ANOTHER family has come forward to support the campaign to keep full paediatric services at the Horton Hospital, Banbury.

This week Andrew and Joanne Webb, who live on Cherwell Heights, have described how on-the-spot treatment at the Horton's maternity and special care baby units saved the life of their newborn son.

It follows the story in last week's Banbury Cake in which Charlton racehorse trainers Bradley and Samantha Clarke pledged support for the "Save the Horton" campaign after their premature baby, Charlie, was given life-saving attention by maternity and SCBU staff.

Mr Clarke said his wife and baby could have died if the treatment had not been available instantly.

George Parish, who is leading the campaign to prevent the Horton from being downgraded from a fully-serviced general hospital, appealed for more parents to tell their stories and Mr and Mrs Webb telephoned him.

Mr Webb said his wife was admitted to the Horton's maternity unit on a Saturday afternoon with what was expected to be a low-risk delivery of her baby.

But later that night there were problems during the birth and the special care baby unit team and paediatric consultant were called.

Mr Webb said: "Mark needed urgent resuscitation and was admitted straight away to the SCBU, having been starved of oxygen. He was put on an intravenous feed and was given antibiotics. He was later found to have caught a Streptococcus B infection. But, despite all this, he made a full recovery thanks to the highly skilled, dedicated, and well-equipped team in the delivery area and SCBU."

In a statement, Mrs and Mrs Webb said: "We are deeply concerned about the proposals to cease 24-hour paediatric care at the Horton.

"If a paediatric team experienced in advanced neonatal resuscitation had not been on duty, Mark could have been deprived for oxygen for longer, which could have led to severe organ damage or worse.

"There has been some suggestion that there isn't the demand for 24-hour paediatric services and the special care baby unit in Banbury. While Mark was there the unit was full.

"Given the number of new houses being built around Banbury the demand looks set to increase rather than decrease."

Mr Parish said: "This once again highlights the danger of cutting back services at the Horton. Even as we speak, decisions are being made by Oxfordshire health chiefs that could cost lives. A reduction of paediatric services can only end in tragedy."