Residents of a former mining village in Derbyshire have won their battle for a greater say in whether a private company should be allowed to take over their local general practice.

The Appeal Court ruled that North Eastern Derbyshire Primary Care Trust had not consulted the residents of Langwith village before awarding United-Health Europe the contract to provide GP services there and in the nearby village of Creswell.

In June the High Court judge Mr Justice Collins had ruled that although the consultation process may not have been adequate the company would probably have won the contract anyway (BMJ 2006;332: 1469).

But last week Lord Justice May and Lord Justice …