The employment tribunal for a union worker sacked after 26 years at a hospital is due to take place next week.

Charlotte Monro, a former moving and handling coordinator at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstonen was dismissed in 2013.

In July 2013, she was suspended from her position after Barts Heallth Trust said it discovered "undisclosed prison sentences" relating to protests in the past.

However Ms Monro, the chairwoman of Unison’s Waltham Forest health branch, believes her dismissal was because of her work for the union.

She claims disciplinary action began against her when she expressed concerns about changes to stroke services at a council meeting.

Norma Dudley, leading the Reinstate Charlotte campaign, said: “All that Charlotte did was represent her union members and draw the attention of the local council and the community to the consequences of proposed cuts and service changes at Whipps Cross.

“Barts Health Trust actions have created a climate of fear seen to be aimed at keeping NHS workers quiet about cuts to services and union members cowed into submission over pay and conditions.

“The call to reinstate Charlotte is part of a determined drive by staff, unions and the local campaigns to change this culture that is incompatible with care.

“At a time of national crisis in the NHS it is more vital than ever that NHS staff are able to speak out against the damaging effects of cuts on the health of the patients in their care”.

Barts Health has always denied that the dismissal was due to her role as a union leader.

A spokesman for the trust said in September: “Charlotte Monro was dismissed from her employment with Barts Health for gross misconduct, in particular for failure to disclose serious criminal convictions and breaching confidentiality.

“We can categorically state that Ms Monro was dismissed for personal misconduct and not as a result of her union role.”

The tribunal will start on Monday at Anchorage House, in Clove Crescent, Poplar.