Mr Justice Fraser has today ruled in favour of the joint application by South Northants Council, Cherwell District Council, Stratford District Council and Banbury Town Council for a full hearing of their judicial review application.

Supported by the local campaign group Keep The Horton General, the four councils successfully argued at the preliminary hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice that a request for a review of the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s consultation was warranted, with Justice Fraser agreeing to expedite a wide-ranging three-day hearing before the end of the year. 
 
I know that the many local residents who have raised their concerns about the downgrading of maternity and other services at the Horton will welcome this ruling, and I will of course continue to follow this matter closely. I have received assurances from David Smith, Chief Executive of the OCCG, that no action will be taken to make permanent the downgrading of services until the completion of the judicial review and the ongoing referrals with the Secretary of State for Health.