THREE people will decide the future of the sacked nurse at the centre of a health workers strike.

Wyn Dignan, Ken Harper and Clare McBeath, all directors of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, will today start hearing an appeal by senior nurse Karen Reissmann against her sacking for speaking to the media.

Around 100 health workers, who care for around 1,000 vulnerable psychiatric patients, have been on strike for more than three weeks over the decision. But they have promised to return to work if Ms Reissmann is reinstated.

On the day she was suspended, Ms Reissmann was also promoted to the most senior nursing post, under management.

The 41-year-old, from Hulme, who has worked for the trust for 25 years, said: "I still believe I was sacked because I spoke out.

"I do hope the panel will listen to me with open minds, then I would be confident I will soon be back at work, working to try to resolve other issues at the trust."

The hearing is scheduled for four days and it is understood both sides will present the evidence they gave at the original hearing.

Ms Dignan has been chair of the trust since 2004 and she has previously held posts on other local health trusts. She worked in banking and finance until 1999.

Mr Harper, 49, from Hulme, is semi retired after working in the rail industry for 27 years. He has also served as a county councillor.

Clare McBeath, 34, is a Baptist minister with experience in mental health and social care and 16 years' experience in the community and voluntary sector.

Sheila Foley, chief executive of the trust, chaired the original hearing that decided Ms Reissmann was guilty of gross misconduct after she made comments about employment rights in a trade magazine interview in January.

It found the nurse had breached the terms of her suspension by telling the media why she had been suspended, protesting her innocence and allowing the press to print `misleading statements'.

Ms Foley has been criticised for going on a holiday to Dubai on November 8, when Unison nurses, occupational therapists and admin workers began their walkout.

Striking staff waited for her to return 12 days later and talks began, but within 48 hours Ms Foley criticised the nurses and threatened to report them to their professional bodies if they didn't return to work.

Ms Foley later withdrew the threat until after today's appeal but relations between the two sides have become increasingly tense as a row erupted this week over how wages are paid during strikes.

Unison had already held 14 days of walkouts over Ms Reissmann's suspension over the summer.