NHS Path to Excellence was ‘unfair’
The process which paved the way for an overhaul of maternity, children’s and stroke care in South Tyneside and Sunderland was ‘fundamentally unfair’, a court has heard.
The claim came during opeening arguments in the legal challenge brought by campaigners fighting the changes.
Appearing at the High Court in Leeds, lawyers acting for the Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign group claimed a decision on the clinical commissioning groups’ ‘Path to Excellence’ plans had been made before the public was given a chance to comment.
Vikram Sachdeva QC, acting for the protestors, said this meant the prospect of keeping the services on South Tyneside wasn’t even presented as an option.
He told the court: “There was no attempt to engage the consultee. It was preSouth sented as a fait accompli and retention of services at South Tyneside is simply off the table.
“That is fundamentally unfair when it is such an important issue.”
The shake-up of services in the area was approved by the Sunderland and South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in February.
Over the summer it survived an independent review ordered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DoHSC), before being brought to the High Court for a judicial review of the consultation process for the proposals The plans included: Moving acute stroke care from South Tyneside Hospital to Sunderland Royal Hospital
Changes to management of maternity care, with a consultant-led unit in Sunderland and a midwife-led department in South Tyneside
An overhaul of pediatric care, leading to daytime emergency provision in Tyneside and 24/7 provision in Sunderland.
Mr Sachdeva claimed the CCGs had been ‘completely fixed’ on shifting the services out of the borough.
This, he said, was because bosses had decided sustainable staffing was ‘simply impossible’.
This, he argued, was a public consultation being opened without an open mind.
He added: “Retaining the status quo was not something that was consulted on.
“It was not one of the options put forward and that is the odd thing about the consultation. “In many other consultation cases, we will see a variety of options put forward and there might be a preferred option put forward.”
Mr Sachdeva concluded his opening arguments yesterday. Today Eleanor Grey QC, acting for the Sunderland and South Tyneside CCGs, is due to outline defence arguments.
His Honour Judge Mark Raeside QC is due to deliver a verdict tomorrow.