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By Coventry Evening Telegraph
Signatures from leading consultants at Walsgrave Hospital are being collected on a protest letter over the long-standing suspension of heart doctor Raj Mattu.
Letters have already been sent to Stephen Ladyman, minister for health and social care, and Ian Stone, adviser to the chief medical officer at the National Clinical Assessment Authority.
Now a further document is being circulated. The medics hope to pass this letter to the Evening Telegraph.
At least 43 consultants put their names to the paper sent to the government officials.
Around 21 senior doctors are already known to have signed the Telegraph-bound letter.
The medics also plan to send a copy to Coventry hospital bosses.
They say they are unhappy about the 22-month suspension of cardiologist Dr Mattu and are requesting his immediate reinstatement.
They also say they are disturbed by the events surrounding the case and believe an independent investigation is needed to fully assess any irregularities, particularly the length of time it has taken to go through procedures and whether the hospital has adhered to due process.
Brian King, from the Dr Raj Mattu Reinstatement Committee, said he was not surprised at the support the doctor was receiving from colleagues.
"Despite various stories going around the hospital about Dr Mattu, he still has a lot of support among workers there.
"His fellow consultants believe this matter has gone on for far too long and are concerned that the process followed has been flawed.
"They are also worried about their own futures. If this can happen to Dr Mattu it could happen to any of them."
Dr Mattu was suspended in February 2002 amid allegations of bullying a junior colleague.
Supporters of Dr Mattu claim the allegation was a smoke screen used by the former trust management to oust the cardiologist after he criticised the hospital for unsafe practices.
Attempts to broker a solution failed just before Christmas.
David Roberts, chief executive of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, which runs Wals-grave, said he had not received any letters from consultants on the matter.
He said the process the trust was following was the one it had been advised to use by the National Clinical Assessment Authority."
