Court action possible over closure threat
Pupils learn about money
LEICESTER hospitals bosses may consider taking the NHS to court over plans to shut down the children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital if they have to.
John Adler, chief executive at Leicester’s hospitals, has previously said that they didn’t wish to get involved in a conflict.
At a meeting of the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland joint health scrutiny meeting on Tuesday he said: “I think the first thing to say is that we would not, as a preference, wish to end up in court with NHS England.
“We are mindful of the fact that we are all part of the NHS although the legal position is that we a as a trust could take NHS England as a body to court for a judicial review or indeed a number of other what I think are technically called interested parties could do so.
“But, just to be clear, it’s not our preference.”
His comments came after nearly a dozen parents, patient groups and campaigners told councillors and NHS England representatives why the unit should stay.
It follows an announcement last year in which NHS England said that surgery for children born with heart defects should stop at Glenfield Hospital.
They argued that the hospital was not meeting new standards and that it was unlikely to do so in the future.
One of the standards is that each of three surgeons should carry out 125 operations a year.
At the meeting Dr Sally Ruane, from the health policy research unit at De Montfort University argued there was no evidence stipulating a figure improved services.
She said: “Glenfield Hospital has excellent outcomes and the survival rate is higher than expected. LEARNING all about finances was the order of the day when pupils at Dorothy Goodman School got a visit from money experts.
The team from WizeUp went along to the school to work with 20 students aged from 14 to 19 and then continued the sessions at the Castle Street branch of Hinckley and Rugby Building Society, the firm which sponsors the venture.
For some of the youngsters, who all have learning disabilities, it was the first time they had completed tasks such as opening a savings account or using a cash machine.
Ed Flack, tutor at
“It is difficult for patients to comprehend the wish of NHS England to close a highly successful unit.”
Katy Wheatley, from the Leicester Mercury Patients’ Panel, added: “If the unit closes there will be no congenital heart provision from Newcastle to London.”
After hearing the submissions Leicester City Councillor Ted Cassidy said he was “very angry” and “shocked” by what he had heard about the closure proposals and warned it was likely to lead to a Judicial Review.
Colleague, Cllr Vi Dempster called on NHS England to “draw a line under this wrong decision.”
Rutland County Cllr WizeUp, a not-for-profit financial education organisation, started the day by encouraging the pupils to think about ways to get money - with working for it rather than borrowing being seen as “infinitely better”.
Students were then asked to carry out some work - folding 40 leaflets, which earned them £10. Once paid they were able to buy a variety of goods but were encouraged to save some of the money to open a savings account with Hinckley and Rugby.
On walking into town the group were able to use a cashpoint, many for the first time, before visiting the building Gale Waller added: “It is about time NHS England realised its purpose is to look after people.”
Michael Wilson, NHS England’s programme director for congenital heart disease, said all the views and comments from the meeting will be taken back to colleagues.
He added: “In the summer last year there were proposals which were then worked up for public consultation but no decision has been taken.”
Mr Wilson said responses to the public consultation, which ends on July 17, had been very high and a decision on the future of children’s heart surgery is expected “later this year, or early next year.” society’s Castle Street branch to open an account and make a deposit.
Ed said: “It was a fantastic day and the students were really up for it. They were really engaged and enthusiastic and some went over and above the scheduled workload in order to complete a ‘mind map’ on bills and other expenses.”
Dorothy Goodman School senior life skills teacher Joanne Linwood said: “The students had a truly fabulous day. They were all thoroughly engaged and motivated throughout the day. I hope this can be something that we do every year.”