MORE than 50 people have staged a protest this morning against further cuts to health services in Oxfordshire. 

The campaigners gathered outside county hall in Oxford ahead of this morning's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee where health bosses will be quizzed by councillors over reforms. 

It comes as a Sustainable and Transformation Plan - revealing more cuts to services - was leaked by Reading Borough Council amid fears of a lack of transparency.

The STP showed health officials want to reduce the number of qualified nurses, give ‘new roles’ to Oxfordshire’s community hospitals and cut the number of beds in hospitals.

At the protest this morning Oxford City Councillor John Tanner told a cheering crowd: "We have to fight every inch to keep out NHS free at the point of use."

Liz Lock, from Marston, said: "I don't know all the facts and figures but for me it's a personal issue.

"My mother is 87 and the NHS has saved her life twice in the past five years - I'm worried that service won't be around when I'm her age."

The rally was organised by Keep Our NHS Public who called for a full public consultation on the STP and for a stop to any more cuts.