A NURSE who spoke out against NHS cuts has been sacked for talking to the media.

Karen Reissmann, who worked for the Manchester Mental Health Trust, was found guilty of gross misconduct yesterday after a six-day disciplinary hearing.

Within minutes, union leaders announced strike plans involving more than 160 staff who provide vital community care for around 1,000 seriously-ill psychiatric patients across Manchester.

They will walk out on Thursday and say they will not return to work until Ms Reissmann, from Hulme, is reinstated.

Ms Reissmann, a union official who led a series of protests against changes at the trust, was suspended 20 weeks ago on the same day she was notified that she had been promoted to specialist practitioner - the most senior grade of nurse below management.

She was accused of `seriously adversely affecting the reputation of the trust' by speaking to the media. At her disciplinary hearing, articles in the M.E.N. and other publications were used in evidence against her.

Trust bosses refused to reveal the reasons for her dismissal, but say they followed their disciplinary procedures and are `disappointed' about the planned strike.

Patient care

Patients' groups called for health bosses and MPs to intervene, claiming vulnerable patients would be put at risk.

Ms Reissmann, 41, who has worked in Manchester for 25 years, said: "I can't believe this is happening in 2007 under a Labour government - the day when staff can no longer stand up for services, for staff and for patient care is a very sad day.

"There will be cuts to services during the walkout, but they will be temporary, and for that we apologise, but unless we defend our services now, there will be more permanent cuts in the future."

Unison, the union representing Ms Reissmann, say she was sacked for comments about employment rights in a trade magazine interview in January.

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

Soon after the decision was announced yesterday, the M.E.N. received tearful phone calls from patients distressed by news of the sacking.

Joel Rickman, from the Manchester mental health patients' forum, said: "It is very sad. Many patients support Karen because she is a very good nurse, but patients have already been shipped to Darlington during a previous strike, disturbing their care, and we need this resolved before patients suffer any more."

Gagged

Staff have already held 14 days of strikes over the summer following Ms Reissmann's suspension, with permission from Unison's national body to take continuous strike action.

Vall Midson, a Unison shop steward and a nurse who will be taking part in the strike, said: "I refuse to be gagged like this. Karen has been made a scapegoat by the trust and there is a lot of anger and bitterness about the way management have treated Karen."

Ms Reissmann's MP, Tony Lloyd, who represents Manchester Central, said: "I have grave concerns about the position Ms Reissmann has been put in and the outcome of the hearing, but Unison bringing members out is very serious."

Sheila Foley, chief executive of the trust said: "We have detailed contingency plans in place to ensure that patients receive an appropriate level of care. We are extremely keen to see an end to this action.

"All the way through this, we have followed the correct processes. I have listened to all the evidence for six days and I have weighed up that evidence and made my decision.

"I do believe this is the right decision in the best interest of the trust and the patients we care for. Dismissal is not a decision taken lightly, is very rare and only taken when there are very serious concerns."

Unison intend to appeal against the decision.

Regional secretary Frank Hont said: "We do not agree with the charges and we intend to challenge them."

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