EXPERTS discussing the future of Banbury's Horton Hospital have said their aim is a safe, sustainable, and accessible health service for local people.

Gina Tiller, a lay member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, said the panel was totally independent of Government and local health bosses, and would make its recommendations based on what it thought was best for patients and their families.

Mrs Tiller was speaking today, the first of up to seven days on which the panel would be in Banbury to consider proposed cutbacks to services at the Horton.

She said the panel would be in town for two days this month, and then for four or five days in January, depending on the number of people who wanted to make statements.

She said the panel was 'not in the pocket' of the Government or the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust which wants to downgrade maternity, obstetrics, and children's services at the Horton, and close the hospital's special care baby unit.

The trust's plans were referred to the panel by health minister Alan Johnson MP, after the Oxfordshire joint health overview and scrutiny committee decided in July that the proposals were not in the best interests of Banbury area patients.

The move followed a long-running campaign in which family doctors, nurses, midwives, and other groups all opposed the cutbacks.

The panel is now considering the facts and hearing from local people before putting a recommendation to Mr Johnson. Mr Johnson will make the final decision on the Horton, but Mrs Tiller said she hoped the panel's opinions would be taken into account. The panel's views will be known in February.

Mrs Tiller said: "We have been for a look around the hospitals, and we are hearing a lot of evidence. We will be back in January when we will probe further.

"We are very independent. We have terms of reference - to look at maternity, obstetrics, and paediatrics in particular - but we will look at the bigger picture as well.

"We will look at it from the people's perspective and take nothing on face value. We have come with no preconceived ideas, and we want to look at the stories behind the headlines."

Dr Peter Barrett, chairman of the IRP, said: "The key focus of our review is the patient and the quality of care. During the review we will be seeing facilities first-hand and hearing directly from patients, clinicians, staff, and interest groups.

"Local people with new evidence or who feel that their voice has not been heard should not hesitate to contact us as we are keen to hear from all sides of the debate."

George Parish, chairman of the Save the Horton action group, gave evidence to the panel on Thursday, accompanied by members of the group.

He said: "I felt good about the meeting. The panel acknowledged what we are doing, and I was very pleased at how the meeting went. We put a powerful case, and they listened to us.

"It is not finished yet. We will be going back with more evidence in January. I have confidence in the panel's independence, but we must produce as many facts and opinions as we can."

  • The Independent Reconfiguration Panel is the independent expert on NHS service change. It was established in 2003 to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Health on contested proposals for health service change in England. It also offers ongoing support and advice to the NHS and other interested bodies on successful service changes.