PARENTS of children treated at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital will rally against a decision to stop child heart surgery next month.

They are calling on parents to unite outside Oxford Town Hall on November 25 to show their support for the unit.

Last week it was revealed that the Government, which wants fewer, larger centres, ranked Oxford the worst performing of 11 UK heart centres.

Surgery was suspended in March after four child deaths and bosses say it is unlikely to reopen.

Heart surgeon Caner Salih raised the alarm after babies he operated on passed away. An investigation found he was not at fault.

Maria Crocker, from Berinsfield, said she was moved to organise the rally after the unit saved the life of her son David, eight.

She said: “I want to change the future for Oxford’s John Radcliffe but I can’t do it on my own.

“I need the whole of Oxfordshire behind me.”

A Government review said the hospital has shown ‘limited evidence of leadership’ and there were concerns over its ‘strategic vision for the service’.

The ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review said Oxford was not in the right location to be part of a UK-wide network and said there was ‘limited evidence’ the trust had tried to address staffing issues.

A campaign group has pledged to fight the move and is preparing a formal objection to the review’s recommendations.

Jude Kelly, chairman of Young Hearts, said the appointment of Sir Jonathan Michael as chief executive of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and new medical director Prof Ted Baker would address leadership concerns.

She said: “The leadership issues have now been addressed.

“This new leadership team have not been allowed any time to deliver their action plans as Safe and Sustainable appear to be determined to prevent the Oxford unit reopening.”

She said: “We and all the families that we represent are outraged, bewildered, dismayed and upset at such a decision.”

Leaders of the Government review said it was not connected to the suspension of surgery.

But Mrs Kelly said the two issue had ‘consistently become entangled’.

She said: “The four operations which sadly resulted in a child dying were performed by a surgeon no longer employed at the JR.”

  • If you want to join the protest rally on November 25, at a time to be arranged, email m.croker354@btinternet.com