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By Fiona Scott, Coventry Evening Telegraph
TOP Coventry heart surgeon Dr Raj Mattu who has been suspended from his job for four years, was today still awaiting his fate.
Dr Mattu, a Walsgrave Hospital consultant, has been on full pay during the extraordinary investigation into claims that he bullied a junior colleague.
And today three Coventry MPs condemned the delay.
One of them, Geoffrey Robinson, described it as "a farce".
He said: "It should be on with the pantomimes at the London Palladium. They can't be serious. Think of the years out of the man's life and the cost to the health service."
Dr Mattu has not been able to work at the hospital since his suspension in February 2002. An independent hearing into the case did not get under way until last year and although a preliminary report has been sent to those involved, a final report is not yet complete.
Mr Robinson and fellow Coventry Labour MP Jim Cunningham are outraged at the length of time the process has dragged on and the cost to the health service - estimated at well over £1 million.
They have backed a campaign by supporters of Dr Mattu to have him reinstated and have raised the issue in Parliament.
The controversy comes at a time when Walsgrave Hospital is battling to cut costs. Wards have been closed and staff made redundant as bosses try to meet spending targets.
Mr Cunningham said the cost of the Dr Mattu case could have gone towards helping the hospital's deficit - halfway through the financial year it has overspent by £7.8 million.
He said: "I think it's taken far, far too long. Either they make their minds up or don't make their minds up. It's a very strange case. I may have to raise questions about this whole procedure in the Commons again."
The chairman of the hearing into Dr Mattu's case, Andrew Stafford QC, said a draft of the first part of the two-part report had been sent out to all parties involved.
He said: "None of the contents can be made public at this stage. The procedure will not be completed until some time in January or February 2006 and until it has been completed, no one involved in the inquiry is at liberty to make any comments."
