A SENIOR heart nurse has spoken of the frustration of staff and patients at the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of a North-East surgical unit.

Cardiac nurse specialist Paddy Walsh was commenting on the Freeman Hospital child heart surgery unit in Newcastle, which is awaiting the results of a second major review of services.

"It is frustrating for staff and for the patients that decisions are being put back," said Miss Walsh.

In July, a review came to the conclusion that the Freeman Hospital and Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool should remain as the only two centres in the North of England to provide child heart surgery.

But opposition from patients in other parts of the country led to a second review of services by the Independent Reconfiguraton Panel (IRP), which advises the NHS.

That on-going review - as well as a legal challenge from supporters of Leeds General Infirmary due to be heard in February next year - is fuelling uncertainty at the Freeman Hospital, where staff had thought the battle had been won.

Now anxious staff and families are waiting for March 28 next year when the IRP will make its recommendations to Heath Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Miss Walsh was speaking after it was announced that England and Newcastle United football legend Alan Shearer has agreed to become patron of the Childrens Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), which supports the work of the Freemans surgical team.

Miss Walsh said the continuing uncertainty had delayed plans to build new accommodation but the hospital is now going ahead.

CHUF is trying to raise more than 2m to provide new family accommodation and equip two additional paediatric intensive care beds.

"We remain fairly optimistic", said Miss Walsh, who is a trustee of CHUF.