Campaigners hoping to save the children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital have hit out at plans for a consultation meeting in a room with capacity for 120 people.
Since the announcement by NHS England that the unit should shut there has been a huge campaign, with patients and former patients among the thousands calling for it to remain.
A petition against the closure had about 130,000 signatures.
However, when NHS England holds its next consultation meeting in the city – at the Tigers Stadium on March 9 – there will only be space for 96 members of the public.
Those hoping to attend the meeting will also have to register online, with only one ticket available per e-mail address.
Health campaigner Eric Charlesworth, a member of the Leicester Mercury Patients’ Panel and a former non-executive director of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said he was shocked to hear what NHS England was proposing.
He said: “At the last stakeholders’ meeting we had 800 people attending and so when NHS England informed us it had booked a room at the Tigers Stadium I assumed it had booked the one that has the capacity for 1,000 people. 
“But it turns out, it has booked the room that only has space for 120. Only 96 members of the public will be able to attend.
“This is disgusting and lots of comments have been made about it.
“This is taking the mickey and it has been seen a grave insult.
“NHS England, it seems, will choose who gets to go. There’s a lot of concern about the way it’s happening.”
Steve Score, spokesman for the Save Glenfield Children’s Heart Centre campaign, said: “On February 11, 2,000 people marched in Leicester to oppose the ending of congenital heart surgery here, and more than 130,000 people signed the petition that was presented at No. 10 Downing Street, yet a totally inadequate 96 seats are available to the public at this meeting.
“It excludes most of the public and makes the idea of a public consultation a farce.”
An NHS England spokesman said: “We’re consulting on how to organise services to deliver excellent care to every adult and child with congenital heart disease in this country.
“Every voice is important, but it can be difficult for questions and answers to be properly heard at larger events so instead we are holding a number of smaller events and webinars.
“In addition, this planned event in Leicester will be available to watch live online and there is also an opportunity to submit questions beforehand.”
Article originally published by Leicester Mercury
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