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By Karen Hambridge, Coventry Evening Telegraph
Hospital chiefs today faced renewed calls to reinstate a doctor who has been suspended for more than 18 months.
A decision on the fate of Raj Mattu, a cardiologist based at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry, seems no nearer now than when he was barred from duty in February 2002.
Accused of bullying a more junior colleague, Dr Mattu was suspended on full pay pending an investigation. But 18 months on, the inquiry appears to be no further forward.
Meanwhile taxpayers money continues to be paid out on Dr Mattu’s wages and on locum doctors to fill in for him. And legal fees are piling up.
Back in January a panel met to review the case and decided there was cause for further investigation. It appears no further investigations have taken place.
After receiving a letter of concern about the case from a constituent, Coventry South Labour MP Jim Cunningham wrote to hospital chief executive David Roberts asking what was happening and inquiring after costs.
The reply gave no details on expenditure but assured the MP costs were being monitored and added one of the reasons for the delay had been Dr Mattu’s ill health and inability to attend meetings.
Mr Roberts said the National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCCA) was now advising them on the matter.
Mr Cunningham said: “Really the letter did not take things any further forward as to what is happening.
“I am not convinced in my own mind what the reason is for the suspension and the trust seems to hide behind legal arguments.
“There are three costs involved here – the health and welfare of Dr Mattu and his family because of the uncertainty, the cost to the taxpayer for locums and legal support and the cost to the public being denied access to a doctor who I am told is very good at his job.”
Brian King, chairman of the Dr Raj Mattu Reinstatement Committee, said: “This is an absolutely scandalous situation. It has dragged on for far too long. Nothing seems to have happened since January.”
A spokesman for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said there was no new progress in the case but added it was difficult for them to comment further because of confidentiality issues surrounding the matter.
