OXFORDSHIRE’S top hospital boss said he is “committed” to keeping services at the Horton General Hospital after concerns from campaigners.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael spoke after emergency abdominal surgery was axed.

It moved to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital in January after the Horton lost three of the rota’s five doctors. A consultation was planned for this spring but could now be delayed until next March.

This is so the new Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group – which makes funding decisions – can carry out a consultation on the county’s NHS needs.

But the Keep the Horton General Group has expressed concerns about whether other services are under threat.

Sir Jonathan said: “The trust is committed to maintaining services at the Horton and also to look at service improvements and changes there, as at all of its hospitals.

“With any service change, the trust is always mindful of the key importance of ensuring high quality care for patients.

“Additionally, it is important that residents in Oxfordshire have access to the same quality of services wherever they live.”

He said more outpatient clinics had moved from the John Radcliffe to the Horton, which had also taken on more day surgery.

He said: “Workshops are already being held with clinicians from across the trust to identify the range and volume of work that could transfer to Banbury from the Trust’s Oxford Hospitals.”

The trust will consult on moving abdominal surgery to Oxford “in line with modern medical practice” and advice from the Royal College of Surgeons.

A statement from the Keep the Horton group said it was concerned that abdominal patients now have to go to Oxford for assessment and treatment.

About five of the 28 weekly assessments require surgery, the trust said.

The group added: “There are further potential consequences not only for the surgical service but for others, including the admission of medical emergencies.

“This is a major source of concern to us and the reason we have continued to seek clarification of the long term plans for the Horton.”

The group said it is due to meet trust managers on Monday and details will be reported to the next meeting of the NHS Community Partnership Network.

That network meeting is on Tuesday, June 11 at 10am, in Room 163 at Cherwell District Council offices in Bodicote House, Bodicote. It is open to the public.