Consultant suspended by Kerry hospital is reinstated to post 

It is understood radiologist Dr Martin Schranz will resume work on Monday but on restricted activities

Dr Martin Schranz is the sole full-time radiologist at University Hospital Kerry. Picture: Kerry's Eye

A consultant radiologist who was suspended from University Hospital Kerry during Christmas week has been reinstated, the Irish Examiner  understands.

Dr Martin Schranz will begin work again on Monday, it is understood, but will be on restricted activities.

He had been suspended on December 22, and today he met with senior hospital management to discuss the reasons for this.

Dr Schranz had told the Irish Examiner  earlier this week that prior to the meeting he had been unaware of the details of any specific concerns the hospital had around his work or related issues.

The hospital said last night: “University Hospital Kerry [UHK] cannot publicly comment on the contractual arrangements relating to any member of staff.” 

Dr Schranz is the sole full-time radiologist at the hospital. UHK also has doctors who between them work hours equivalent to 2.5 full-time consultant radiologists.

Last month Dr Schranz told the Irish Examiner  that he did not know why he was suspended.

It must have been something dramatic to warrant me being paraded down like a criminal through the halls, in front of all my staff.

Earlier in December, the hospital met with him to discuss an out-of-hours diagnostics clinic he runs, with minutes of that meeting showing that his health, hours worked by non-medical staff, and “excessive” referring for MRIs were discussed.

Public hospital consultants on some contracts can do a certain amount of private work, although this is being phased out under a new Slaintecare contract.