[dropcap type =”circle”]V[/dropcap]ictoria Prentis, Member of Parliament for North Oxfordshire, is encouraging her constituents to take part in her campaign, collecting information on journey times to the John Radcliffe Hospital (JR) in Oxford.
The idea follows a meeting with the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG), where journey times were discussed. Victoria stated in the meeting that door-to-department journey times, including the time it takes to park, must be included in statistics showing travel times to the JR.
With the downgrade of the Horton maternity unit in October 2016, Victoria is keen to ensure that the Oxfordshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and OCCG are aware of the genuine impact of travel times between Banbury and the JR.
A consultation on healthcare provision in Oxfordshire, including services at the Horton General Hospital, is expected to begin this month. Statistics on travel times are expected to be an important part of the consultation process.
The campaign is open to anyone travelling from Banbury and its surrounding areas to the JR for an appointment, or to visit a relative. It will involve filling out a short form about a journey to the JR, and sending it or emailing it to Victoria’s constituency office. She and her staff will then collate the responses to submit to the OCCG.
In encouraging constituents to take part in the campaign, Victoria said: “Following the downgrade of the Horton maternity unit, I remain extremely concerned about travel times to the John Radcliffe. The journey can be so unpredictable and parking times must be taken into account. These variables need to be considered ahead of the consultation on NHS services in Oxfordshire. It would be brilliant if as many people as possible get involved in the campaign to give us a good indication of true journey times from Banbury.”
If you are travelling to the JR from the Banbury area, please print and fill in the form below, and send it to Victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk or by post to:
Victoria Prentis MP, Heyford Park House, Upper Heyford, Bicester, OX25 5HD.
If you would like an electronic version of the form, email a request to victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk.
Please post your photos of you leaving and arriving on social media, with your travel time to the JR, using the hashtag #Banbury2JR.
