Hospital protesters lobby Parliament

8:00am Friday 19th January 2007

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save hospital services in Banbury took their battle to the capital.

About 30 opponents of proposals to downgrade the Horton Hospital joined dozens of other protesters from across the country for a lobby of Parliament.

The Horton is facing a threat to maternity services, including the closure of its special care baby unit.

Emergency surgery could also be reduced, under plans expected to be announced by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust later this year.

The Banbury protesters, many sporting T-shirts and baseball caps bearing the slogan Hands Off The Horton, won the backing of Conservative Party leader and Witney MP David Cameron.

He said: "As a father of three children under five, I know the maternity unit is an important part of a hospital and people want it to be led by a consultant."

Fifty-eight GPs have signed a letter condemning downgrading as unsafe and 46,000 people have signed a protest petition.

Kate Spencer, 32, from Chacombe, who spent just three minutes getting to the Horton to give birth to her daughter, Emma, three years ago, warned: "First-time mothers would have to travel over an hour through busy traffic to get to Oxford - it's not on."

Health minister Andy Burnham yesterdayclaimed community hospitals had "a bright future" under Labour.

Charlotte Bird, 51, from Sibford Gower, said: "This is our third visit to Westminster and our campaign is gathering steam. We have no reason not to be confident."

George Parish, 65, from Banbury, chairman of Keep the Horton General, said patients would not accept any reduction in services at the Horton.

Banbury MP Tony Baldry said: "We are determined to keep the Horton a general hospital with all the services one expects from a general hospital.

"Communities up and down the country are not willing to see their NHS hospitals being downgraded."