This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/5370376.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex-nurse wins wards legal battle | Ex-nurse wins wards legal battle |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former nurse has won a High Court battle challenging the closure of two hospital wards. | A former nurse has won a High Court battle challenging the closure of two hospital wards. |
| Pat Morris, 65, from Bowdon, Greater Manchester, challenged the decision to shut two rehabilitation wards for older people at Altrincham General Hospital. | Pat Morris, 65, from Bowdon, Greater Manchester, challenged the decision to shut two rehabilitation wards for older people at Altrincham General Hospital. |
| Mr Justice Hodge has ruled that the Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust's move in March to close 26 beds was unlawful as there was no public consultation. | Mr Justice Hodge has ruled that the Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust's move in March to close 26 beds was unlawful as there was no public consultation. |
| But he refused to order the trust to immediately reopen the beds. | But he refused to order the trust to immediately reopen the beds. |
| I do not accept that the need to close the wards at Altrincham General Hospital was so urgent that no public consultation should take place Mr Justice Hodge | I do not accept that the need to close the wards at Altrincham General Hospital was so urgent that no public consultation should take place Mr Justice Hodge |
| The trust, which admitted in court it closed the wards without public consultation, is to hold four public meetings next month on the issue of inpatient beds in Altrincham. | |
| Mrs Morris, 65, who quit her job to bring a judicial review against the trust, said: "There are no winners today - only losers. | |
| "They will just go through the motions." | "They will just go through the motions." |
| Mrs Morris, who was represented by a counsel who did not receive a fee, said she had risked financial ruin, as she could have lost the case and been ordered to pay the trust's costs. | Mrs Morris, who was represented by a counsel who did not receive a fee, said she had risked financial ruin, as she could have lost the case and been ordered to pay the trust's costs. |
| But she was awarded her costs which were less than £1,000. | But she was awarded her costs which were less than £1,000. |
| Public consultation | Public consultation |
| Mr Justice Hodge said: "I do not accept that the need to close the wards at Altrincham General Hospital was so urgent that it was right that no public consultation should take place." | Mr Justice Hodge said: "I do not accept that the need to close the wards at Altrincham General Hospital was so urgent that it was right that no public consultation should take place." |
| However he refused to order the wards' reopening because the trust had accepted it was right to hold a consultation "very shortly." | However he refused to order the wards' reopening because the trust had accepted it was right to hold a consultation "very shortly." |
| "It is a possibility that, having conducted a proper consultation, the trust reaches a conclusion which the claimant will not welcome, that it would be wrong to reopen the wards. | "It is a possibility that, having conducted a proper consultation, the trust reaches a conclusion which the claimant will not welcome, that it would be wrong to reopen the wards. |
| "It cannot be right for this court in its discretion to order the reopening of the wards on the basis that there will be a public consultation which might legitimately then decide to close them again." | "It cannot be right for this court in its discretion to order the reopening of the wards on the basis that there will be a public consultation which might legitimately then decide to close them again." |
| Edna Robinson, Chief Executive of Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "We are satisfied that the judge has reached this decision as we feel it is in the best interests of our patients." |