CUTBACKS to the NHS in Oxfordshire could have far-reaching consequences for Banbury's Horton Hospital, MP Tony Baldry has warned.

The cuts, to overcome a £33m debt, are due to be announced today, though staff at the Horton were told yesterday.

Mr Baldry said: "I am seriously concerned that the cuts will undermine the Horton's role as a general hospital.

Mr Baldry said: "Up to 700 job cuts across Oxfordshire are expected to be announced. There is not, as yet, a breakdown of the cuts, but using Department of Health figures, Oxfordshire will end up with the fewest number of qualified nurses since 2002 and fewer qualified nurses than when Gordon Brown began implementing his health service spending commitment in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Mr Baldry added: "Choice phrases from the summary of proposals put forward by the Oxford Radcliffe Trust are 'merging some services on to one site, service capacity to be reduced (beds, theatre lists, outpatient sessions), and rationalising the range of clinical products and drugs in our hospitals.'"

He said: "Patients in Oxfordshire receive the least money of any county in England and Wales and I have launched a petition in favour of equal funding otherwise the differential could continue for years into the future."

"Tony Blair's constituency is funded above the national average by the same amount that Oxfordshire is underfunded. If Oxfordshire was funded only half way towards the national average it would be enough to clear the £33m debt.

Mr Baldry said: "Cuts at the Horton we already know about include paediatric services, and both obstetric services and out-of-hour emergency surgery being transferred to the JR."

Mr Baldry has also launched a petition calling for a review of health funding in England and Wales.

The petition calls for a fairer system of funding that does not penalise patients in Oxfordshire.