Campaigners appeal High Court ruling on Dorset NHS reorganisation

The Defend Dorset NHS campaign group has this week applied for permission to appeal a High Court ruling that rejected their judicial review challenge over NHS reorganisation in the county.

Defend Dorset NHS said it would “take some weeks, or months” to hear from the Court of Appeal. It claimed that the High Court ruling “does nothing to address the clinical risk to Dorset residents who would have to travel further in an emergency”.

Earlier this month Sir Stephen Silber, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, rejected the group’s challenge in Hinsull, R (On the Application Of) v NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group [2018] EWHC 2331 after a two-day hearing in July.

The dispute centres on plans to reduce Poole’s accident and emergency department and close its maternity ward, and to close community hospital beds at five locations.