A £100,000-a-year NHS boss at the centre of a sacking storm has jetted off on an exotic holiday - as scores of nurses launch a crippling strike.

Sheila Foley, the head of mental health care in Manchester, flew to Dubai on Thursday as 150 community staff who care for 1,000 seriously ill psychiatric patients across the city began a continuous walkout.

The strike came after Mrs Foley, 62, chief executive of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, fired union leader Karen Reissmann, an outspoken critic of NHS cuts, for speaking to the media. Now her colleagues say they will not return to work until she is reinstated.

Patients' groups and politicians reacted angrily to the news Mrs Foley had gone ahead with her holiday plans. Trust bosses confirmed she was on leave and say deputy chief executive Tracy Ellery is running the trust.

Joel Richman, from the trust's patient group, said: "I'm amazed she would go on holiday in the middle of this very serious situation.

"The trust needs very strong, purposeful leadership at this difficult and disruptive time."

Andy Gill, of health union Unison, said: "Given that 150 staff began industrial action on Thursday this appears to be a very poor piece of timing. Staff on the picket lines will be very disappointed by this.

"It is perfectly reasonable for all working people to have time away from their jobs but given the seniority of the member of staff concerned taking leave just at this point in time seems quite disrespectful.

"Unison would respond appropriately if a move was made to seek talks but it would be very difficult to see how the trust could make a serious move to start negotiations without their chief executive."

A trust spokesman said: "The trust has in place robust arrangements to deal with the regrettable action currently being taken by Unison.

"We have an experienced executive team running the organisation and NHS North West has made very senior management support available to the trust if they require it. We will ensure that patient safety is our priority and this will not be compromised."

Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, said: "This probably does not send out the most helpful message. I would be more concerned if it was holding up the appeal process."

Mrs Foley, who lives in Merseyside and is a qualified mental health nurse, joined the trust in April on a one-year contract understood to be worth more than £100,000.

She previously worked for private healthcare group Capio and as the boss of a London mental health trust between 2002 and 2006, served on the prison health task force as a mental health specialist.

She is said to have visited the Middle East several times since she took up her job in Manchester. Members Unison have already held 14 strike days over the summer since Ms Reissmann was suspended 20 weeks ago for allegedly bringing the trust's reputation into disrepute. Unison say they will appeal the decision.

Pressure is growing on the trust, which was recently ranked as providing the third worst community psychiatric care in the country.

The M.E.N. was unable to contact Mrs Foley for a comment.