Yorkshire Children's Hospital future secured

After 6 years of campaigning, children and staff at the Children's heart surgery unit in Leeds have won their battle to save it from closure.

A meeting by the NHS has ruled it's now meeting tough new standards and will remain open.

The news has been welcomed by the charity - Children's Heart Surgery Fund, their CEO Sharon Coyle spoke to us:

"I'm elated - I mean, 6 years on - that's how long it's been going on for would you believe?

"It's wonderful news, I'm quite emotional really today and I feel like we can look forward, and that's the most important thing;

"This review has brought new standards, which means lots of equipment for the unit and the new Heart Centre."

The unit, the second largest in the country, treats seriously ill children from across Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

At least 10,000 babies and children from Yorkshire, Humber and North Lincolnshire passing through it every year, with around 400 of these patients having open heart surgery, and a further 450 children undergoing interventional procedures such as pacemakers and catheters.