NHS's attitude to taxpayers' money

The Royal Brompton Hospital has won the right to challenge a consultation which it claims has threatened the closure of its children's heart surgery unit.

So what's happened? Have they protested to Andrew Lansley? Er, no.

The hospital has been given permission to seek a High Court judicial review against what it says was a deeply flawed process. Mr Justice Burnett said there was "an arguable case" that should be heard, and directed that the full hearing should take place over three days in September.

The hospital's claiming that the review wasn't based on objective evidence, and that the decision making process wasn't transparent.

So presumably the review team robustly said the hospital was wasting taxpayers' money? You've probably guessed that they didn't.

Jeremy Glyde, director for Safe and Sustainable, an NHS review of children's heart services, said: "We welcome the opportunity to present its evidence and will do so robustly.

"The rationale for change is supported by medical experts, professional associations and leading national heart charities."

The BBC adds that this is believed to be the first legal challenge of its kind to be brought by one NHS body against another.

At what point should ministers say Enough is enough, and stop NHS bodies throwing our money at lawyers in competitions with each other?

If ministers believe in their decision making processes, they should of course do that now. Going to law is a recipe for hospitals to defend their vested interests, while the taxpayer gets shafted. Again.