MPs' concern over children's heart facilities

A number of MPs have raised the implications for their constituencies of a recent review of children's heart surgery facilities as MPs began their pre-recess adjournment debate on 17 July 2012.

The decision to end children's heart surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London would have "devastating consequences", the Labour MP for Hammersmith, Andy Slaughter, said.

Other specialist services at the hospital could also disappear, he warned.

Labour MP for Leicester South Jon Ashworth condemned plans to stop children's heart surgery in his local hospital.

The review concluded that the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital ought be one of 10 to close nationally.

In pre-recess debates, MPs can raise any matter they like, but the subjects are grouped into loose subject headings by the backbench business committee.