Battlelines could be redrawn this week in the fight to save services at Banbury's Horton Hospital.

Recommendations that could shape the future of the hospital will be made public on Thursday March but leaked information indicates the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which has been considering proposals to downgrade maternity and children's departments, will not reach a solid conclusion.

That could mean campaigners, who have been fighting to retain services at the hospital, will have to continue their battle.

The IRP is set to announce the result of its deliberations on plans by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust to cut back on maternity and paediatric facilities at the Horton, including the closure of the special care baby unit.

The panel was asked by health minister Alan Johnson to investigate the situation after the trust's proposals were rejected last year as 'not in the best interests of patients' by an Oxfordshire health scrutiny committee.

Mr Johnson will make the final decision on the Horton's future, based on what the IRP recommends.

The Save the Horton action group, backed by Banbury MP Tony Baldry, family doctors, nurses, midwives, and local residents, fought against the proposals.

Thousands of people turned out to support the action group at rallies, street processions, and public meetings.

Campaigners regarded the referral to the IRP as a victory, and were hopeful that the panel would find in their favour.

But informed sources say the IRP's decision will not be a victory for either side. Early indications are that the panel will side with the trust on some issues, and support the campaigners on others.

The result could be an unworkable mish-mash of ideas that would leave the trust and Horton supporters still at loggerheads.

Mr Baldry said on Saturday that the IRP's recommendations could be politically influenced.

He said: "The panel will not want to upset the present government, but neither will it want to offend David Cameron who could well be the next prime minister, bearing in mind that Mr Cameron twice came to Banbury to give his backing to the Save the Horton campaign.

"The words 'cock-up' come to mind."

Cllr George Parish, chairman of the Save the Horton group, said: "I have heard the rumours that the panel will not make clear-cut recommendations. We will have to see the full statement before deciding what the next step will be. We are holding our breath, but it could be that our campaigning is not over."