Banbury Conservatives have welcomed a major shift in plans for the Horton General Hospital.
Published yesterday, the Oxfordshire Transformation update (Paper 18/18) recommends that essential A&E and paediatric services remain at the Horton. In addition, the paper sets out a new approach to the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s controversial consultation exercise which will focus on early engagement and importantly, engagement across the Horton catchment. Banbury Conservatives are now urging the CCG Board to agree to these changes at its meeting next week, in order to secure the future of the Horton and ensure the abandonment of the unsatisfactory Phase Two consultation.
The Board Paper also makes clear the CCG’s commitment to undertaking further work on the possible options for the Horton’s maternity service, including continuing recruitment efforts, meaning there is still hope a full service can be reinstated in Banbury.
“For too long the future of acute services at the Horton has been unclear. Now we have some of the answers we have been campaigning for. We are delighted that the CCG has confirmed their intention to ensure A&E and paediatrics will remain at the Horton. Locally, we have been staunchly united against the CCG’s plans for our hospital. The Oxfordshire Transformation Update is a huge boost for everyone who has been involved in the campaign. We do have to go back to the drawing board with maternity, but a restart of the process will afford us all, particularly those mothers affected by service changes, the opportunity to have our voices genuinely heard.” – Banbury Conservatives
Victoria Prentis, Member of Parliament for North Oxfordshire, added: “I am thrilled by these recommendations. I urge the Board to agree to this new approach next week and will look forward to working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Group, particularly the Chief Executive Lou Patten. She may have only been in post since January, but she is already making a positive impact on our local health service with her visionary approach.”