IT IS rare to see such an immense show of support for a campaign. But almost a quarter of a million people have signed a petition sparked by our sister newspaper the Southern Daily Echo.

The aim? To keep paedeatric heart surgery at the city’s hospital.

So what? We hear you cry.

Well, if Southampton loses out in the Government shake-up of children’s heart services, then so does Oxford.

Surgery here has been suspended following the deaths of four babies and pending the outcome of a Government review into paediatric heart surgery across the country.

The Safe and Sustainable consultation is part of an NHS review into children’s heart services and has recommended fewer, larger centres.

The JR was deemed the least likely to meet the criteria to become a ‘supercentre’.

But it was suggested all care apart from surgery would stay if a collaboration between Oxford and Southampton University Hospitals was backed by health chiefs.

The campaign may have fallen on deaf ears in Oxfordshire.

However, yesterday’s visit to Downing Street will without question have shown the strength of feeling.