The future of Chipping Norton's hospital looks no clearer after a heated public meeting attended by more than 700 people.

<image large="03om09-330.jpg" small="03om09-80.jpg" type="portrait">More than 700 people packed the public meeting</image>

More than 700 people filled the largest venue in the town to discuss the community hospital with Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust, and about 60 were left waiting outside St Mary's Church, unable to get in.

At the start of the meeting nine-year-old Jake Mattock, whose mother credits the hospital with saving his life, presented a petition of more than 10,000 signatures calling for no cuts to services.

The PCT has been consulting the town over the hospital's future, and has so far favoured a plan to move some of its beds to a new privately-run nursing home. Under this scheme, the hospital would lose its X-ray department and minor injuries unit.

Hazel Knott, from the PCT, began by saying that following demand from the town, the X-ray service would be kept if its preferred plan goes ahead.

She said the minor injuries unit would still be closed, and that local GPs and the out-of-hours GP service could treat the small numbers using the service. She said there had been misunderstanding about the future of the hospital's much-prized maternity ward.

"I will reiterate: we do not provide maternity services, the Oxford Radcliffe does," she said. The action group which collected the petition said it would not accept any cuts. Steve Akers said: "You may be having this as a consultation, we in Chipping Norton think we're in negotiation with you over a hospital that was raised by public subscription. The PCT is just one in a long line of boards we have entrusted it to."

Following several heated exchanges, an ex-nurse from the town was booed by the room for backing the PCT's favoured plan.

Local GP Dr Jonathan Moore, who has been talking to the PCT and the action group, called for a less aggressive debate. He said: "I think both sides want the very best for Chipping Norton. I don't want it to get too confrontational, and I think there are large areas where we can find some middle ground."

Several people accused the PCT of having already made up its mind, which the PCT denied. It said it stood by its claim that the town did not need 18 NHS beds, but said if the proposed 12 proved inadequate it would get more.

Trust chief executive Barry Thomas also said if the hospital building were sold it would raise about £3m, far more than the figure of £800,000 originally suggested.

Trust chairman Anita Higham finished by saying that all of the comments made would be included in a report to the board at the end of the month. "We as a board have the option to do nothing, and that may well be what we do," she said.