JUST three obstetricians are currently in post at the Horton General Hospital despite efforts to recruit more doctors to re-open a full maternity service.
In September this year Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust downgraded the Banbury hospital's maternity service to midwife-led unit status due to staff shortages. Advertisements for new doctors - nine of which are needed to safely run an obstetric-led service - have been posted online every month since April.
In its December update the trust said three doctors are in post, one of which was recruited since April, and two more have accepted offers but have not yet got to work.
Over the course of November seven applications were received, with three people shortlisted by the trust. Just one of those attended for interview and was offered the job.
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