THE PRIME Minister will be quizzed today on the future of children's heart surgery in Southampton.

Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton will ask David Cameron, during Prime Minister's Question in the House of Commons, to give reassurances to the parents and staff at Southampton General Hospital's heart unit who have been left anxiously waiting for a decision.

He will ask: “The children's heart unit at Southampton General Hospital is rated the best in the country outside London, yet the decision to suspend the Safe and Sustainable review process means more uncertainty for patients, their families and the unit's dedicated staff.

“What assurances can the prime minister give over the future of the unit and the time-scale of the review process?"

It comes exactly a week the future of the city's heart unit once again was put at risk after the health secretary suspended the review that saved it from the axe.

Jeremy Hunt said he had accepted the findings of the Independent Review Panel that he had instructed to investigate the decision to close four children's heart unit in the UK.

It found that the Safe and Sustainable review was based on “flawed analysis” and raised “serious criticisms” over the whole process which started five years ago to improve services for youngsters born with heart conditions.