THE NHS trust responsible for Oxfordshire's hospital has defended its decision not to consult over the downgrade of maternity at the Horton General Hospital.

On Tuesday the MP for Banbury, Victoria Prentis, slammed Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the Commons for leaving locals 'fearful and angry'.

Speaking during a Ten Minute Rule Bill, she said: "Doctor may know best, but only when he has listened to the patient.

"Local decision making can work, but only with democratic accountability."

But OUH has said that the decision, taken due to a chronic lack of middle-grade doctors at the Horton, was an emergency and consultation was 'not an option'.

As of October 3 the service has been run as a midwife-led unit (MLU) until enough consultants can be hired to bring back a full service.

In a statement, OUH said: "The decision was taken under our emergency powers on the basis that patient safety would have been directly compromised if the Trust had continued with an obstetric-led service at the Horton without enough doctors.

"Consulting formally on the temporary transfer of some maternity services was therefore not an option given the urgency of the situation at hand.

"We have and are continuing to engage with Victoria Prentis MP, local healthcare practitioners, campaign groups and the wider community to ensure they remain informed.

"We can confirm that a ‘risk register’ was published as part of our board papers on August 31 when the Trust Board approved the decision to temporarily transfer these services from the Horton General Hospital."