INDEPENDENT RECONFIGURATION PANEL

That this House congratulates the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) on its report on the services at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury; notes that the IRP did not support the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust's proposals to reconfigure services in paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and the Special Baby Care Unit at the Horton Hospital because the IRP did not consider that the proposed changes would provide an accessible or improved service to the people of North Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas; further notes that the IRP indicated that the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust must do more to develop clinically integrated practice across the Horton, John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospital sites, as well as developing wider clinical networks with other hospitals, primary care and the independent sector; further notes that the IRP report has been endorsed and supported by the Secretary of State for Health who has indicated that any service reconfiguration at the Horton has to be as against a background of a `framework of investment'; welcomes this commitment by the IRP to seek to ensure the viability of local hospitals and provide the opportunity for all the stakeholders concerned to have time to develop a viable vision for children's and maternity services; and calls on the Government to continue to recognise the importance of local hospitals and accessible local medical services.