As the saying goes, it's not over until the fat lady sings, or in this case until the axe swings.
In June,
all the talk was about a Judicial Review the campaigners were bringing against the decision of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to reduce the services at Lewisham Hospital with special reference to the accident and emergency department.
That Judicial Review was successful, and if you want to learn why, here is the
211 paragraph judgment.
However, the Government is
appealing this judgment, and whether or not it wins, it is clear neither Jeremy Hunt nor his superiors are prepared to let go. In
this video, Health Minister Lord Howe says the Trust is losing a million pounds a week, which he claims is unsustainable. He doesn't say when, where or who said hospitals were supposed to make money or even break even, that is not what they are about. As pointed out in the same report though, having been over-ruled by the High Court, the Government may change the law, a privilege no one else has.
On September 14, hundreds of people turned out for a victory parade march, in spite of the rain to celebrate what the organisers called their
"fantastic celebration of our High Court victory over the government".
Next Friday there will be a victory dance, as advertised below. Although the campaign has massive popular support, it may be that the celebrations are premature.
A flyer advertising the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign Victory Dance.
