THE mother of a baby girl who died after surgery at John Radcliffe Hospital has said she was shocked to find out three other infants had died in similar circumstances.

Nathalie Lo died aged just 23 days on December 22. Three other babies have died at the hospital since then following heart surgery performed by Caner Salih, who has resigned from his post at the JR to take up work elsewhere.

Grieving mum Aida Lo, 29, from Oxford, said Mr Salih, who operated on all four babies, had told her the surgery carried a five per cent risk, but that it was the best option.

During the four-hour operation, a cardiac shunt was inserted into the baby to improve bloodflow between her heart and lungs.

Just half an hour after the operation, Nathalie was rushed back to theatre for further heart surgery. The next day her condition became critical.

By the time her parents had been informed and rushed back to hospital, she had died.

Mrs Lo and husband Zelio Li, 30, have called for a full inquiry into her death.

The couple moved to Oxford from East Timor in 2004.

The JR refuses to be drawn on the cause of the four deaths until outside experts have investigated the circumstances, but bosses say all four infants were "very sick" before their operations.

The hospital says there is no suggestion of foul play or negligence, and the run of deaths could be a statistical anomaly.

However, all child heart operations have been suspended until an investigation by the Strategic Health Authority and the Care Quality Commission has been completed.