A BANBURY councillor has been told by the Department of Health that the future of services at the Horton General Hospital is ‘a matter for local determination’.

Mark Cherry, who represents Banbury Calthorpe on Oxfordshire County Council, wrote to the DoH with concerns about the impact of sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) on the Banbury area.

Phase one of a consultation on the Oxfordshire arm of the STP is under way. It involves the centralisation of some services from Banbury to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, including acute stroke and maternity.

Mr Cherry said: “If A&Es across the John Radcliffe and Horton Hospitals are over-stretched now surely it’s madness to consider downgrading the Horton.”

Following a letter to the Prime Minister dated January 7 in which he called for more funding for the NHS Mr Cherry received a reply from Lynn Wade, who handles correspondence and public enquiries at the DoH.

She said: “The government needs an NHS ready for the future. To do this, local service leaders in every part of England are working together for the first time on STPs.

“The government appreciates there is local concern for the future of services at the Horton General Hospital. However, this is a matter for local determination.

“A full version of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West STP is due to be published this month with further engagement and, where required, public consultation, to follow.”