THE Government has dramatically ordered a review of UK specialist heart units – just three months after the Southampton centre was told it was safe.

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has announced it will be a “very thorough review” but campaigners fear further delays will put children’s lives at risk.

Over 250,000 people signed the Daily Echo’s Have A Heart petition which was taken to Downing Street in a bid to save the city’s specialist unit.

And in July it was announced Southampton would be one of seven national specialist centres that would continue performing heart surgery on children.

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