HEALTH Secretary Alan Johnson has rejected proposals to downgrade maternity and children's services at Banbury's Horton Hospital.

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) today backed campaigners in rejecting the plans by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust but said another review must now take place.

It said it was not in "the best interests of patients, families and carers" to make difficult journeys to Oxford that might delay medical treatment.

Mr Johnson then said he accepted the report.

He added: "Following careful consideration, I have decided to accept in full the panel's recommendations.

"This means that I would like the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust to work with the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust to undertake a review of maternity and paediatric services in north Oxfordshire, and together with stakeholders develop a plan for taking forward this work within a month.

"The IRP has undertaken a very thorough review and has considered a great deal of evidence, and their recommendations allow for fresh consideration of the needs of the local population in developing a way forward to deliver safe, effective and accessible maternity and paediatric services for the 21st century."

The Save the Horton action group, backed by Banbury MP Tony Baldry, family doctors, nurses, midwives and residents, fought vigorously after the Radcliffe trust put forward proposals to reconfigure paediatric, gynaecological and obstetric services, including the special care baby unit.

The IRP was asked to review the trust's proposals following local opposition to the changes, and a subsequent referral to the Health Secretary from the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Dr Peter Barrett, chairman of the IRP, said: "Our main focus is always the patient.

"We concluded that the local community's access to services would be seriously compromised if the trust's proposals were implemented.

"Panel members were particularly concerned about the difficult and costly journeys that local people would need to make to Oxford and felt that this might even prevent or delay some people from seeking medical advice or treatment.

"The trust's proposals are not in the best interests of patients, families and carers."

The IRP said it has advised Health Secretary Alan Johnson to reject the trust's proposals, "because they fail to provide an accessible or improved service for local people".

The IRP has recommended that the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), working with the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, carry out further work to set out the arrangements and investment necessary to retain and develop services.

Dr Barrett added that one month from today the PCT should publish a plan and timeline for taking forward the recommendations outlined in the report.

He said patients, the public and other stakeholders need to be fully involved in this process and future service planning for Horton Hospital.

Dr Barrett said: "During the course of this review we were left in no doubt that local people are passionate about Horton Hospital.

"The hospital is well located for the population it serves and the trust's dedicated staff will play a vital role in the future success of the organisation.

"All parties should now work together to re-develop the proposals in response to our recommendations."

Mr Baldry said he would now meet with Keep the Horton General campaigners to continue to fight for full services at the Horton.

He added: "Our case has been so strong that I understand this is the first time that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel has so comprehensively rejected a trust's proposals for reconfiguration, and I hope that over the coming days the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust will reflect that in future it might be better to work with, rather than against, local communities and local people.

"I am encouraged that the Secretary of State says that there needs to be a framework of investment for the Horton Hospital and we will be looking to the Secretary of State to deliver on that investment."