RELIEF has greeted a legal ruling which could prevent Harefield Hospital from losing up to 10 per cent of its income.
The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust took the Department of Health to the High Court in a landmark case over a decision to close a children's heart surgery unit at the Brompton.
Knock-on effects would have led to further service cuts and a loss in income, potentially leading to redundancies at the hospital in Hill End Road, Harefield.
The Trust had argued the consultation was deeply flawed – and the judge agreed.
MP Nick Hurd (Con), who represents Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner, said: “It is most unusual to see different parts of the NHS take each other to court.
“That is a measure of how strongly the RBH Trust felt about this issue.
“The judgement could not be clearer and now I hope that all sides will work together to ensure an outcome that is good for patients and does not undermine the great work being done at Harefield.”
Pauline Crawley, chairwoman of the Harefield Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “It is brilliant news.
“We said from the start it was a flawed consultation.”
But the fight may not be over: the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts, which proposed the move, is considering launching an appeal.
