Since the downgrade of the Horton's maternity service to a midwife-led unit in October 2016, Victoria has, with the support of Council colleagues, local residents and the Keep the Horton General group, been campaigning tirelessly for the reinstatement of obstetric-led maternity in Banbury.
As well as her ongoing #Banbury2JR campaign, Victoria has (amongst other things) submitted a 10 minute rule motion to Parliament which called for the consultation of residents on changes to local healthcare services in all circumstances (including those deemed emergencies by healthcare Trusts), garnered the support of neighbouring MPs, Robert Courts (Witney), Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford upon Avon) and the Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) and publicly called for the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups' current consultation on healthcare services in Oxfordshire to be halted amidst public concerns that the consultation is confusing and does not provide enough evidence for residents to engage with the process.
Today, she asked the Prime Minister: “Canvassing in Copeland recently, people there wanted to talk about the future of their local maternity unit; it was just like being at home in Banbury. Rather than politicise the NHS, would the Prime Minster agree to a review of maternity services, encouraging care that is not just safe but kind and close to home.”
PM agreed that the review seemed sensible and said the Health Minister was looking into the matter.