A DATE has been announced for a judicial review into the transfer of NHS services to a social enterprise.

Critics say the move by NHS Gloucestershire was a step towards privatisation.

NHS Gloucestershire was supposed to transfer services such as district nursing, occupational therapy, and specialist domiciliary care, as well as Vale Community Hospital, Sandpits Clinic Dursley and the Symn Lane Clinic in Wotton-under-Edge to a social enterprise, Gloucestershire Care Community Interest Company (CIC), on October 1 last year.

However, a legal challenge by Stroud pensioner Michael Lloyd, 75, on the grounds that the transfer was unlawful prevented this.

It has now been announced that a review into the decision will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on February 8.

Mr Lloyd said: "There is a place for private enterprise, but not within our NHS and that is why I have chosen to take this legal action. The NHS needs to be about collaboration not competition. Private companies will only get involved if they can make a fast buck."

James Beecher, chairman of Stroud Against the Cuts, said: "This action has been taken because Mr Lloyd, and supported by Stroud Against The Cuts, believe social enterprise companies are not an alternative to the break-up and privatisation of the NHS but are part of that process.

"Social enterprises act as stepping stones to privatisation, allowing the private sector to compete for contracts after only a few years. When a social enterprise competes with big business, it is like local corner shops up against Tesco.

"We believe that setting up a social enterprise is damaging to patients and staff who risk the loss of NHS pay, conditions and pensions."

If the review goes in favour of campaigners it will force NHS Gloucestershire to reconsider its options.

Chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire, Jan Stubbings, said it was important the matter was resolved as soon as possible.

She said: "Concluding the arrangements for the transfer is in the interests of patients and staff and will ensure service continuity and stability.

"Timely resolution of outstanding legal matters is also in the interests of the taxpayer and public funds."

She added: "If successful and taken to its logical conclusion, the legal challenge would mean that community services would be competitively tendered with the result that bodies, both within and outside the NHS sector, could respond.

"The challenge may therefore accelerate the very thing the challenger says he is opposed to - namely the services being provided by a body outside the NHS."