Probe into alleged fracas between hospital consultants

A HOSPITAL consultant placed on “administrative leave” following an alleged fracas with a fellow consultant will be the subject of a second probe.

Punches were allegedly thrown between the two men in a hospital corridor in early January. And it emerged last night that the consultant has been investigated previously for alleged harassment and bullying in the workplace.

The consultant is not currently working at the hospital concerned but continues to work in private practice. The whole matter is also the subject of a legal action.

The latest incident, which was reported to the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) and the gardaí, occurred in early January. It is alleged that punches were thrown between the two men when a row erupted over work practices at the busy psychiatric unit.

The SEHB launched an inquiry into the alleged assault, which took place in front of patients and staff. There has been a history of bullying at the unit, and nurses there downed tools on at least one occasion in the past in protest over working conditions.

The health board was first alerted to the fracas when it received complaints from both individuals involved. Gardaí were also notified of the alleged incident, but are not pursuing the matter as no official complaint was made to them by any of the parties involved.

The probe was headed by Health Board chief executive Pat McLoughlin, who visited the unit just days after the incident. His inquiry was complicated by the fact that one of the consultants involved in the assault was on sick leave after the alleged bust-up.

Two members of the hospital’s nursing staff, who were on duty close to the nursing station where the fracas took place, were interviewed by the SEHB. But as the unit was busy at the time, neither was able to provide much information.

In a brief statement yesterday, the SEHB would say only that an allegation concerning verbal and physical violence was made by one physician against a colleague. “The chief executive officer of the South Eastern Health Board established an investigation into the facts of the case, arising from which one clinician is on administrative leave.

“The board cannot comment further as the matter may be the subject of legal action,” the statement added.