Hands around the Horton protest attracts thousands

Sunday morning saw thousands of protesters descending on the Horton General Hospital to campaign against the downgrading of services at the Hospital. It is believed that Consultant-led Maternity, SCBU, 24/7 Children’s Ward, A&E, Orthopaedics and Critical Care Unit are all under threat.

Nearly 5000 protesters, many of whom wore the “Hands off the Horton” t-shirts or carried banners, arrived from 10am at the Oxford Road entrance to the hospital linked hands to form a human chain to completely surround the hospital perimeter.

This was no mean feat considering the protesters couldn’t go through the hospital grounds. Lots of children had helped to make banners and some wore proud “I’m a Horton baby” t-shirts. The chain spread out along the Oxford Road, down Upper Windsor Street, up High Town Road before connecting with the people again on the Oxford Road. The protesters were joined in spirit by many vehicles passing by sounding their horns in support.

The campaigners then marched to the town centre to gather in Bridge Street outside the Town Hall for a photo shoot and to make their voices heard at the annual Banbury Food Fair which was also taking place in the town centre. The cries of “JR too far!” and “Save our Horton!” were chanted by crowds.

The event was organised by Banbury MP Victoria Prentis and the Keep the Horton General protest group. It was attended by councillors from across the political parties.

If proposals to downgrade the services at the Horton go ahead, specialist services would be transferred almost 30 miles to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

The OUHT board of directors will meet on 31st August to decide whether obstetric services at the Horton Hospital will be suspended from the end of September. If they are, the unit would be midwife-led until enough obstetricians are recruited.

Can you spot yourself on the protest photo gallery on the Banbury Town Facebook page www.facebook.com/banburytownwebsite/