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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex nurse's wait for beds' verdict | Ex nurse's wait for beds' verdict |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A former nurse waging a court battle to prevent the closure of hospital beds must wait to see if she has won. | A former nurse waging a court battle to prevent the closure of hospital beds must wait to see if she has won. |
| Mr Justice Hodge reserved judgement on a challenge to the closure of two rehabilitation wards for older people at Altrincham General Hospital. | Mr Justice Hodge reserved judgement on a challenge to the closure of two rehabilitation wards for older people at Altrincham General Hospital. |
| Pat Morris, 65, could be left with the £80,000 costs for taking on hospital bosses after a failed Legal Aid bid. | Pat Morris, 65, could be left with the £80,000 costs for taking on hospital bosses after a failed Legal Aid bid. |
| Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust may be forced to reopen the wards with 26 beds if Mrs Morris wins. | Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust may be forced to reopen the wards with 26 beds if Mrs Morris wins. |
| 'Risk claim' | 'Risk claim' |
| Her barrister, Anthony Eyers, who is acting without charge, told the judge the trust had admitted it closed the wards in March without public consultation. | Her barrister, Anthony Eyers, who is acting without charge, told the judge the trust had admitted it closed the wards in March without public consultation. |
| He said the trust was "holding a gun to the heads of the courts", claiming the closure had already happened and the wards were "a tremendous fire risk". | He said the trust was "holding a gun to the heads of the courts", claiming the closure had already happened and the wards were "a tremendous fire risk". |
| "They have no intention whatever of ever reopening these wards. | "They have no intention whatever of ever reopening these wards. |
| "If they get away with it, it gives carte blanche for any public body to make whatever decision it wants and they cannot be allowed to get away with this. | "If they get away with it, it gives carte blanche for any public body to make whatever decision it wants and they cannot be allowed to get away with this. |
| How can you put financial costs against human costs? Pat Morris "It would open the door for others trusts to act first and ask questions later." | |
| Parishil Patel, for the trust, accepted the trust had failed to consult correctly over the closure, but said it was prepared to start a series of meetings with the public. | Parishil Patel, for the trust, accepted the trust had failed to consult correctly over the closure, but said it was prepared to start a series of meetings with the public. |
| He said the decision was taken originally because of fears over clinical safety at the wards which subsequently were found to be a serious fire risk. | He said the decision was taken originally because of fears over clinical safety at the wards which subsequently were found to be a serious fire risk. |
| Mrs Morris receives a state pension, but did not qualify for Legal Aid because her husband also has a pension. | Mrs Morris receives a state pension, but did not qualify for Legal Aid because her husband also has a pension. |
| Despite an appeal to the Legal Services Commission, which administers Legal Aid, it rejected the request by Health in Trafford (HIT) - the campaign group led by the pensioner. | Despite an appeal to the Legal Services Commission, which administers Legal Aid, it rejected the request by Health in Trafford (HIT) - the campaign group led by the pensioner. |
| Mrs Morris said: "I will worry about the bill later, I can only deal with one thing at a time. | Mrs Morris said: "I will worry about the bill later, I can only deal with one thing at a time. |
| "Think of the financial costs against the physical costs - the hardship of those beds being closed to the elderly within Altrincham, the hardship they have to go through when they become ill. | "Think of the financial costs against the physical costs - the hardship of those beds being closed to the elderly within Altrincham, the hardship they have to go through when they become ill. |
| "How can you put financial costs against human costs? | "How can you put financial costs against human costs? |
| Legal bill | Legal bill |
| "Obviously, it is frightening facing this legal bill but my barrister warned me all along that it was a possibility. | "Obviously, it is frightening facing this legal bill but my barrister warned me all along that it was a possibility. |
| "I don't know how I would pay that kind of money. If I lose then so do all the people of Altrincham, especially the older people who need rehabilitation beds close to home." | "I don't know how I would pay that kind of money. If I lose then so do all the people of Altrincham, especially the older people who need rehabilitation beds close to home." |
| Mrs Morris left her post as a nurse at Altrincham General Hospital in 2003 to campaign to keep it open after 16 beds were The judge said he hoped to give his ruling in London early next week. | Mrs Morris left her post as a nurse at Altrincham General Hospital in 2003 to campaign to keep it open after 16 beds were The judge said he hoped to give his ruling in London early next week. |