AN MP has reflected on the ‘difficult year’ for patients at a Banbury hospital.

Yesterday marked a year since the obstetric service at the Horton General Hospital was facing a recruitment crisis and was suspended.

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis said it had been a ‘difficult year for us all’, particularly new parents and their babies.

In a blog post she wrote: “And concern remains around the current and future arrangements.

“During the past year I have had numerous meetings with ministers, other local elected representatives, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“I have raised it on the floor of the House on numerous occasions: in departmental questions, in a private member’s bill and in speeches.”

On August 10 the CCG will make a final decision on the first phase phase of plans to change the county’s NHS as a way of streamlining services to address a growing financial shortfall of £134m and the needs of an ageing population.

Ms Prentis added: “I hope that any further decisions on the future of maternity at the Horton can, at the very least, be paused until we have a clearer vision of health services so that they remain safe, kind and close to home.”