Fertility Unit - The Back-Tracking Starts

[steveL]

"The parties have been able to agree terms to resolve this dispute.North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to engage with users about the future of the licensed fertility treatment at the ARU and to consult with the council"

That will get them passed the elections nicely.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/temporary-reprieve-teesside-fertility-unit-11141309

[BresslawoffoftheBunker]

I'm no fan of the council but they have fulfilled their part in this argument.  It's the Trust that have caused the issue

[hartlepool sea coalers]

why did the council not  put in as much effort when A and E was closed  was it because there was not a prominent  consultant backing A and E

[Land Phil]

Their seats were more secure, now they are twitchy about public opinion.

[Monkeys mate]

So this remission is supposed to be good news?
HBC think they have some control over a foundation trust?
Pure electioneering. Once the consultation is complete will the decision be any different? I doubt it very much. All that's happened is that a lot of public money has been handed over to the legal bods. Pointless

[Truthache]

Monkeys mate is correct.  Both parties have spent valuable cash to convince the council that what the Trust said on Feb 16th in a letter was true.  That the consultation had to be done JOINTLY WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE PATIENTS ACCESSING THE SERVICES AT ARU.  It is not exclusively for the Hartlepool population and the council could not summon Trust managers in isolation.  The Gazette has the following statement from the Trust:
statement from the trust said: "The trust has reached agreement with Hartlepool Council to enter into engagement and consultation with key stakeholders about the future of the assisted reproductive unit at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.
"This agreement has been approved by the High Court, on substantially the same terms as proposed by the trust in February 2016. It is disappointing that the council felt the need to resort to litigation, which the trust feels was unnecessary and a waste of public funds. We look forward to working with key stakeholders about the future of the assisted reproduction unit."
The Trust were willing to postpone any closure providing Joint Consultation took place as soon as possible. 

ARU may still be open, but patients won't be getting IVF or other licensed treatments because they don't have any embryologists.

[Alnwickist]

What has this cost HBC ?.

[akarjl]

why did the council not  put in as much effort when A and E was closed 

Good point - and probably a new thread required but given fact that North Tees turned away patients over easter perhaps A and E issue should be revisited?

[Inspector Knacker]

If a Trust has two A&E depts and closes one, the remaining A&E will be busier. Pure logic dictates it.
As regards the fertility unit, I expect nothing to change, the closure has just been delayed.

[Inspector Knacker]

I'm no fan of the council but they have fulfilled their part in this argument.  It's the Trust that have caused the issue

They had no choice in the matter, just a pity they didn't adopt the same attitude years ago when the salami slicing of services started.