Heart unit told not to restart baby ops for now

A HOSPITAL where four babies died under the care of one surgeon must not resume heart surgery until it improves, a report has ruled.

The paediatric heart surgery unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford should remain closed until the right mix of doctors is in place or until it links up with another unit.

All four babies died within a few months of surgeon Caner Salih starting work at the hospital.

After the fourth death under his care, in February, he raised the alarm and decided to stop operating, having already complained about the age of equipment and poor working practices at the unit.

The investigation, by the South Central strategic health authority, said Mr Salih was not to blame for the deaths.

It pointed to issues within the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, including a lack of preparation for his arrival and no senior cover to help him.

SHA chairman, Dr Geoffrey Harris, apologised yesterday to the families of those babies who died. "The standards of care were not what was expected," he said.