Some maternity services could be suspended at the Horton hospital due to a staff recruitment crisis.

Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, confirmed yesterday it was planning to make the maternity unit midwife-led from the end of September if it cannot solve the staff shortage problem.

This would mean women in childbirth who experienced complications would have to be transported by ambulance to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital or even hospitals in Northamptonshire and south Warwickshire.

The trust said a decision will be made in late August, but on Monday would make preparations at the John Radcliffe for the possibility of extra beds being required at the Hospital’s Women’s Centre.

It said it was struggling to recruit enough "middle grade doctors" - who are slightly less experienced than consultants - for the unit to offer services safely.

Paul Brennan, director of clinical services, said: "We are trying very hard to fill these posts, but we are also making contingency arrangements in case recruitment continues to prove unsuccessful.

“We want to keep the service as it is now. Difficulty in recruitment is unfortunately a risk we have identified for some time, and we have been working hard to manage it.

"However, this reflects national difficulties in recruiting to obstetrics.

"Discussions are being held with staff at the Horton and maternity staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital to explore how we are going to manage the situation.”

But campaigners have raised doubts over the true reason for the possible suspension of services.

In June the Oxford Mail revealed how the trust had planned to save £2.2m by moving maternity consultants to the John Radcliffe and scrapping a specialist baby care unit.

It is the latest in a long history of times services at the Banbury hospital have been under threat.

Labour Banbury councillors have joined in the fight to save services with Victoria Prentis after the Banbury MP said the move could put children's lives at risk.

Councillors Sean Woodcock and Steve Kilsby said in a statement: "We are very angry about this threat to the obstetric service at the Horton.

"Only last week at a meeting in front of district councillors, and the week before at an event open to the general public in Banbury Town Hall, the Trust were saying that any changes to provision at the Horton, including to maternity, would be made on the basis of improving clinical outcomes first and foremost.

"Now they are saying that maternity may close, primarily because of a shortage of staff. Well which is it? People in Banbury will rightly feel they have not been given information in good faith.

"All of us want to see a Horton hospital that is properly resourced and with the services that users need. We all realise that sometimes changes will happen as doctors and nurses learn more about how best to care for patients. But if the Trust want the public to listen and accept such changes, then they need to make sure that they are being open and honest.

"We will now continue the work that we have been doing with the other councillors and the community to protect services at the Horton. We have already discussed with Victoria Prentis the idea of another 'Hands Around Our Horton' event which she has now organised and which Labour will be fully supporting."