A KEY decision on the future of children’s heart surgery in the region edged closer last night, with health chiefs being warned to carry out a cold assessment of the facts.

There has been concern that a consultation – which ended yesterday – could be overshadowed by political lobbying.

The Safe and Sustainable consultation had asked for views on proposals which involve having fewer, larger centres of expertise and creating congenital heart networks to provide care closer to home.

This would see the number of UK heart units cut from 11 to six, or possibly seven.

Four options are being considered, one of which would see such surgery taken away from the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, with the Leeds General Infirmary being the next closest centre.

Last night, Jake Turnbull, a regional spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing, warned that any decision should be based on a clinical argument and not a political argument.

He said: “This process should not really be pitting one community against another.

It has become a highpressure debate and what is needed is a cold assessment of the facts.

“We want to see a decision based on high-quality clinical care being developed and maintained.”

Figures show that 1,430 people in the North-East responded to the consultation, both by writing and going online.

Nearly double that number of responses were received in Yorkshire and Humberside – 2,833.

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts – which will make the final decision – will also consider results from testing families’ travel patterns and detailed capacity planning information from the relevant hospital trusts.

A decision is expected by the end of the year.

A number of MPs in the North-East and Yorkshire have signed separate Early Day Motions in Parliament supporting the units in Leeds and Newcastle.

Teresa Moss, director of the National Specialised Commissioning Team, said: “No decisions will be made until all the evidence submitted during consultation has been thoroughly reviewed and analysed.

“Above all, the NHS wants to ensure it makes the right decision for children with congenital heart disease in the future.”

Earlier this year, the Tyneside unit carried out its 200th children’s heart transplant and has built up a worldrenowned reputation.