HOPES were mounting tonight that children’s heart surgery services could be saved in Oxford.

Rather than facing closure, in the aftermath of the suspension of services following the death of four children, it emerged the Radcliffe Hospitals Trust is pressing to be among the elite centres being created by the Government to perform complex children’s heart operations. There had been speculation the services in Oxford would remain closed whatever the outcome of the inquiry into baby deaths at the JR. The inquiry is expected to publish its conclusions in July.

Sir Jonathan Michael, the trust’s new chief executive, spelt out his belief that the specialist maternity, baby and heart facilities at the JR meant Oxford has a powerful case to put before the national review team, due to visit the hospital in the next few weeks.

He said: “Yes, we are one of the smallest providers. But services could be developed here. We have a large maternity service, where we specialise in looking after foetuses and babies likely to develop congenital heart disease.”