Surgeons have work suspension lifted

Two surgeons who were prevented from working at Cavan General Hospital for the last 18 months have had their suspensions lifted by the Department of Health, it emerged today.

Mr William P Joyce and Mr Pawan Rajpal were suspended by North Eastern Health Board in August 2003 over inter-personal difficulties between them.

The Department of Health confirmed today that both suspensions had been lifted without prejudice to the legal or disciplinary procedures that were underway.

“Because of the time period involved, it wasn’t considered beneficial to have the suspensions any longer,” said a spokesman.

He added that the Health Service’s Executive would be entering into discussions with the two men about resuming their positions.

Cavan General Hospital has been in difficulty since the suspension of two of its three permanent consultant surgeons.

A report by the Royal College of Surgeons last week found the surgical unit at the hospital was “dysfunctional” and that its standards were declining due to poor communication, a lack of resources and a failure to implement previous recommendations.

Last May, the High Court overturned the decision to set up an inquiry into Mr Rajpal, stating that fair procedures were not adhered to.

Two months later, it granted a temporary injunction to Mr Joyce to prevent the inquiry from examining his conduct.

Mr Joyce, who is seeking damages from the Minister for Health for loss of earnings and reputation, was informed of the decision to lift his suspension by fax this morning.

At the High Court today, senior counsel Peter Finlay, representing Mr Joyce, said his client would also be seeking to make the injunction against the inquiry permanent.

He said his client had been suspended without pay since August 2003, and although his wages had been restored after a court application last year, he had still not received any money.

“The urgency remains that this is speedily resolved,” he said.

The president of the High Court Joseph Finnegan put the case in for mention again on January 19.