Should you have your say re the Royal Hospital?

[Pete]

Just reading about a little scrap in parliament at PMQT - Harriet Harman was putting the pressure on Nick Clegg about their support for the Tories on Clause 119 of the Care Bill. Apparently this will give Jeremy Hunt the power to close hospitals without consulting locals.

Does anyone else think this is wrong?

[therealjr]

From the BBC news website
It means Trust Special Administrators who take over any failing NHS trusts in England can push through whatever other local changes they think are necessary, although they will have to consult the public, commissioners and staff.

So regardless of your opinion on whether the clause is right or wrong they do have to consult.
Hunt was told some time ago that actions he took in London scaling down one hospitals maternity section to direct patients to a different one was unlawful. This rule makes his actions were he to do it again lawful. In the scheme of things with the nhs it's likely to be an action that's so far down the line it will probably never be used.