Judge rejects appeal over ward closure
A bid by hospital campaigners to overturn the closure of a north Norfolk hospital ward has been thrown out by a top judge.Kelling Hospital Appeal campaigners were not happy with the axing of the 22-bed Lascelles ward on the Holt complex last October.
A bid to overturn the closure of a north Norfolk hospital ward has been thrown out by the High Court.
Kelling Hospital Appeal campaigners were not happy with the axing of the 22-bed Lascelles ward on the Holt complex last October.
They had been seeking a judicial review, where a High Court judge would look at whether the closure was carried out lawfully.
Campaigners claimed the decision was flawed because of health authority officials' failure to consult, lack of board level discussion of a public meeting's unanimous call to reopen the ward, and felt the chairman pre-empted a meeting by agreeing to closure before it was discussed.
However a High Court judge has refused their application for a judicial review, saying he was happy with the consultation, the board discussions and that the law did not require the majority view to prevail.
Kelling Hospital Appeal spokesman Charles Simeons said they still felt the views of patients were being overlooked, but would not seek to pursue the review. It had cost £2,000 to £3,000 taken from interest earned on the appeal's capital funds, which they were allowed to do.
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However they were continuing to look at ways of bringing Lascelles back into action in a different use, such as respite care - and were meeting with local doctors, and may even hold another public meeting, added Mr Simeons.
