The consultation period has now closed. Stay tuned for more information as and when we hear from NHS England.

NHS England's public consultation phase on plans to decommission congenital heart disease (CHD) services at Royal Brompton Hospital has now closed. If this plan goes ahead it would not just force CHD services to close, but could also result in the closure of other services, including the children's intensive care unit, the hospital's world-famous CHD research unit and a range of services including cystic fibrosis and difficult asthma. More than 14,000 patients would be affected.

NHS England say their plans would improve CHD care standards. But it makes no sense to try and improve standards by closing one of the country’s biggest, safest and most effective services, nor one of the most celebrated research units in the world.

We think these plans are flawed for the following reasons: NHS England cannot explain how their plans would in any way make things better for patients. They have refused to say how much their plans would cost the NHS and tax-payer, though we know it will be many millions of pounds. They have ignored the impact this will have on all the patients affected by the closure of the services other than CHD. They haven’t thought about how closing the world’s leading CHD research unit will impact on future treatments and care standards. They have ignored all the evidence showing that Royal Brompton has already achieved everything they say they want to achieve with their plans. They say their plans are backed by most doctors and patients, but we know this isn’t true.

How you can help The consultation period has now closed. If you filled in the form, thank you!  Write to your MP – again, if you have already done so – asking them to tell Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, to overrule the plans Donate to our fighting fund Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word. Use the hashtag #BromptonPatientsMatter Change your social media profile picture by adding a twibbon to show your support.

Royal Brompton provides some of the UK’s best heart and lung disease care. Don't let NHS England break a beating heart.