CAMPAIGNERS have hailed the Prime Minister’s intervention in a row over hospital beds as a great step forward.

Witney MP David Cameron got around the table with health leaders on Friday [July 24] to discuss the future of 14 intermediate care beds at Chipping Norton Community Hospital.

The future of the unit was thrown into jeopardy when the county council offered neighbours an ultimatum that they could either let the Order of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) take over the unit or lose it completely.

However Mr Cameron called the meeting with bosses at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Healthwatch Oxfordshire, OSJCT and the county council to broker a deal over saving the unit.

County councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles said the meeting was very positive.

She added: “It’s not cut and dried anymore.

“The fact that we had this meeting, that [Mr Cameron] asked those involved to actually go away and come up with a solution that would satisfy everyone concerned, especially the people of Chipping Norton, to me was a great step forward.”

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The decision was initially blasted “disappointing” by Mr Cameron, but after the meeting he told the Oxford Mail that the county council and health service were sizing up their options.

He added: “It was a positive meeting and good to have everyone together.

“The health service and county council are now looking at what can be done to take on board the concerns of local people.”