A CHARITY is holding a series of meetings to debate the future of children's heart surgery in Yorkshire.

The Children's Heart Surgery Fund is inviting supporters of the Leeds General Infimary children’s heart unit to make their voices heard at the event on Sunday, November 30, from 11am to 1pm, at the Marriott Hotel, York.

The meeting comes after the future of the region’s children’s heart units - at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, and the Leeds hospital - was plunged into fresh doubt in September after it plans emerged for them to meet tougher standards or close.

The units would need to have at least four heart surgeons, and each would have to perform at least 125 operations a year to ensure they develop expertise in complex procedures.

Those attending the meeting will be asked their opinions on an NHS review which was set up after a report suspending operations at Leeds General Infirmary's heart unit was found to be flawed.

Sharon Cheng, the charity's chief executive, said: "We encourage as many people as possible from across the region to attend these events and feedback their views.

"It's vital that those who have supported our service and fought hard to keep it open understand what NHS England is proposing, how these new standards will affect them and what they could mean for services in the future."

Operations at the Leeds hospital's unit were stopped for 13 days last year over concerns about mortality rates.

The suspension came a day after a decision to stop children's heart surgery at the hospital was quashed in the High Court.