KEEPING children’s heart surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital must be an option in forthcoming public consultation, a health watchdog chairman has urged the Government.

Dr Peter Skolar asked Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to step in after retaining surgery at Oxford was ruled out as an option in the four-month consultation over the future of heart services across the country.

A Government review in October recommended fewer, larger centres to ensure safe staffing levels and ranked Oxford bottom out of 11 UK heart centres.

But Mr Lansley said residents could still give their views, even if keeping surgery was not an option.

Dr Skolar, chairman of a committee of councillors, wrote to Mr Lansley: “In my view, this decision removes any chance of the John Radcliffe being able to present its case properly and effectively.

“Furthermore, the removal of any possibility of meaningful local consultation does not fit with the spirit of health scrutiny regulations or the exercise of local democratic accountability.

“It is difficult to see how it fits with the principle of shared decision making and ‘no decision about me without me’.”

The Conservative member of Oxfordshire County Council cited a letter from the Government which said “no decision will be made” on the centre’s future until a public consultation.

But the former GP then pointed to a letter from county managers which said the final options will not include keeping surgery.

He said: “It is very difficult to understand that sentiment.”

Dr Skolar, chairman of the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “If the John Radcliffe is not included in consultation, how could it be possible to come to any decision other than that the unit should close?”

He called for the option to be on the table “so that the people of Oxfordshire can have their say”.

Mr Lansley said: “Being excluded from the options would not preclude the (hospital trust board) – nor local scrutiny committees and local people – from submitting their views about the future of the service.”

He added: “I am confident that the consultation will be meaningful.”

The review and its recommendations are separate to the death of four babies last year.

The babies died under the care of surgeon Caner Salih.

An independent probe found he was not to blame but highlighted concerns including a lack of preparation for his arrival.