BANBURY’S MP took advantage of the Government reshuffle by extending an invitation to the new health minister to visit the Horton Hospital.

One of the first letters to hit the desk of new Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, was from Tony Baldry inviting him to visit the town’s hospital as soon as possible.

Mr Baldry said: “Some while ago Alan Johnson, when Secretary of State for Health, accepted an invitation at the despatch box to come and visit the Horton.

“Indeed, there was actually a firm date in the diary for such a visit a few weeks ago, but it got postponed because of Parliamentary business.

“Alan Johnson has been a good supporter of the Horton, and accepted in full the recommendation of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel that a long-term solution needed to be found to ensure that 24/7 children’s and maternity services can be retained at the Horton.

“I think it is very important that we try to get the new Secretary of State to visit the Horton General Hospital as soon as possible so that they can be aware of the issues and that we can get that unequivocal ‘buy in’ to the work of the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust and the local community are doing to make sure that we keep the Horton general.”