The failure of the Government to win its appeal in the High Court is a triumph for local people, both hospital users and staff alike. There can be no doubt that this has been a huge waste of public money and that the Secretary of State for Health should never have gone to appeal following what was a clear-cut decision by the High Court.
He is now seeking to introduce new powers to future Trust Special Administrators so that they will be able to destroy other local hospitals, as he had hoped to do with Lewisham.
This afternoon the Secretary of State made a statement to the House about healthcare services in London, giving Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP (Lewisham Deptford) the chance to make the following point:
“Let me remind the Secretary of State that the High Court ruled that his actions in trying to remove services from Lewisham hospital to save a separate failing trust were illegal. He then lost the appeal. Will he now stop throwing good public money after bad, leave Lewisham hospital alone, and learn to respect the views of the people who work in our hospital and those who use its services?”
Dame Joan said:
“Despite jumping up and down continuously during Prime Minister’s Questions today, the Speaker did not call me.
”I know it will be a huge disappointment to everyone that I was not able to make the Prime Minister aware of the appalling treatment his Health Secretary has meted out to Lewisham Hospital and to local people.”
He is now seeking to introduce new powers to future Trust Special Administrators so that they will be able to destroy other local hospitals, as he had hoped to do with Lewisham.
This afternoon the Secretary of State made a statement to the House about healthcare services in London, giving Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP (Lewisham Deptford) the chance to make the following point:
“Let me remind the Secretary of State that the High Court ruled that his actions in trying to remove services from Lewisham hospital to save a separate failing trust were illegal. He then lost the appeal. Will he now stop throwing good public money after bad, leave Lewisham hospital alone, and learn to respect the views of the people who work in our hospital and those who use its services?”
Dame Joan said:
“Despite jumping up and down continuously during Prime Minister’s Questions today, the Speaker did not call me.
”I know it will be a huge disappointment to everyone that I was not able to make the Prime Minister aware of the appalling treatment his Health Secretary has meted out to Lewisham Hospital and to local people.”
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