Melton mum urges more people to sign new petition to save children's heart unit

Parents Craig and Dani Woodward with daughter Poppy EMN-160727-124429001

Meltonians to sign a new petition in the fight to save it from closure.

The petition, which is calling for a public review into NHS England’s decision to close the unit, has already been signed by more than 10,000 people but if 100,000 people sign up the petition will be debated in Parliament.

NHS England has said it had been assessed that the Glenfield service doesn’t meet all of the requirements under agreed new commissioning standards for congenital heart disease services, which came into effect from April, and that it was unlikely to be able to meet the new standards.

This photo of Poppy was taken as she first started walking after her second lot of heart surgery at the Glenfield at the age of 18 months old EMN-160727-124245001

Thousands of people from across Leicestershire and beyond have already signed petitions calling for the centre to be saved.

Melton couple Dani and Craig Woodward are urging people across the Melton borough and beyond to sign the new petition.

Their four-year-old daughter, Poppy, was born with a rare heart condition and a hole in her heart. Poppy has had two surgeries at the Glenfield unit and could need further surgery at any time. She will need to have ongoing surgery throughout her life.

Her mum, Dani (28), of Freeby Close, said: “There are so many reasons why the service has to continue. As Poppy was born there the consultant who scanned me when I was pregnant is still her consultant. There’s consistency there. The staff know you and you know them.

“The care they provide goes completely above and beyond. When Poppy has surgeries you’re able to live at the hospital which is a massive thing. There aren’t many hospitals that do that. It doesn’t feel like a hospital, it’s like a home from home.”

She added: “If the centre closed we would have to travel all the way to Birmingham, London or up north. That would mean more stress and additional cost. There may not be any accommodation provided at these hospitals so we’d have to pay for a hotel.

“In difficult times visits from your family and friends can get you through. If we had to travel up north they wouldn’t be able to see Poppy as much as they’d want to.

“I’m asking everyone to sign this new petition. Even if they don’t understand what the children’s heart unit does, at some point they or someone they know may need it. Having it so close helps so many families like us. “We can’t lose it.”

To sign the petition visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/160455