A flood of complaints about the under-fire Oxford Heart Centre are expected after the unit was criticised in an official report, writes Victoria Owen.

Since 1996, 21 patients have complained about the centre, but Oxfordshire Community Health Council predicts this number will rise significantly.

Members the NHS watchdog met last night to discuss the External Cardiac Review, which said the John Radcliffe-based department was "on its knees".

Although the NHS Executive report criticised a lack of communication, poor management and bad clinical practice for the demise of the centre, it concluded that it had little impact on patient care. But the council has already been told of eight people who have complained about poor treatment since 1996 seven of whom are relatives of patients who have died since receiving care at the heart unit.

Toddler Safeena Begum died in August last year amid suggestions that the theatre lights may have been too hot, leading to blood clotting problems.

Pensioner Irene Godfrey died last October. She underwent four operations when junior doctors left a swab inside her.

CHC chief officer Linda Watson said other cases included allegations that a patient was given the wrong operation and cases where complications had arisen during treatment.

Six of the complainants are taking legal action against the trust, one has been given an out-of-court financial settlement and another is considering a similar cash settlement.

Thirteen more criticisms have been made about managerial problems, such as the way patients were treated by staff, or cancelled operations.

Last night the CHC questioned Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust chief executive David Highton and asked him whether another investigation would be made into the complaints.

He said it would be helpful for staff if he was to announce yet another internal review into the centre.

Mr Highton invited the CHC to join a new implementation board, which will monitor the heart centre.