Court bid to save hospital unit

Val Compton believes the consultation process to close the unit was flawed

Campaigners have taken a primary care trust to the High Court in London over its decision to close the minor injuries unit at a Wiltshire hospital.

Val Compton, from Marlborough, who used to be a physiotherapist at the town's Savernake Hospital, believes there is still a need for the department.

The judicial review of the trust's decision is due to end on Friday.

NHS Wiltshire said it believed its decisions were right for patients and it would be defending them vigorously.

It said that half of patients who used the former minor injuries unit should really have gone to their local GP.

'Conflict of interest'

Ms Compton, who said the minor injuries unit and day care centre at Savernake Hospital should not have been closed, believes the consultation process was flawed.

In the High Court, her barrister said there had been a potential conflict of interest which was never declared.

He told the court that a report had been drawn up during the consultation by a newly formed company, Red Bridge Solutions Ltd, and that the study "was supposed to be independent".

He said that one of the company's owners, Steve Tanner, was the partner of Jane Britton, who worked for the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and was in charge of patient public partnerships.

He argued that the SHA was encouraging primary care trusts to save money and that it had a real interest in closing down the minor injuries unit.

The hearing continues.