Republican News · Thursday 21 August 2003

Sinn Féin TD welcomes inquiry into consultants' suspension

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has welcomed a proposed inquiry into the suspension of two consultants at Cavan General Hospital. The suspension of two consultants have a serious effect on medical services, it was claimed this week. William Joyce and Pawan Rajpal were suspended without pay from work after complaints earlier this year relating to severe "interpersonal difficulties" between them.

The health board did not clarify the circumstances that led to the decision by the North Eastern Health Board to suspend both consultants on Monday night. The suspensions have left just one surgeon working in the hospital, although the health board said it was seeking locum cover in the absence of the two surgeons.

The board has requested Health Minister Micheál Martin to appoint a committee to examine the affair. The health board said it would not be making any further comment until after that investigation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said a long-running dispute at the hospital had been a cause of concern to both staff and patients. He welcomed the call for an inquiry and added: "The health board executive must now ensure that the suspensions cause minimum disruption to patient services."

Cavan General Hospital has been in the news frequently lately, as a result of a baby's death after she and her mother were turned away from the hospital because of a lack of equipment. Ó Caoláin, the TD for Cavan/Monaghan, has been campaigning for the hospital to receive adequate funding for years.