ON Thursday, February 2, the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee threw lifelines to Deer Park Medical Centre Witney and the Horton Hospital Banbury by referring their closures to the Secretary of State as a substantial change. I would like through your letters page to thank the members of that cross party committee for their decision.

The referral is a stepping stone on the road to save the services offered by both of these medical providers so the campaigns continue. We now look to our MP’s to continue with their support in the corridors of power.
The closure of a medical practice with a full complement of doctors whilst others in the town are short of and struggling to recruit GPs is madness.

What is now worrying is that the same people, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG), are planning extreme changes to health services in Oxfordshire via the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire West Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) they tell us via the media that they are going to consult with us but what they are not saying is that they have no intention of listening or changing their planned proposals just ask the residents of Banbury and Witney if you need proof.

MARK R CHURCHILL
Wenman Road
Witney