A High Court judge has been urged to overturn an “unlawful” decision to reduce services at a major hospital. Campaigners packed a courtroom where Mr Justice Silber is being asked to rule on two legal challenges against cuts at Lewisham Hospital in south-east London. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs in January that accident and emergency and maternity services at the hospital would be downgraded. The London Borough of Lewisham and the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign argue that the decision to cut some of the hospital’s services was “unlawful” and should be quashed. Opponents say that if the decision is implemented it would result in “substantial” cuts to the services provided by Lewisham Healthcare Trust at the hospital. Elisabeth Laing QC, for the council, told the judge at a hearing in London that Lewisham was a “very good hospital” and the range of health services provided there was “greatly valued by local people and by the council”. If the changes were made it would mean local people “will have to travel a long, long way further to get access to vital services”. The proposed changes are part of a wider shake-up of services in the capital after the financial collapse of neighbouring South London Healthcare Trust, which went into administration after it started losing more than £1m a week. Mr Hunt told MPs the changes would improve patient care in south London, saving up to 100 lives a year. Ms Laing, describing the decision made in relation to Lewisham’s services as “unlawful”, said that - pending the court’s decision - the health secretary had undertaken not to implement the changes under challenge. The judge indicated that because of the importance of the case he would be reserving his judgment at the conclusion of the three-day hearing and would announce his decision later in a written ruling. He will hear submissions on behalf of the health secretary that the decision made in relation to Lewisham was not unlawful. Readers' comments The 'unlawful' relates to the TSA extending his recommendations further than the failing, poor quality Trust he was sent in to manage, which is what the new powers were set up to do. The TSA wasn't sent in to rescue Lewisham, which was highly performing as shown by the fact it had just been passed up to DH in its FT application. The claim in court is that the TSA was ultra vires when he included another Trust in his scope. |