Campaigners who want a new hospital have raised £20,000 to take local NHS planners to a judicial review.
The New Hospital Campaign (NHC) had already been told it could bring a case against Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) over plans to develop health services. Now funds are secured, the High Court will review the CCG’s decision not to hold a full public consultation.
The CCG has been approached for comment.
Plans to invest in existing hospitals in west Hertfordshire, rather than build a new one were agreed by health bosses in July. The CCG and the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust (WHHT) want to bid for £350m of healthcare improvements with investment planned for services in Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead with Watford General being refurbished. The NHC, mounted by the Dacorum Hospital Action Group (DHAG) and other groups, want a new hospital, more central to all three locations.
‘Think again’
Last month, campaigners received High Court approval to bring a case against the CCG – with the WHHT named as an interested party – and a judge also set a cap on the group’s possible costs.
A fundraising campaign has now secured the funds.
Edie Glatter, from the NHC, said: “They haven’t properly considered a new hospital – we want them to think again It is essential the local health bodies run a full and fair consultation, including taking a serious look at building a new hospital on a clear site that everyone in West Hertfordshire can get to. It is the only way our local hospital provision can be transformed as it truly needs to be, because it is in far worse condition than that of most other areas.”
A date for the full hearing has not been announced.
Article originally appeared on BBC News
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