Date set for UNISON NHS legal hearing

A legal hearing into the merits of, and permission for, a judicial review, will be heard on 13-14 of October, 2010, following an application made by UNISON, the UK's biggest union for health workers.UNISON lodged an application for judicial review against the Secretary of State for Health, over the lack of public consultation on the NHS White Paper - Equity and Excellence:Liberating the NHS.Karen Jennings, UNISON head of health, said:"UNISON believes we have a very strong case, and we look forward to putting our evidence before the court."The government's white paper outlines the biggest overhaul of the health service in its history. The government cannot just bulldoze ahead with sweeping changes to the NHS without asking people what they think - this public right to consultation is enshrined in law."