We have a right to fight NHS cuts.

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Wednesday 14^th November

7pm, Mechanics Institute,

Princess St [entrance Major St], Manchester

North West NHS bosses are backing the ‘gagging and sacking’ of whistleblowing nurse Karen Reissmann.

That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn from an official statement by the Manchester Trust.

They have declared: “NHS North West has made very senior  management support available to the trust if they require it.”

Which means that while chief executive Sheila Foley is on holiday in Dubai, EXTRA bosses are standing by, ready to be drafted in to help out.

We do not know how much this ‘very senior management support’ from the Region is costing the Manchester Trust, which is already in the red.

Nor do we know who has authorised this.

Nor do we know exactly what it is that they will be doing……..

But clearly the Region is ready to do everything it can to make sure Karen stays sacked, nurses are ‘gagged’ – and UNISON is defeated.

The health boss who sacked Karen Reissman and started an all-out strike by 180 staff has jetted off on holiday to Dubai.

Sheila Foley, £100,000-a-year chief executive of the Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, flew out as staff gathered around braziers on picket lines outside the Trust’s headquarters.

Before she left for the sun, Ms Foley had sacked UNISON shop steward Karen Reissmann for speaking out against cuts and privatisation.

A spokesperson for the ‘Reinstate Karen Reissman’ campaign said: “Ms Foley should call off her holiday immediately and return to Britain to settle the strike she started by giving Karen her job back.

“While Karen is left out in the cold with 180 colleagues, leaving dozens of patients anxious and fearful, Ms Foley disappears off to the sunshine without a ‘by your leave’! It’s an utter disgrace.

“No wonder Karen felt she had to speak out if this is the kind of uncaring and irresponsible management in charge of mental health services to some of the most vulnerable people.”

The Manchester Evening News carried the story of Ms Foley’s disappearance to Dubai on their front page today under the headline: ’STRIKE ROW BOSS IN DESERT STORM’. You can read it here.