Vital maternity and children's services at Banbury's Horton Hospital are facing a healthier future after plans to downgrade them were thrown out Yesterday the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) backed campaigners by rejecting the plans by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust to alter services and switch them to Oxford.

Health secretary Alan Johnson agreed with the panel, but another review of the services must now take place. The IRP said it was not in "the best interests of patients, families and carers" to make difficult journeys to Oxford that might delay medical treatment.

However, campaigners who have battled for more than two years were also warned the matter was not closed. Trevor Campbell Davies, chief executive of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, refused to give an assurance The Horton's under-threat departments were safe for any length of time.

Asked if the decision meant services were safe for a set period, Mr Campbell Davies referred to part of the IRP's report which said The Horton would have to change to ensure it remained appropriate, safe, and sustainable.

He said: "The panel has recognised, and local people also realise, that services change over time.

"It gives us the opportunity of coming back with proposals that recognise the local voice.

I can only give you the assurance that the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals will continue to give safe and effective services for local people. I cannot pre-judge other issues."

Jubilant campaign spokesman George Parish said: "We have won one of the biggest battles ever fought in Banbury and I was overwhelmed by the news.

"I'm delighted Alan Johnson has decided to go along with the IRP's recommendations and I hope the ORH and other stakeholders will now work together."

The Save the Horton action group, backed by Banbury MP Tony Baldry, family doctors, nurses, midwives and residents, fought vigorously for two years after the ORH Trust put forward proposals to downgrade paediatric, maternity and gynaecological services, including closing the special care baby unit.

Dr Peter Barrett, chairman of the IRP, said: "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 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 necessary to retain and develop services.

Banbury mayor Kieron Mallon said: "Today is a great day. We have won this battle, but it should be seen as a partial victory. We must wait now to see what happens in the future."

Mr Baldry said: "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."

To read the full report visit irpanel.org.uk