Lewisham Hospital cuts quashed

The shadow spokesman for health, Lord Hunt, has said he is "delighted" services in Lewisham have been saved, saying: "Where there good clinical evidence that services that should change or be brought together then of course that should happen.

"But in Lewisham there was no evidence in relation to clinical services, it is and was a good service. So this was an intervention by the Secretary of State merely to get him out of trouble elsewhere."

Trade union Unite described the Government as "NHS vandals" and today's ruling as "a victory for common sense and NHS campaigners up and down the country".

The health minister Lord Howe has said the government is "clearly disappointed" over the High Court's decision to quash a decision to reduce services at Lewisham Hospital.

He told ITV News: "We felt that the arrangement involving Lewisham - which I know are disappointing to the people of that area - were right in the interests of the wider population of south east London".

The shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has a court's ruling to quash Jeremy Hunt's decision to reduce services at Lewisham Hospital is an "humiliation" for the Health Secretary.

"This ruling fires a shot across the bows of a Tory-led Government which is taking the NHS backwards by prioritising finances over patient care and riding roughshod over people.

"Jeremy Hunt's refusal to listen to Labour's warnings means he has wasted taxpayers' money defending the indefensible and severely damaged fragile trust in the way the NHS manages changes to hospitals and that must be repaired.

"This is a humiliation for Hunt and a vindication for the people of Lewisham. They have stood up not just for their own", Mr Burnham added.

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A lawyer with Leigh Day, who is acting for the Lewisham Hospital campaigners, has given her reaction to the High Court quashing a decision to downgrade services at the major hospital.

"This is a tremendous victory for all the people of Lewisham and for the thousands who have campaigned for this well-run, successful hospital to remain open", Rosa Curling said.

"Motivated by injustice, those who have campaigned for its survival have successfully shown that the decision taken by Jeremy Hunt to downgrade and close many of the hospital's services was wrong and unlawful".

"Real questions must now be asked about the decisions being taken by this Government in relation to healthcare", she added.

Read: London hospital cuts plan quashed

Dr Louise Irvine, chair of the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign, said "this is an incredible day", after the High Court's ruling to quash a decision to reduce its services.

"We are delighted for every single person who has supported the campaign and those who will now continue to benefit from this extraordinary hospital", she added.

Read: London hospital cuts plan quashed

The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has had his decision to reduce services at a Lewisham Hospital in south-east London declared unlawful and quashed by the High Court.

There was loud clapping in court as a judge ruled Mr Hunt acted outside his powers when he announced in January that casualty and maternity units at the hospital would be downgraded.

Mr Justice Silber said the Secretary of State had breached provisions of the National Health Services Act 2006.

The ruling was a victory for the London Borough of Lewisham and the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign, a community-based campaign group.

A High Court judge has quashed a Government decision to reduce services at Lewisham Hospital in south-east London.