Clinical director of hospice ‘bullied staff’
The board of Galway Hospice said it welcomed the conclusion of an investigation into three individual claims of bullying against the hospice’s clinical director and palliative care consultant at Portiuncula Hospital, Dr Dympna Waldron.
The investigation by Dr Seán Conroy, assistant chief officer with the Health Service Executive-West, found Dr Waldron bullied three members of staff who worked with her and “misconducted herself in relation to her appointment, contrary to her terms of contract”.
A spokesperson for the board of Galway Hospice said: “The hospice welcomes the conclusion of the investigations.”
The bullying complaints were made in 2002 and 2003 by former chief executive Mary Derrig, and two nursing staff, Ann Gardiner, clinical nurse specialist at Portiuncula Hospital, and Nicola Purcell, clinical nurse manager at Galway Hospice. Ms Derrig claimed her health was affected by the alleged bullying and this ultimately forced her to take sick leave in December 2002.
The former chief executive claimed that Dr Waldron “undermined her authority, demeaned her in front of others, set her impossible tasks, excluded and isolated her, verbally abused her and intimidated her”.
Similar claims were made by the other complainants. In the report, Dr Conroy notes that a 10-month delay in the initial response by Dr Waldron to the bullying claims caused him “considerable concern”.
The HSE-West yesterday refused to comment on what disciplinary action Dr Waldron might face as a result of the report, but said: “The report has been given to the parties involved.”
It is understood that Dr Conroy will hear submissions from Dr Waldron and her representatives before determining what action to take.
The Irish Hospital Consultant Association, the organisation representing Dr Waldron, also refused to comment on the matter, saying it is being dealt with by Dr Waldron’s solicitors.
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