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A&E fight ends with High Court torment

Damon Wilkinson
12/ 6/2007

THE PARENTS of a severely disabled boy have lost in their bid to get the High Court on their side in the fight to keep accident and emergency services at Rochdale Infirmary.

David and Lisa Louise Fitton hoped to force a judicial review into the Healthy Futures plans to axe the A and E department and replace it with a 'urgent care centre'.

Their seven-year-old son Jordan is unable to walk and talk and suffers regular seizures which need urgent treatment.

His five-year-old brother Dion died last October from the same condition.

They claimed health authorities didn't properly consult with the people of Rochdale during the Healthy Futures process.

But on Friday Mr Justice Bennett rejected their case saying it was 'unarguable'.

He added he realised the decision 'would come as a great blow to the claimant, his family and the people of Rochdale.'

Mr and Mrs Fitton, of Smallbridge, now fear Jordan's life could be at risk.

David said: "We are absolutely distraught. We have already buried one son and we don't want to bury another.

"They say they will be able to stabilise Jordan at the Infirmary before transferring him to Oldham. But trying to get to Oldham during rush hour is almost impossible.

"It is not the answer we were hoping for or the answer the people of Rochdale were hoping for."

It is the second time the couple have applied for a review.

On 13 March Mr Justice Walker rejected a written appeal on the same grounds.

Mr Fitton added the couple were now thinking about moving home to be closer to an A and E department.

A Healthy Futures spokesman said: "We note the judge's decision to reject the application for judicial review.

"It does not affect the ongoing review by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

"We now await the IRP's recommendations and the health secretary's decision on whether or not Healthy Futures should be implemented."