Hospital campaigner condemns name for new children's unit

Carol Maddocks has played a key role in pressuring health chiefs to improve hospital care for youngsters in Leeds.

But plans to build a dedicated children's hospital were scuppered by soaring costs and instead NHS bosses approved a 35m scheme to centralise services at Leeds General Infirmary.

Now health chiefs have unveiled plans to name it Leeds Children's Hospital, claiming it befits the city's status as the second largest provider of children's hospital services in England behind Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

But Mrs Maddocks said she was "livid" about the name.

She said she and other campaigners had not been consulted and the new unit, opening in May, remained an interim measure until full stand-alone services could be built.

"It's not a children's hospital. It is only a name but it's what that name gives out to the public," she said. She said a major charity appeal was planned to support the new services.

"I fully support the fundraising but not under that name. If that's what they are going to run under, I don't want to get involved," she said.

A Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said the choice of name was agreed by paediatric consultants and senior nurses.

"Giving these services a name which reflects the work which goes on there is important in giving them an identity to parents and children, as well as making sure children in Leeds and Yorkshire benefit from maximising the very significant fund-raising opportunities which the Leeds Children's Hospital name brings," he said.

"Feedback so far has been positive and no one has come to the trust with any negative issues," he added.