Parliament and Politics: Ministry seeks court delay

THE DEPARTMENT of Health will attempt today to delay having to explain why it has failed to implement EC directives which allow fully qualified specialists to practise in any member state, writes Celia Hall.

The department wants more time to prepare its case and will appeal in the High Court against a decision to hold a judicial review next month. If the appeal succeeds it is unlikely the review will be heard for 12 to 18 months.

Dr Anthony Goldstein, the Harley Street specialist who has taken on the Government, the medical establishment and the General Medical Council in his attempt to implement the EC freedom of movement directives for specialist doctors, said last night: 'The Secretary of State is using the appeals procedure to put off the judicial review. They want to kick the review into touch.'