A review of children's heart surgery will recommend that over a third of units in England should stop operating. The report says patient safety and care would be improved if resources were merged.
Sources say that at least four out of 11 units could stop performing surgery.
The Safe and Sustainable review was launched after the Bristol baby heart scandal of the 1990s when children undergoing surgery died unnecessarily.
A consultation document will be published later today, which sources say will place doubt on the future of surgery at units in London, Leeds and Leicester.
Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital has already stopped its operations following several deaths last year.
