AN on/off visit to the Horton Hospital, Banbury, has developed into a full-blown row between town MP Tony Baldry and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust.

Mr Baldry claims the trust blocked a visit he was trying to arrange for Shadow Health Minister Stephen O'Brien, but the trust says Mr Baldry wanted to go on the wrong day.

The dispute began last Wednesday when Mr Baldry tried to organise a tour of the Horton to enable Mr O'Brien to hear the concerns of staff and patients on proposed cutbacks to children's, maternity, and obstetric services, and the closure of the special care baby unit at the hospital.

Mr Baldry said the ORH Trust first agreed to meet him and Mr O'Brien at the Horton this Friday, but then pulled out of the meeting - and barred him and Mr O'Brien from the hospital site.

But the trust says claims of a snub are misleading, and that Mr Baldry had not been blocked from visiting the Horton.

In a written reply, the trust said it was happy to arrange a visit but could not do so on the day requested.

The argument has boiled over with both sides refuting the other's claims.

Mr Baldry said he was initially told that Trevor Campbell Davis, chief executive of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, which controls the Horton, would be available to host the visit - and that Mike Fleming, manager at the Horton, would also be present.

But two days after that assurance, Mr Baldry says he was informed that no-one from the trust would be available, and that he and Mr O'Brien would not be allowed on the Horton site.

Mr Baldry said he was surprised and disappointed by the trust's rejection, and wrote to Mr Campbell Davis expressing his anger.

But a statement from Mr Campbell Davis said: "Unfortunately, a misleading letter from Mr Baldry has been circulated to a wide range of people. The letter implies that the trust has blocked Mr Baldry from visiting the Horton.

"This is not the case, and we are keen to set the record straight. We have arranged for Mr Baldry to visit the hospital on several occasions, and were happy to do so again, but could not arrange the visit on the day requested by his office."

A spokesman for the ORH Trust, said: "Mr Baldry would be welcome at another time, and we do not want a row with Mr Baldry over this."

But Mr Baldry was not placated.

  • Instead of the proposed hospital tour, Mr Baldry is organising a public meeting at 4pm tomorrow in St. Mary's Church Centre, Horsefair, Banbury, and is inviting hospital staff and others to go there to make their comments. The trust is currently rethinking its proposals for the Horton.