Conservative leader David Cameron is urging independent experts to advise the Government to reject plans to downgrade services at Banbury's Horton Hospital.

Together with Tory MP for Banbury Tony Baldry, the Witney MP has written to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel which is investigating proposals to axe the hospital's obstetric and paediatric units and special care baby unit.

It will pass its conclusions to Health Secretary Alan Johnson in February, before he decides on the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust's plans.

Mr Cameron and Mr Baldry said the proposals were potentially unsafe.

They added: "This is broadly a difference of medical opinion between the overwhelming majority of family doctors, nurses, midwives and other medical staff at the Horton, who want to ensure there is a local patient-led NHS, and consultants and managers of the ORH based in Oxford, whose policy initiatives appear to be driven by a need for a training-led NHS.

"GPs continue to make it clear that they believe local mortality rates will rise and delays in treatment will result in deaths and disability."

In their submission, they told the IRP that most people in Oxfordshire wanted the Horton to remain a general hospital.