Hospital group to fight on for judicial review
Hospital campaigners are seeking support for a judicial review into healthcare changes in Newark after a request for a full independent review was turned down for a second time.
The Health Secretary, Mr Andrew Lansley, has decided to fully endorse advice given to him by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel that a full review into changes at Newark Hospital would not add any value.
The panel called for greater commitment by all concerned to work together for the benefit of health service users.
A Department of Health spokesman said Mr Lansley was satisfied that the proposals for change in Newark, which were implemented a year ago, were still in the best interests of patients and the local health service.
It has taken six months for a decision to be made on the request for a full review, which was submitted by Nottinghamshire County Council in September, based on local concerns.
The council’s previous request last April was also turned down.
The Say YES To Newark Hospital campaign says its only option now is a judicial review into whether NHS Nottinghamshire County acted lawfully in implementing changes as part of the Newark Healthcare Review.
It claims the PCT did not consult properly with hospital users.
The campaign group chairman, Mr Francis Towndrow, said: “Someone once told me that it will always be all right in the end and if it’s not all right, it’s not the end. This is not the end.
“The Newark Healthcare Review has been referred by the county council twice on the grounds that the PCT failed to consult and failed to inform the overview and scrutiny committee of variations to services at Newark Hospital.
“Our only option now is to proceed to a judicial review.
“We will be asking Nottinghamshire County Council to support the case in the best interests of service users in the Newark area.”
The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, said: “I am extremely disappointed.
“I will now be in energetic talks, not just with the campaign group but with all my constituents, to see how the situation can be moved forward.”
Dr Amanda Sullivan, chief operating officer of Newark and Sherwood NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, which is set to take over from the PCT, welcomed Mr Lansley’s decision.
She said: “The Secretary of State for Health has twice agreed with the findings of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel that the Newark Review is not suitable for a full review.
“This conclusion follows a review of evidence from the local NHS, the overview and scrutiny committee and the Say Yes To Newark Hospital campaign group.
“The clinical reasons for the changes are overwhelming. Services are now designed for better patient outcomes in the event of an emergency.
“The recent correspondence from the Secretary of State for Health is very clear that all stakeholders should now work together constructively and continue to improve services for the people of Newark.
“We remain committed to this course of action. We do not believe that going over old ground again will help local people because services had to change to meet NHS standards.
“We want to put the reviews behind us and use our resources to put more services into Newark Hospital for the benefit of patients.
“Our primary aim remains the same — to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone in Newark and Sherwood.
“Working with our partners, we continually review all of our services to make sure they meet the needs of the local people.
“In line with the IRP’s recommendation, we will continue to implement and review the changes and improvements to services. This is in line with our overall strategy and vision.”
The chairman of the county council’s health scrutiny committee, Mr Ged Clarke, said: “We must now all move forward in the best interests of the people of Newark.
“This is the clear direction from the Secretary of State.
“We will work together with Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, NHS Nottinghamshire and other partners to ensure that the changes to services will benefit the local people we serve.”
