Writer Paul Abbott backs striking mental health workers
TV writer Paul Abbott has backed psychiatric nurse Karen Reissmann, who was suspended by Manchester’s Mental Health Trust after speaking out against NHS cuts.
A letter of complaint from Abbott to the chief executive of the Trust was read out at a rally of Karen’s supporters, addressed by trade union activists including NUJ NEC member and co-editor of Citizen 32, Dave Toomer.
Around 700 members of Unison who work for Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust went on strike for three days in support of Karen, a community psychiatric nurse who has been suspended for 10 weeks. The charges against her relate to her trade union activity and her speaking out against government policies and local cuts. She has worked as a nurse in Manchester for 25 years and on the day she was suspended, she was also promoted.
UNISON believes the suspension is an attack on their union and an attempt to prevent Karen from speaking out.
Paul Abbott, who was sectioned at the age of 15 has written to Trust Chief Executive, Sheila Foley expressing his outrage, saying: “Without the professional care and essential skills I received from practitioners such as Karen, I most certainly would not be alive today.”
The creator of TV’s Shameless, Clocking Off and State of Play, says in his letter: "Karen Reissmann, who fights and speaks out for the Mental Health service deserves our full support. I cannot believe that the NHS no longer allows debate and criticism of its policies. Mental Health is the poor relation of the NHS, but as more and more people experience mental health difficulties, it should not be. If it was not for people like Karen prepared to fight for quality services, it would be a third-world service. Mental health services and staff need more respect than ever now. Karen should be reinstated immediately."
He adds: “We need the respect and passion of experienced community practitioners, now more than ever. It's essential we don't regress to the dark ages when grammar like 'raving mad freak' and 'lunatic' was nearly as powerful an influence as the illness itself, making me believe I'd rather be dead, at the age of fourteen. Such horrific, pointless misery.”
Dave Toomer, speaking at the rally, said: “Karen was suspended for speaking to the press about cuts in the health service. I believe Karen should be applauded for that, not suspended. These are issues which are clearly in the public interest. The public and journalism needs people like Karen who are prepared to articulate the views of people she represents. She has the full backing of the National Union of Journalists.
User groups are offering their full support and have sent a letter of protest demanding a public inquiry into the Trust to Alan Johnson, the secretary of state for health.
For more info visit http://reinstate-karen.org/1.html
