01.03.2018

Barnsley Save Our NHS Campaign Group Have Instructed Expert Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell

A local campaign group has instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell as they look to engage in legal action to fight against the proposed closure of stroke units at hospitals in Barnsley and Rotherham.

The Barnsley Save Our NHS Campaign Group (BSONHS) has sought the help of public law specialists at Irwin Mitchell as it explores legal options available to challenge the decision taken by the Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups (JCCCG) to close the Hyper Acute Stroke Units at Barnsley and Rotherham Hospitals.

The specialist legal team at Irwin Mitchell have since moved to issue judicial review proceedings challenging the JCCCG’s decision.

Rebecca Chapman, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell and the public law specialist representing the BSONHS Campaign Group said: 

Expert Opinion

“We were instructed by the Barnsley Save Our NHS Campaign Group to establish whether the JCCCG’s decision making has been lawful and whether there are grounds for a judicial review.

“We have now issued judicial review proceedings on behalf of a local resident to challenge the decision by the JCCCG to close the Hyper Acute Stroke Units at Barnsley and Rotherham Hospitals.

“This is obviously a very important issue and one which affects thousands of people across the region. Our client’s believe the decision to close these services would be damaging and would limit peoples access to the much needed, potentially life-saving local NHS stroke services.” Rebecca Chapman - Associate Solicitor

The BSONHS Campaign Group, along with its sister group, Rotherham Save Our NHS, are fundraising to raise the money for their legal challenge. To donate and to find out more about the Group’s reasons for their challenge, visit www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-local-hospitals/.

Susan Shaw, spokesperson for the BSONHS Campaign Group, said: “Our aim is to safeguard the future of NHS stroke services, in the region, at Barnsley and Rotherham hospitals.

“We believe that the decision taken by the JCCCG public consultation will be a potential disaster for the people of Barnsley and Rotherham. This is because access to these hyper acute NHS services will come under pressure.

“Under the current plans many vulnerable people will have to travel many miles, often on public transport, which requires multiple changes, to access specialist hospital care. These journeys will also be often made during emergencies, and the impact, we believe, on those needing care will be significant.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Judicial Review cases.