The expert leading the nationwide shake-up of children’s heart surgery has praised a link between hospitals in Oxford and Southampton.

Sir Neil McKay, chairman of the joint committee of primary care trusts, said a tie-up between the two cities had shown “great promise”.

A report has given hope to campaigners fighting to keep children’s heart services at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Mr McKay was in charge of the Safe and Sustainable review into the future of children’s heart surgery in the UK, with the Government hoping to create fewer, larger supercentres.

A series of options was tabled outlining how the hubs could be linked, with a network of hospitals providing important care services.

Heart surgery was stopped at the JR last year, but the hospital formed a partnership with Southampton where surgeons can still operate on children.

A consultation has now revealed many would like to stick with the tie-up, meaning key heart services would stay in Oxford.

Mr McKay said his report had revealed people wanted high quality care, closer to home than is currently the case.

He said: “There is a fantastic model of that emerging between Oxford and Southampton.

“It is not without its contention, but it is a practice that we think holds great promise.”

Around 750,000 people responded to the consultation and the report revealed many plumped for ‘Option B’.

If NHS chiefs agree, it would mean heart services would stay at the JR thanks to the relationship with Southampton University Hospitals Trust.

Campaigners fighting to save surgery in the city celebrated winning a small battle, but said the war for the unit was not over.

Jude Kelly, chair of Oxfordshire heart charity Young Hearts, and Caroline Langridge, who is helping it to spearhead the campaign said: “It is stressful enough to have a poorly child.

“The uncertainty of this review is adding immense stress to many families’ lives.

“We are optimistic this is the start of some positive news and will continue to fight.”

Last night Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust welcomed the report.

Medical director Professor Ted Baker said: “Oxford and Southampton have been working together for well over a year now to develop a joint collaboration which enables Oxford patients to have the majority of their care based in Oxford.

“We want to keep services for patients in Oxford to reduce travelling times for families and to maintain the relationships families have with the other services they use in Oxford. We believe that this lifelong care, with feto-maternal, other children’s services and adult cardiac services all located together is very important for patients and we have highlighted this in our formal response.

“The South of England Children’s Congenital Heart Network is in line with the kind of collaborative service Safe and Sustainable is aiming for, providing care as close to home as possible.

“The Trust, patients and the local community are hoping that it features as a surgical centre when the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts makes a final decision later this year so that we get the outcome we believe is best for local patients.”

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts will now consider the feedback and other relevant evidence and is expected to make a final decision by the end of the year.