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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex nurse's wait for beds' verdict | Ex nurse's wait for beds' verdict |
| (about 17 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." | 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 closed. | |
| The judge said he hoped to give his ruling in London early next week. |