"It is important for us to start afresh and we need to start with asopen a process as possible," she said.
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel report said the PCT should, within a month, come up with a timetable for a review and to state how it was going to be carried out and who would be involved.
"What the IRP has said is the Horton has strong foundations to build on," Mrs Young said. "Peter Barrett (the IRP chairman] also says services do need to change and we need to develop a process to look at service proposals for the future that will give people confidence.
"It's true that the PCT did accept the (ORH] proposals. It was always a difficult trade-off between safety and access.

"The most important thing about the PCT is its relationship with the community, community leaders and looking to the future of their NHS. Our job is to put together a process involving stakeholders to come up with options which command the support of local people.

"We want a positive partnership and a positive future for the Horton. Finances are limited; we get £1,200 per patient per year and it's for people to say what their priorities are.

"What is absolutely critical is that we engage with ordinary people; after all, more than 1,000 people approached the IRP with their views – they are passionate about local services. Local papers are very important and we will be as transparent, open and honest as possible. We will put things on our website, have information bulletins and have face to face meetings.

"We will be looking at having drop in events where people can ask questions and be heard. We don't have an outcome in mind so the process of engagement is very important," she said.

Banbury GP Dr Richard Lehman said: "The PCT has come under heavy criticism in the IRP report for its failure to judge the trust's plans against any strategy for maternity and children's services in north Oxfordshire.

"In supporting downgrading it ignored the very clear position statement by local GPs submitted in September 2006.

"The concerns we expressed then have been entirely borne out by the IRP's conclusions. I hope this time the views of local GPs and the public will be listened to with greater care, since nobody wants to repeat the conflicts of the past and everybody wants to secure better and more equitable services for north Oxfordshire and the surrounding area."

Mrs Young said: "We have approached the same GPs involved before, that is Drs Emma Haskew, Harold Hin, Jonathan Williams and Hugh Gillies with Dr John Walton and Martin Chambers, but we want to make contact with as many GPs as possible. There will be an open invitation to all GPs," she said.

"In the first place, from these six, we want to find out their views, what issues are raised and what might be a possible way forward."