JULIA Drown cut short her maternity leave to fight the Government over controversial plans to set up foundation hospitals.

The South Swindon Labour MP voted against the hotly-disputed NHS reforms.

She took part in a key Commons vote that could have sunk the flagship Gov-ernment policy.

In the event the foundation hospital reform was passed with a majority of only 17 votes the smallest margin of victory for Tony Blair's Government since it came to power in 1997.

Ms Drown, who has long played a key role on NHS matters in parliament as a member of the health watchdog, said she was disappointed the rebellion came so close only to fail.

She said: "I feel strongly that foundation hospitals are not the best thing for the NHS.

"We all agree the health service should get better, we all agree there needs to be more power at a local level.

"This is just not the way to do it."

And the MP warned that it could have a bad impact on health care in Swindon, if her fears about foundation hospitals resulting in a two-tier NHS came true.

Swindon's Great Western Hospital will not be in the first group of elite hospitals.

But Ms Drown insisted NHS staff in town would continue their excellent work to deliver top quality health care to residents.

North Swindon MP Michael Wills voted for foundation hospitals. Wiltshire North MP James Gray opposed the moves.