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Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 09:11 GMT 10:11 UK
Legal avenue for hospital fight
Hospital ward
Campaigners claim that hospital bed figures were incorrect
The campaign to save Jedburgh Cottage Hospital could be taken to the courts.

A group which opposed the closure says it may seek a judicial review of the processes which resulted in Health Minister Andy Kerr endorsing the plan.

George Burt, of the Jedburgh Alliance, said there were serious flaws in both the consultation process and in the statistics given by NHS Borders.

In making his decision Mr Kerr said services could not stand still and had to look at the way they were delivered.

Mr Burt disputed figures which claimed that 15% of community hospital beds were in the Borders, which has only 2% of the population.

He believes that information such as this affected the health minister's decision.

No dissent

"I think there were factors which influenced his decision," Mr Burt said.

"There was no dissension in the decision made by NHS Borders by the board members.

"We think they were misled in many respects on statistical information," he added.

The cottage hospital in Coldstream is also to close under the plans.


SEE ALSO
First minister backs hospital axe
15 Jun 06 |  South of Scotland
Borders hospital closures agreed
14 Jun 06 |  South of Scotland
Last effort for cottage hospital
02 Jun 06 |  South of Scotland
Cottage hospital survival 'model'
19 May 06 |  South of Scotland
Optimism over hospital campaign
17 May 06 |  South of Scotland
Board endorses hospital closures
30 Mar 06 |  Scotland
Hospital closures to be debated
15 Mar 06 |  Scotland

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