NASCOT LAWN: Centre given stay of execution after court battle

This morning, hundreds gathered at the High Court to hear the outcome of a judicial review case about the future of Nascot Lawn, in Watford.

After a two-day hearing earlier this month, parents nervously gathered at the court today to hear Justice Mostyn's verdict.

Ruling in their favour, he said the Langley Road centre is a "health service" and parents need it for more than just respite.

Parents this morning were delighted with the news

— SaveNascot (@SaveNHSNascot) February 21, 2018

Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it could no longer afford to pay the £600,000 a year to keep it open.

The CCG failed to consult with Hertfordshire County Council - something which the judge said it must do before making a decision. 

It has been ordered to launch a six week consultation, and discuss the matter with the authority, before making a decision, and the centre needs to stay open until at least August. 

If the two bodies cannot agree on its future, the authority can refer the matter to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The Watford Observer had run a campaign in conjunction with the parents to save the much-needed centre.

Watford MP Richard Harrington called the decision a "small victory."

He said: "“This is a small victory for the families affected and will provide some stability over the coming months.

"Now that we have the judge’s decision, it’s important that we proceed with an open and transparent consultation process which we can all feed into.

"I will continue to work closely with the familes affected, the County Council and the CCG on this.

"I have always believed that closing Nascot Lawn would be the wrong decision and I hope that today represents a step towards protecting this vital local service.”

Laura, with her little brother Liam, eight, who relies on the centre. Their mum, Angelina, was instrumental in taking the case to court

HPCI proud to have stood beside parents from Nascot Lawn. All this stress, uncertainty and cost could have been avoided if HVCCG had worked to co-produce a solution with HCC and families just as the C&F Act 2014 sets out. Lessons to be learnt!

— Herts PCI (@HertsPCI) February 21, 2018

Fantastic news! I hope the consultation period ends the way it should, and Nascot Lawn receives funding to keep the facility open for good. Why oh why, when families have so much to cope with, do they have to fight so hard to keep their breaks.

— Diane Graham (@DianeLizGraham) February 21, 2018

All that time and effort that could have been spent looking after some of the most fragile children in the UK. Well done parents for fighting this: https://t.co/uKrT1xOslh

— sam carlisle (@samcarlisle) February 21, 2018

Irwin Mitchell’s legal case was put forward by barristers Jenni Richards QC and Sian Davies from 39 Essex Chambers.

Alex Rook, the partner at Irwin Mitchell’s London office representing the families, said: “Ever since the CCG announced its intention to withdraw funding for Nascot Lawn the families have shown great strength and determination to fight this decision, not once but twice.

“Despite concerns having been raised numerous times about the legality of the decision, the CCG continued to press ahead with its plans, meaning the families had no alternative but to take their fight to the High Court.

“We have always argued on their behalf that the CCG and the local authority should work together to decide how they can continue to operate this vital community service and are delighted that the court has today endorsed this view.

“The CCG has twice been told by the High Court following our submissions that its actions were unlawful and the decision to withdraw funding from Nascot Lawn has been quashed for a second time. 

"We only hope that this time the CCG co-operates with the county council to ensure that Nascot Lawn stays open.”