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| MP Victoria Prentis accuses Oxford NHS trust of 'cover up' | MP Victoria Prentis accuses Oxford NHS trust of 'cover up' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An MP has criticised a hospital trust's "culture of secrecy" and attempts to "cover things up". | An MP has criticised a hospital trust's "culture of secrecy" and attempts to "cover things up". |
| Victoria Prentis, the Conservative MP for North Oxfordshire, made the comments during an appearance on BBC Radio Oxford to discuss a shortage of midwives in the county. | Victoria Prentis, the Conservative MP for North Oxfordshire, made the comments during an appearance on BBC Radio Oxford to discuss a shortage of midwives in the county. |
| She also said Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ignored her letters and lacked transparency. | She also said Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ignored her letters and lacked transparency. |
| Trust chairman Dame Fiona Caldicott said the claims "disappointed" her. | Trust chairman Dame Fiona Caldicott said the claims "disappointed" her. |
| The trust recently came under the national spotlight after a leaked memo suggested cancer care at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford could be affected by staff shortages. | The trust recently came under the national spotlight after a leaked memo suggested cancer care at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford could be affected by staff shortages. |
| Ms Prentis has campaigned for maternity services at the Horton Hospital in Banbury, which were downgraded because of a shortage of doctors. | Ms Prentis has campaigned for maternity services at the Horton Hospital in Banbury, which were downgraded because of a shortage of doctors. |
| She told the BBC she was concerned the trust did not "come clean" when questions were asked. | She told the BBC she was concerned the trust did not "come clean" when questions were asked. |
| "I'm very worried that there is a culture of secrecy because of the furore over the Horton midwife unit being downgraded, and I'm worried we're not being told the truth," she said. | "I'm very worried that there is a culture of secrecy because of the furore over the Horton midwife unit being downgraded, and I'm worried we're not being told the truth," she said. |
| Ms Prentis added: "I wrote to the trust in a civil manner [about the Churchill Hospital] asking for details." | |
| She said she was "very worried" about recruitment of medical staff in Oxfordshire but never received a reply - although the trust said she was sent one on 12 January. | |
| "I am concerned that instead of being open and honest and transparent with us the hospital just tries to cover things up", the MP said. | |
| "I endlessly write letters which aren't answered." | "I endlessly write letters which aren't answered." |
| Responding to the MP's claims, Dame Fiona said: "We do not recognise her description of Oxford University Hospitals as an organisation with a culture of secrecy. | Responding to the MP's claims, Dame Fiona said: "We do not recognise her description of Oxford University Hospitals as an organisation with a culture of secrecy. |
| "We strive to be as open and transparent as possible with our patients, governors, local communities and MPs." | "We strive to be as open and transparent as possible with our patients, governors, local communities and MPs." |
| She said replying to MPs could take time to "establish the true facts", but added that they were available on the phone "in urgent situations". | She said replying to MPs could take time to "establish the true facts", but added that they were available on the phone "in urgent situations". |