Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Couple will get chance to save A and E services

10/ 4/2007

IT LOOKED as if their fight was over, but there has been good news this week for one family who have been battling to save threatened accident and emergency services at Rochdale Infirmary.

A High Court judge has granted David and Lisa-Louise Fitton an oral hearing on 7 June after earlier rejecting a written request for a judicial review into the cuts.

Solicitors from Manchester law firm Pannone LLP will now argue the case for granting the Smallbridge couple a full hearing.

The Fittons took Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust and four other local health trusts to court in December over the decision to replace the A and E department with an 'urgent care centre'.

The couple's two sons, Dion, who died last October aged five and six-year-old Jordan-Lee, were born with global development delay which meant neither could walk or talk and regularly attended A and E for treatment.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, who has been supporting the Fittons, welcomed the news. He said: "I hope when the judge hears the evidence before him he will grant the Fittons a full hearing.

"The Fitton family are an example of how the decision to strip the Infirmary of its accident and emergency services will affect the people of this town.

"On several occasions A and E staff carried out life-saving work on Lisa and David's sons and we hope the judge will realise this and grant a full hearing."

Councillor Jean Ashworth hopes to accompany the Fittons to London for the hearing.

She said: "I have spoken to David and Lisa and they are very pleased with the decision to grant a hearing.

"It gives them chance to put their side of the story across properly and hopefully we have a chance."

Most recent 1 of 1 user comments