Tony Baldry refused entry to hospital on Leader of the Opposition's visit

North Oxfordshire MP, Tony Baldry, has been told by the Oxford Radcliffre NHS Trust that he cannot visit the Horton General Hospital to listen to staff concerns over the cuts agenda being imposed.

Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust apparently made it clear to David Cameron’s office that they would only be willing to facilitate a visit by David Cameron MP today to the Horton General Hospital on condition that he was not accompanied by local MP Tony Baldry .

The Trust Chief Executive said that they “did not want to give Tony Baldry a platform”.

After David Cameron completed his visit to the Horton, he left the hospital grounds for a photograph with local MP Tony Baldry, together with Kieron Mallon, the Mayor of Banbury, and local Labour Councillor George Parish, who chairs the “Keep the Horton General”  campaign. 

The ban, which comes less than a fortnight after the campaign against the cuts successfully led to the proposals being referred to the Health Secretary, with a recommendation that they are passed on to the national independent reconfiguration panel.

Speaking about David Cameron’s visit and the ban, Tony Baldry MP said:

“I’m delighted that David Cameron has been able to visit the Horton Hospital.  I am delighted that he has been able to talk directly with NHS staff including midwives and doctors.  I am delighted that he has yet again reiterated the Conservative Party ‘s support to defend General Hospitals such as the Horton.

"As to my being banned, I would say  not allowing me as the local MP to visit the Horton Hospital, is a snub to everyone living in North Oxfordshire:  I have no public position other than as the representative in parliament of the people of North Oxfordshire.   I have never heard of an MP being banned from visiting a hospital in his constituency.

"All the more ironic that I appear to have been banned from a NHS Hospital for championing the principles of the NHS, including the need for there to be equity of access for everyone to NHS services.  The actions of the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust will not stop me seeking to do everything possible to ensure that the Horton Hospital remains a General Hospital.  I shall be taking up the fact that I was banned from visiting the Horton with David Cameron

With The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson;

As a Point of Order with the Speaker when Parliament returns;

With ministers who respond to the Debate on the “Future of Smaller General Hospitals” that the Speaker has granted me on 10th October;  and

With Harriet Harman, the Leader of the House.

"I frequently have members of staff at the Horton coming to see me to express concerns at what is happening at the Horton;  invariably they tell me that they are concerned about speaking out in public for fear of reprisals – when the Trust treats the local MP like this, one can understand the concerns of staff.”