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correspondence with Sheila Foley
The Health Secretary Alan Johnson MP has issued a standard letter in reply to correspondence on the sacking of Karen Reissmann. Sheffield TUC Sec. Bill Ronksley, Canadian Autoworkers Local 199 Vice-President Bruce Allen, I, and perhaps hundreds of others have received the following identical answers from Alistair Davie at the Dept. of Health.
Dear Mr Ronksley,
Thank you for your email of 14 November to the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, about the suspension of a member of staff at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust.
Due to his busy schedule and diary commitments, it is not always possible for the Secretary of State to answer correspondence personally, and I have been asked to reply on his behalf. The Department understands that a member of staff at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust was suspended from duty on 15 June. This related to issues concerning a private employment matter about her conduct, behaviour and activities in relation to her employment with the Trust as a Community Psychiatric Nurse between August 2006 and the present date.
However, as this is a local disciplinary matter, it would be inappropriate for the Department to become involved. The Department understands that the Trust is extremely keen to see an end to this action as soon as possible, but the strike cannot affect the ongoing suspension process. The investigation process relating to this matter is being carried out in a transparent and impartial manner.
As soon as this process is completed, then, and only then, will a decision be made about what, if any, further action should be taken in regards to the suspension. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful but I hope I have clarified the Department’s position.
Yours sincerely,
Alistair Davie
Department of Health
I don’t have Bill’s original but Bruce wrote to Alan Johnson:
Sir, I fully support Karen Reissmann and demand her immediate reinstatement with full compensation for the losses she has suffered.
Bruce Allen
Vice-President
Canadian Autoworkers Local 199
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada
and I wrote
As a former General Secretary of the UCW you know that victimisation for trade union duties cannot be tolerated. Yet that is precisely what has happened to Karen Reissmann, whose suspension and then sacking has triggered an official UNISON dispute and now indefinite strike by 150 members of the Community Mental Health Teams and Crisis Resolution Teams in Manchester.
Freedom of speech is also an inalienable human right. Karen was suspended for speaking truthfully to the press on a subject of public interest. She spoke in defence of the NHS.
The escalating crisis in Manchester demands your attention. It cannot be right that a Chief Executive carries out a personal vendetta against a UNISON Branch Chair, heedless of the consequences for Mental Health service provision in Manchester.
As Secretary of State for Health you have mechanisms to resolve this and I urge you to do so.
Yours,
Greg Dropkin
UNISON member
I don’t know if everyone else got the same response from Sheila Foley but here’s how Andrew Manners, Communication Manager, replied while Sheila was in Dubai. Manners claims sacking Karen was believed to be "in the best interests of patients, staff and carers" - but believing something does not make it true...
Dear Greg Dropkin,
Thank you for your comments. Sheila Foley has asked me to respond on her behalf to your e-mail. Sheila has noted your comments and concerns regarding the dismissal of Karen Reissmann. Dismissal is not a decision taken lightly, is very rare and only taken when there are very serious concerns. Dismissal is a decision only taken where it is believed that it is in the best interests of patients, staff and carers who must always come first. All the way through this matter the Care Trust has followed the correct processes. As Chief Executive Sheila believes that this is the right decision to take and that it is being taken in the best interest of the Trust and the patients we care for.
Ms Reissmann has the right to appeal the decision and as this is a private employment matter there is nothing more we can say regarding this issue in order to protect confidentiality. At this time it is difficult to respond in detail to all mailings however your concerns are noted and we are keeping copies of all the correspondence for future reference as part of the review process.
Sheila Foley has asked me to apologise on her behalf that she has not been able to respond to you personally.
Thank you and regards
Andrew Manners
Communications Manager
I had written
Reflecting on your role
Dear Sheila Foley,
I hope you had a pleasant time in Dubai, away from the escalating conflict in your Trust. I wonder, though, if while relaxing in the sun you may have considered, as a Mental Health professional, whether your own actions may have played a role in precipitating this crisis?
Did you, perhaps, imagine that once Karen Reissmann had been sacked, her fellow workers and UNISON would simply accept your decision and keep their heads down?
Did you think the rest of the world would not notice?
Do you assume your Trust Board will always endorse your strategy, no matter how heavily it backfires?
Other Chief Executives may have a better understanding of their role, or at least know when to stop digging in their own hole.
It’s not too late, though. You can acknowledge your mistakes, reinstate Karen, declare your committment to uphold freedom of speech and oppose the victimisation of NHS trade unionists acting in line with the policies of their union.
Yours,
Greg Dropkin
UNISON member
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