At a meeting of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee yesterday, members voted to refer the Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust's (OUHFT) decision to suspend obstetric services at the Horton General Hospital to the Secretary of State for Health.
Since 3 October 2016, expectant mothers in North Oxfordshire deemed ‘high-risk’ have had to travel to the John Radcliffe in Oxford to give birth after the Trust failed to take adequate measures to recruit the middle-grade doctors needed to provide safe consultant-level cover at the Horton.
Today’s motion was put forward by Deddington County Councillor Arash Fatemian.
The vote was passed unanimously.
Explaining his reasons behind the motion Councillor Fatemian said: “I was disappointed that at their September meeting HOSC did not refer the Trust’s decision on Horton maternity to the Health Secretary. I appreciate that this was done on the understanding that the action plan put in place by the Trust would result in maternity services at the Horton being reinstated as consultant-led by the beginning of March, but it is clear now that this will be not be the case.
The people of North Oxfordshire deserve high-quality, safe, local acute healthcare, especially our mothers and babies. I urge the Secretary of State to refer the Trust’s decision to the Independent Review Panel whose findings helped to prevent downgrades at the Horton back in 2008.”
Thanking HOSC members for their support, Cllr Fatemian added: “Banbury Conservatives have been working tirelessly with the all-Party group, Victoria Prentis MP and Keep the Horton General to campaign for vital acute services to remain at the Horton. I am delighted with the result and thank my colleagues from across the political spectrum for yesterday's decision.”
Victoria Prentis MP, Member of Parliament for Banbury, said she was “confident” the Secretary of State will take the Horton’s case seriously. Speaking after the vote she said:
“I am absolutely delighted that the Health & Overview Scrutiny Committee has referred the ongoing suspension of obstetric services at the Horton to the Secretary of State. Ever since the Trust Board's decision in August last year, I have been trying my best to get HOSC to refer the decision. At their meetings in September and November, they indicated that they did not feel it necessary to do so, given the Trust's assurances that the service would resume in March. As that has become increasingly unlikely, it was essential that HOSC referred this decision. Today is a major breakthrough for all of us who have been campaigning hard against the downgrade.”
At the meeting, Councillor Fatemian was supported by Councillor Kieron Mallon, leader of Banbury Town Council and Oxfordshire County Councillor for Bloxham and Easington division, and Eddie Reeves, Conservative candidate for Calthorpe division in the upcoming County Council elections. Both also addressed the committee.
Cllr Mallon, a longstanding Horton Hospital campaigner, welcomed the vote calling the decision a “major step in the right direction”.
He continued: “What happens at the Horton affects all Banbury residents - and those from across the border in Warwickshire and South Northamptonshire - who rely on Horton services. Today’s decision is very positive news after months of uncertainty following back-door decision-making by OUHFT and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group".
The HOSC vote comes after months of increasing concern across Oxfordshire that the JR is unable to cope with the pressures of increased demand from the north of the County.
Making representations at the meeting, Conservative candidate and Calthorpe resident Eddie Reeves stressed the need for Banbury to have a “thriving, fully functioning General Hospital” and called for HOSC, the Trust and CCG to “avoid dangerous overreliance on an already overstretched John Radcliffe”.
While the Secretary of State is unable to intervene wholly, he can refer the decision to the Independent Review Panel who, in 2008, concluded that transferring obstetric maternity and paediatric provision (including special care and emergency gynaecology services) from the Horton did not provide an accessible or improved service to the people of north Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire University NHS Foundation Trust has acknowledged the decision.
