BANBURY'S Horton General Hospital has been downgraded in a "worrying" decision made by NHS bosses in the past hour.

Maternity services have been reduced from a consultant-led unit to a midwife-led unit.

This means expectant mothers demmed to be at "high risk" will have to travel to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to give birth.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust took the decision without any public consultation after it struggled to fill vacant posts at the unit, but it said the change would only be temporary.

The trust hopes to reverse the temporary service changes by March 2017.

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis said she was worried by the decision.

She said: "I am really sorry to hear that the board has voted to temporarily downgrade the maternity unit. I hope that this is only a very short-term plan and maternity will return to a full consultant-led unit as soon as possible.

"Personally I am very worried about the contingency arrangements and will continue to put pressure on the trust for answers.

"I am disappointed the decision has been taken with no public consultation and no discussions have been had with neighbouring members of parliament."

Ms Prentis said she firmly believed the trust could have done more to recruit enough consultants.

Last year about 1,000 babies were born at the Horton.

Thousands of people across Oxfordshire, including members of the Keep the Horton General campaign, called for the plans to be scrapped due to fears for the safety of mothers travelling for 45 minutes in an ambulance to the JR.

Last month about 4,000 people including Banbury MP Victoria Prentis joined a 'Hands Around the Horton' protest in response to the current crisis and fears for the long-term survival of all services at the Horton.

Dawn Griffis, a former nurse at the Horton who trained there in the 1950s, has demanded that trust chief executive Bruno Holthof and director of children's & women's services Stephen Kennedy be removed from post.

She said: "We have been made aware that there are doctors sat with their bags packed waiting to come from overseas. Victoria Prentis will expedite their visas if necessary.

"This must appear to call into question the motive for not making the post more attractive, when it appears easily remedied.

"We should be extending and expanding the services in the hospital and in particular the maternity unit to take pressure off the JR and to bring back the teaching accreditation."

In response, OUH chairwoman Dame Fiona Caldicott said: "I am grateful to you for providing the Trust with your views in relation to the future of Maternity Services at the Horton General Hospital. Please let me assure you that the trust is carefully considering this matter at the highest level."

Board members met at 3pm today in Tingewick Hall. About 100 campaigners and members of the public attended the meeting.