The future of Banbury's Horton Hospital is up in the air after public pressure forced health chiefs to reassess their plans.

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust had originally intended to close the Horton's special care baby unit, end 24-hour inpatient children's care, and reduce maternity and obstetric services.

But more than 4,000 objections were lodged during the public consultation period - including 58 Banbury GPs who signed a statement saying the proposals were unsafe and inhumane.

Campaigners for the Horton have taken the trust's about-turn as good news - but Banbury MP Tony Baldry has called for clarification.

He wants to know if the trust intends to come up with a new approach - or is simply looking for ways to push through its original ideas.

Helen Peggs, spokesman for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, said: "We will be producing amended proposals sometime in the future.

"We will be looking for an acceptable compromise - one that GPs and the primary care trust will be happy with.

"There are differences of opinions among our own consultants, and we do not want to forge ahead with something that has this level of clinical concern."

Mr Baldry wants to make sure the independent agency involved is looking to keep full services at the Horton, pictured.

He said: "The trust has suggested that the so far nameless agency would consider how to improve the proposals and reduce the clinical risks associated with them. This gives the impression that the trust is only looking for ways to win support for the changes it wishes to implement at the Horton."

In a letter to trust chief executive Trevor Campbell Davis, Mr Baldry asked for the agency concerned to "draw up a document that sets out the new suggestions, so that there can be an informed discussion of what the trust is now considering".

Mr Baldry has also written to Sir William Stubbs - chairman of the trust - asking him to confirm that no action would be taken at the Horton until a report by Sir Ian Carruthers had been published.

Sir Ian has been appointed by Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt MP to undertake a six month review of any plans to cut or downgrade NHS services.

He has been told to deliver a straightforward message to local NHS managers - without the backing of GPs and consultants, there should be no cuts.

Ms Peggs said: "Our proposals will not go to Sir Ian because, at the moment, we do not have any.

"We are rethinking them and we hope we can come up with a new ideal that meets the approval of local GPs and others, and will therefore not come under Sir Ian's remit.

"There is a lot more work to do - more exploration on the future."

George Parish, chairman of the Save the Horton action group, said: "I am pleased that the proposals are being rethought - but we will not be celebrating until we see the trust's outcome.

"Thanks must go to those who campaigned, marched through the streets, attended the People's Park rally, and responded to the consultation."

The protesters included members of the public, family doctors, Horton nurses, councils, and health workers union Unison.