Protest gathers pace (From thisisoxfordshire)

Protest gathers pace

3:41pm Thursday 24th August 2006 in

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OBJECTIONS and protests are continuing to halt plans to cut health services in north Oxfordshire.

The Keep the Horton General campaign has called for a human chain to be formed around the Horton Hospital, Banbury, on Sunday, September 3.

The group is opposing Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Trust's proposal to downgrade services at the hospital, which would see the closure of the special care baby unit, and a reduction in children's and maternity care. Emergency operations, gynaecology services and some laboratory testing are all also under threat.

Cherwell District Council's executive, which met earlier this month, has submitted an interim written response to the formal consultation on the proposed changes.

In it, councillors have accused the trust of breaking past promises to maintain the Horton and said the move would be contrary to Government policy.

The council's executive also said the changes would put patients at a higher level of risk, forcing them to travel to Oxford for care, and barely meeting existing needs, let alone future demands. The report also said the proposals were "driven by the perception of medical specialists in Oxford as to what is best for the local community, rather than the expressed needs of the community in Banbury and the surrounding area.

"The council urges the trust to rethink its deeply unpopular proposals, which are not supported by the local community or local media professionals."

George Parish, chairman of the Save the Horton action group, said: "We must continue to tell the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust - who want to downgrade the Horton to little more than a cottage hospital - that their plans are not acceptable to the people of this town.

"We can only get this message across if people turn out in huge numbers to show how important our hospital is.

"I implore people, from Banbury, neighbouring villages, Brackley, south Warwickshire - anyone who might one day need a fully-serviced hospital close at hand - to show their opposition to the proposed cuts by joining the human chain around the Horton.

"I'm hoping we get enough people to go around more than once - the bigger the turn-out, the stronger the message."

Mr Parish is asking residents to arrive at Horton from 11am, so that the chain can be in position by midday.

For further information about the protest, visit www.keepthehorton general.org