TCI commentary:
Defend Dorset lost their legal challenge to the planned NHS changes in Poole and Bournemouth last September.
Five months later, it obtains permission to appeal the judgment.
Whatever the rights and wrongs (and there were definitely grounds to question certain aspects of the decision), the slowness of the legal system cannot be good news for anyone. It frustrates campaigners, paralyses public administration and prolongs uncertainty for service users and service providers. If a public consultation is questioned, we have to find better ways to examine the validity of criticisms without recourse to a long-winded, expensive, and, ultimately unpredictable legal process. (See pages 325 – 327 of The Politics of Consultation)
Comment from Dorset CCG:
In response to recent media coverage regarding the Defend Dorset NHS appeal process, Tim Goodson, Chief Officer NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “To clarify, the recent announcement does not mean that the appeal will definitely take place; it means the Court of Appeal wishes to handle the application to appeal and the possible appeal hearing in one session rather than in two separate sessions, which can sometimes happen.
“This means that if the judge decides there is enough merit in the case to grant an appeal, it will follow immediately, reducing disruption to both parties.
“We have not yet been notified of a date.”
Article:
Campaigners fighting the reorganisation of hospital services in Dorset have been granted a Court of Appeal hearing.
Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has begun a shake-up, including shutting Poole’s A&E, after winning a judicial review in July.
The plans are currently being reviewed by the health secretary.
Defend Dorset NHS, which launched a second legal challenge against the plans in September, has now been granted a hearing.
Under the CCG Clinical Services Review, Poole’s A&E, maternity and paediatric services will be lost to Bournemouth, which will become the area’s main emergency hospital.
Poole is set to become a centre for planned treatment and operations.
The shake-up aims to avoid a projected funding shortfall of at least £158m a year by 2021.
Changes to mental health acute care include the closure and relocation of beds at Weymouth’s Linden unit and the creation of extra inpatient beds at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole and Forston Clinic near Dorchester.
Beds at Portland Hospital have already been closed.
Campaign group Defend Dorset NHS, which has raised more than £21,000 in its legal bid, has argued travel times from areas like Swanage would be too great if the changes go ahead.
Three High Court judges will look again the group’s case. In July last year it failed in a judicial review of the plans.
Dorset CCG previously said the latest appeal was “disappointing” and would be a further cost to NHS and legal aid budgets.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
Article originally appeared on BBC News
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