CHANGES have been promised at Banbury’s Horton Hospital after it scored only an ‘acceptable’ rating for two key areas in its latest health audit.

The Oxford Road hospital recently had its future secured after a seven-year battle to save the maternity and round-the-clock paediatric services, which could have been moved to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

But the annual health audit, carried out by National Patient Safety Agency, which is part of the NHS, said the Horton was lagging behind other Oxfordshire hospitals.

The Horton dropped from ‘good’ to ‘acceptable’ in two categories: environment (which covers cleanliness); and privacy and dignity.

It said the cleanliness rating had been affected by an inspection which had been carried out during poor winter weather. However, the hospital retained a score of ‘good’ for food.

Banbury town and Cherwell district councillor George Parish, who is chairman of the Save The Horton Hospital campaign, said: “I am a bit disappointed because I always think the Horton is great. Perhaps this is a time to start looking at any services that need improving.”

Meanwhile, Oxford’s Churchill Hospital has retained its ‘good’ status across all categories, while the John Radcliffe Hospital improved from ‘acceptable’ to ‘good’ for privacy and dignity, while maintaining a ‘good’ in food and ‘acceptable’ for environment.

Mervyn Phipps, assistant director of estates for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, which runs the Horton, said: “We take cleanliness and the environment very seriously and we aim to do better next year.