Former Prime Minister David Cameron has stepped into a row over plans to temporarily remove the obstetrics from the maternity unit at Banbury’s Horton General Hospital because of a shortage of doctors.

At a meeting yesterday at the John Radcliffe Hospital, it was decided that the Horton’s maternity service will be midwife-led, rather than consultant-led, from the beginning of October.

David Cameron spoke this morning to Mr Holthof of Oxford University Hospitals, pushing for guarantees that the unit will be returned.

Mr Cameron, MP for nearby Witney, said the unit “won’t be able to look after all mothers’ needs”.

“Local mums want to have their babies in their local hospital. That means we need a consultant-led service at Banbury and the Horton should be large enough to sustain one.

“The importance of this service to local people is very clear to see from the public outpouring of concern at the temporary suspension.

“Myself and other local MPs will be working together to ensure that every option is considered and that every potential obstacle to these recruits is addressed.”

Dr Bruno Holthof, Chief Executive of Oxford University Hospitals, said: “We are extremely disappointed to be in this position today and have taken into consideration the views of many groups of people who are affected by this decision.

“Having tried exceptionally hard to recruit to these posts, using every incentive available to us, we would prefer to be maintaining the obstetric service at the Horton and will keep on with our recruitment drives.

“However, we clearly cannot run a service without doctors to provide it. This outcome reflects national difficulties in recruiting to obstetrics. We will continue with our ambition to reinstate the obstetric service at the Horton as well as the Special Care Baby Unit that goes alongside it, as soon as we have the staff to operate safely.”