A former Horton Hospital doctor fears maternity services could again be under threat due to service changes.

Dr Peter Fisher is concerned moves to cut gynaecology beds from 12 to six at the Banbury hospital will threaten junior doctor training.

Bosses say medical advances mean fewer overnight stays and “invasive” procedures are needed, and the changes will provide more services in Banbury.

Dr Fisher fears training accreditation could be removed from the hospital, putting the doctor-led maternity service at risk.

But managers said the move would boost training.

A bid by Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust to downgrade maternity services was thrown out in 2008.

Dr Fisher, of the Keep The Horton General campaign, said: “If the training in gynaecology is regarded as being downgraded by this, then we will be in trouble.”

And he warned putting the six remaining beds in a mixed-sex surgical ward meant women would be seen by less skilled non-specialist nurses.

Beds will not be exclusively for gynaecology patients, leading the former general physician, who retired in the 1990s, to say: “There could be potential problems with finding beds for people.”

Hospital bosses say the changes would reflect services at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, reduce admissions and introduce new diagnostic procedures.

And they have been welcomed by the Oxfordshire joint health overview and scrutiny committee watchdog, which refused to order a full consultation.

Andrew Stevens, trust director of planning and information, said plans would “improve the services for gynaecology patients and give better equality of services between Oxford and Banbury”.