The borough's health watchdog has asked Health Secretary Alan Milburn to make the final decision on the transfer of children's heart and lung in-patient services from Harefield Hospital to central London.

As reported in the Hillingdon and Uxbridge Times, the Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority agreed last month to move the service in Hill End Road to its sister hospital the Royal Brompton in Chelsea despite the uncertainty over both hospital's futures and two unfinished investigations into child death rates at both. Charlie Roe, chief officer of the Hillingdon Community Health Council, said it had a statutory right to refer the decision to the Government if it disputed it ,, the first time he could remember it doing so in recent years.

In a letter to Mr Milburn Maggie Ditchburn, HCHC's chairman, said while it agreed on consolidation it was 'opposed' to this move until a decision on cardiac serivices is made and the child death rates inquiries are complete.

Plans to close both specialist heart and lung hospitals and transfer to a new centre in Paddington were announced in February after the consultation on children's services.

Mrs Ditchburn also raised worries that experienced nurses would not transfer because of transport difficulties and St Mary's in Paddington should have been given more consideration because of acces.