An appeal to review the downgrade of an Oxfordshire hospital’s maternity services has failed.
The unit at Horton General Hospital in Banbury had changed from an obstetric to a midwife-led unit in 2017.
Campaign group Keep The Horton General had tried to get the decision overturned by the Department of Health, but its attempt has failed as it was ruled that the downgrade would not be revisited.
The closure of the obstetric unit means women who need an obstetrician during labour have to travel to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.
The Horton Health Overview Scrutiny Committee discussed the decision at a meeting on Friday in Oxford and heard more about a future vision for the hospital.
North Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis said: “It is disappointing news that the decision to remove consultant-led maternity services at the Horton General Hospital will not be referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.
“Over the past few years the campaign to keep a fully-functioning maternity unit has been hard fought by the whole community. Now is not the time to give up. The Horton has been serving people in our area for almost 150 years. The past fifteen years have not been easy for the hospital as its services have faced possible downgrade and closure.”
She said though that the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust masterplan for the hospital would start a ‘more positive chapter’.
The plan includes using more digital technology to improve care for patients, becoming an integrated care hub, becoming a ‘world class’ centre of research and innovation and focus on reducing local health inequalities.
Expansion work costing £750,000 started in October to the Horton’s A&E department and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Ms Prentis added: “The “Fit for the Future” vision builds on positive changes made during the pandemic response. For example it reflects the shift to digital delivery of outpatient care and provides more flexible clinical space It is a realistic and deliverable project that demonstrates a genuine commitment to the future of our local and much-loved hospital.”
Article originally appeared on Oxford Mail.
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