A NURSE sacked for speaking to the media is launching a legal bid to regain her job.

Karen Reissmann, 49, a senior psychiatric nurse for 25 years, was dismissed on gross misconduct charges for speaking out about cuts and privatisation in the NHS.

She is taking Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust to an employment tribunal on Monday, claiming unfair dismissal.

Her sacking in November prompted a month-long strike which crippled the city's community psychiatric care.

Sheila Foley, former chief executive of the troubled trust who sacked her, resigned as a damning independent report into the service was published last month. But she is expected to attend the tribunal in Manchester.

Trust bosses say they will robustly defend the case and if they are successful, trade unions fear they will not be able to raise concerns about practices or policies within the public sector.

Caroline Bedale, from Manchester Unison, which is providing legal backing for the claim, said: "NHS trusts are not buying and selling cornflakes. We are providing a public service. We want NHS trade unionists to be able to speak out when they have concerns about the impact of the private and voluntary sectors taking over the provision of health services."

Ms Reissmann was found guilty of gross misconduct after she made comments about employment rights in a magazine interview. Three members of the trust appeal panel agreed she had breached the terms of her suspension.