United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) today confirms that the High Court has refused permission, on paper and without a hearing, for its judicial review of the adoption of the Leng Review. This will now mean that UMAPs, whilst being extremely frustrated by the decision, will need to consider applying for reconsideration at a hearing in person in order to proceed.
UMAPs initiated proceedings in August 2025 against the Government, NHS England and Professor Gillian Leng, seeking to overturn the adoption of a review that has upended the careers of thousands of qualified clinicians, led by Patrick Green KC – previously counsel in the subpostmasters IT scandal.
UMAPs’ arguments have not been tested at a full hearing, to which we believe our members are entitled.
Stephen Nash, General Secretary of UMAPs, says:
“UMAPs will represent and fight for its members through every channel available to us. This High Court decision was taken on the papers, without a hearing or oral argument and without our members ever having their case put in open court without full consideration of all available evidence. Together with our legal team, we are exploring the options available to apply for reconsideration of the decision.
The decision, if allowed to stand, makes clear that it will be employers, in the employment courts, that will be left carrying the burden of the decision to adopt Leng’s recommendations. We believe this is unfair and those responsible for adopting and making the review recommendations that have harmed our profession should be required to answer for their actions.
The associate workforce is around 80% female and around half from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. They have been made redundant, restricted out of the roles they trained and qualified for, and subjected to a sustained hostile campaign in their workplaces and online. No proper impact assessment has ever been published of what accepting the Leng Review recommendations would do to them. We do not intend to let that stand unexamined.”
