Legal battle to save A&E department

PLANS to close a 24-hour casualty department and a maternity centre could be scrapped after the High Court ordered a judicial review.

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Primary Care Trusts and the Health Secretary wanted to downgrade the A&E unit at Chase Farm Hospital and move the consultant-led maternity unit to Barnet.

But Enfield council and local campaign groups argued that the services were vital to the community and launched a legal challenge. It is the first time a council has taken such a radical step.

Council leader Mike Rye said: "This is good news, however there is a long way to go in our fight to keep Chase Farm at the heart of our community.

"We believe the case to keep a 24 hour A&E and full maternity service at Chase Farm is overwhelming."

Under the plans three hospitals would share two A&E departments. Stephen Conroy, chief executive of Enfield PCT, said: "We continue to believe that the legal challenge is a totally unnecessary distraction from introducing much needed improvements to health services."