The man whose plan to downgrade Horton General Hospital was thrown out by the government is quitting as Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals trust’s chief executive.

Trevor Campbell Davis had tried unsuccessfully to reconfigure Banbury’s children’s services, maternity, special care for babies and gynaecology department before ministers intervened.

He is on leave of absence, before he officially resigns, to finalise arrangements to take up an international healthcare job.

Also leaving is deputy chief executive and finance director Chris Hurst, who will be acting chief executive until he departs to take charge of finance for health and social care in Wales.

The trust’s medical director, Dr James Morris - who was himself due to retire in the autumn - will stay on until replacements have been found for both men.

The two are leaving at a time when the trust faces a multi-million-pound debt.