of Leeds’ crucial and much-loved unit – a continued demonstration of the determination in certain quarters to see Leeds close even if there is no justification for it. There are too many articles on various facets of that story to link them all here, but if you want to see more a search of the blog for ‘Leeds’ will yield plenty of reading material.
The BBC long ago abandoned any pretence of impartiality on the NHS, instead contributing with gusto to the disinformation on issues like the A&E crisis, or even…
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The LGI heart smear campaign continues?
I wrote a week ago about the apparent ‘dirty fight‘ that is being conducted to achieve the closure of the children’s heart surgery unit at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), highlighting some of the very suspicious aspects of the way surgery at the unit was suspended the day after pro-LGI campaigners won a key legal decision against the decision to close it.
A couple of days ago, I disclosed that the draft ‘Rapid Response Team’ report (which may or may not be released next week) looks set to call LGI’s unit ‘fully exonerated’ and ‘world class’ – in complete contrast to the leaked smears suggesting that its death rate was double the national average.
It appears that those who want to see LGI closed are determined to see through their plan and not to let the media battle get away from them in terms of how it sways public…
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#LGI heart unit to be judged ‘fully exonerated’, ‘world class’
A very well-connected source, who has seen the draft report from the ‘Rapid Response’ team that inspected the children’s heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary in response to a supposed ‘constellation’ of concerns about the standard of its care, tells me that the team’s report may be published for public use next week, and that the hospital and its supporters are pushing for exactly that.
The final version of the report is currently being compiled. However, I can reveal in advance that the findings of the report include:
- that the unit will be “fully exonerated” of all concerns and accusations
- that the unit is “world class” in many respects
- praise for the dedication and commitment of its staff
Since the unit still faces potential closure, it’s absolutely critical that this information is publicised in a rapid and widespread manner, in order to counteract the pernicious and slanted media and political coverage…
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A fresh look at the statistics surrounding LGI children’s heart unit – is someone playing dirty?
If you've been following the saga of the LGI children's heart unit, you won't have missed the claims about death rates there - 'double the national average' according to most media. You may thus be interested in the more sober analysis of real data provided here. There has been a shocking misrepresentation of unreliable information. … Continue reading A fresh look at the statistics surrounding LGI children’s heart unit – is someone playing dirty?
Leeds North West Constituency 