Leeds General Infirmary is back in news and this time it is for suspension of child heart surgery due to early publication of data that has garnered a lot of criticism from heart surgeons.

The figures however have been disputed by doctors at the hospital and they feel that when it comes to other centres, the death rates are comparable.

NHS chiefs has acted on data that was raw and for this they were attacked by the British Congenital Cardiac Association, which represents heart surgeons.

President Dr Tony Salmon said, "We are very concerned that some of this preliminary `raw' data, which has not been verified, has entered the public domain before the Central Cardiac Audit Database or any of the hospitals have had an opportunity to assess or ratify the information. Currently, the British Congenital Cardiac Association is not aware of any centres having a higher than expected mortality."

The suspension of child heart surgery was early and the BCCA due to this is fearing that this can lead to services across the North coming under pressure.

According to cardiologist Elspeth Brown, all operations were not included in the data and the work was something that the staff was entirely confident about.