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Background to the Suspension of Dr Raj Mattu
98. The Trust has failed to comply with 5.1c of its own written procedures and proceeded outside their policies by convening this panel on 30 January 2003.
99. The Trust's decision to proceed without full evidence from Dr Mattu, by using disputed and distorted witness summaries, by making a report to direct the panel, selectively submitting documents, providing NO investigative powers to the panel and giving Dr Mattu and his advisors no sight of the summary and documents before putting them to the panel, significantly biased the investigation and denied Dr Mattu his right to a fair and considered response to the evidence used against him.
100. The panel was never able to reach any independent or impartial view.
101. Although the Trust has had ample opportunity to investigate this matter, they have clearly taken an unduly excessive time. The Trust has no justification for still having an incomplete investigation after over 2 years under suspension.
102. Moreover the Trust has no right to abuse its public offices in order to punish Dr Mattu in this excessive manner in OUR name. Dr Mattu has clearly committed no serious crime and presents no serious danger to patients or colleagues whereby the Trust managers can substantiate his banishment from the workplace for a period longer than the prison sentences that serious criminals would serve.
103. The Trust is well aware that there is no serious wrong doing here and accordingly they have clearly failed to find any evidence for this after 2 years. We can no longer accept the continued suspension of Dr Mattu, or the false and misleading information repeatedly put forward by the Trust Management to justify their inhumane actions that continue the sufferance of Dr Mattu.
104. This lack of substance to the allegations and the flawed and discriminatory investigation was evidenced from events when the panel actually met. Importantly the panel were divided with Professor Welsh unsurprisingly voting with the Trust Board member on the panel. It is of great concern that the other panel member objected to events surrounding the investigation and the decision so strongly, that they formally recorded their disquiet.
105. The Trust Management's attitude towards Dr Mattu has already been described and the biased investigation has been in keeping with the underlying victimisation of Dr Mattu. Regrettably, the investigation and suspension of Dr Mattu demonstrates that this has continued under the current chairman.
106. The Trust has been determined to find against Dr Mattu and conducted a highly irregular, flawed and biased investigation, providing countless excuses for their improper conduct.
107. Dr Mattu has suffered appalling punishment from a Trust that has very obviously discriminated against him, using very unreliable evidence from witnesses with highly questionable integrity.
108. The only crime that Dr Mattu has committed is that he has bravely spoken out for the people of Coventry. The Trust Management has clearly persecuted him and this has continued during the last 2 years.
In light of the above we respectfully request an urgent intervention with a proper and thorough, independent investigation into the allegations against Dr Mattu.
We also urge the immediate reinstatement of Dr Mattu whilst the independent investigation is being undertaken.
It is worrying that the public continues to be misled by the Trust with the recent assertion in the Coventry Evening Telegraph, 2 January 2002, that the composition of the panel has been agreed by all parties. It is also of great concern that this publicly funded organisation persists with false and misleading information to its paymasters, the public.
In view of the many other very serious and known issues regarding the management of our NHS Trust, and the continued fear amongst clinical staff to speak up about many others, on the background of a persistent lack of transparency and accuracy in the claims by the Trust Management, there is obvious justification and a duty to the people of the UK and Coventry for there to be a full public inquiry into our Trust Management.
On behalf of Dr Raj Mattu Reinstatement Committee,
PO Box 2912, Coventry. CV1 3YX
For more information contact: mail@drmrc.co.uk