UNISON members in community health councils (CHC) are up in arms today because of the shabby way they are being treated by the Department for Health.
CHC staff have been living under the shadow of redundancy since their abolition was announced in the NHS Modernisation Plan nearly 3 years ago. Staff had been resigned to getting their redundancy notices last Saturday (31 May) but were left in confusion when the deadline came and went without any further news. Now the department of Health want to extend the deadline for another three months and staff say the strain is beginning to tell.
Phil Green, the UNISON National Officer representing around 500 CHS staff said: