The leader of Sutton Council has welcomed a High Court judge’s decision to throw out Government plans to downgrade Lewisham Hospital.

Today Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had his decision to downgrade A&E and maternity at Lewisham declared unlawful and quashed by the High Court.

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Sutton Council leader Ruth Dombey

As St Helier Hospital’s A&E, maternity and children’s services are still threatened with closure Councillor Ruth Dombey welcomed today’s ruling as proof the government had “got it wrong” on healthcare in London.

She said: “We welcome the judge’s ruling and congratulate the residents of Lewisham who worked so hard to save services at their hospital.

“This is further proof that the government has quite simply got it wrong on healthcare in London and it must abandon the Better Services Better Value programme and replace it with a proper healthcare review.

“Today’s residents and future generations will suffer if the wrong decisions are made now.”

The Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review of healthcare in south west London and north Surrey has recommended A&E, maternity and children’s services to close at both St Helier and Epsom hospitals.

BSBV argue that “better out of hospital care” is at the heart of their vision and they aim to drive up the quality of care and health services in the region – as well as making sure the local NHS spends its money as effectively as possible.