FUTURE plans for the Horton Hospital could see beds on the children’s ward cut.

Oxfordshire PCT confirmed its plans for the next decade, which could see fewer children staying overnight at the Banbury hospital.

At the moment there are 14 beds available in the children’s ward.

But the PCT says that nationally the way patients are treated is changing. More and more people will be sent home to recover.

However, Horton campaigners have rejected the proposal, claiming parents want to see their sick children cared for in hospital by doctors and nurses.

George Parish, who led the Save the Horton campaign, said: “We are talking about children. Our children should be getting the best.

“If children are ill, there is no way they should be at home. They should be in hospital where paediatricians and nurses can look after them.

“Nothing can convince me we can do without the children’s ward.

“I think it will be very difficult to convince people of Banbury this is the way forward. I have not been convinced yet.”

He said that in Cherwell, the population was expected to rise by up to 30,000 by 2036. Those people, in turn, would look to the Horton for health services.

Banbury MP Tony Baldry was concerned that community healthcare must be in place before people were discharged early.

He said: “Otherwise there is a danger that the hospital will discharge quickly and patients suddenly become someone else’s responsibility — but there is actually no one there to pick up the care and look after patients when they go home.

“If happens it’s a false economy, as people fall ill again and end up back in hospital again.”

Tracey Rees, the PCT’s programme director, said: ”The Horton’s future is secure. It’s just how services will operate.

“We are not expecting anyone to turn around and say we are not providing paediatrics and maternity.

“We are trying to move from having everything focused on current beds, to providing care in children’s homes.

“That would be supported by paediatricians, who would be based at the Horton, and supported by what is needed overnight for obstetrics “We have got evidence that children recover better at home.”

Ms Rees said that if more people recovered at home, the hospital could increase the number services it offered — and that may help recruitment.

She said: “We believe having more specialist services will make it become a more attractive place to work. It’s all part of sustainability.”

For the past 18 months, the Better Healthcare Programme, set up to retain and develop services at the Horton, has been working to keep threatened services, including maternity, emergency and children’s services.

Later this month, it will put proposals to the PCT to effectively secure the Horton’s future.

The Horton Hospital’s catchment area includes Banbury, Bicester, Chipping Norton, South Northants and South Warwickshire.