A legal action taken against Peamount Hospital by the two most senior medical personnel there has been settled at the High Court on terms that include the reinstatement of both doctors.
No details of the settlement were revealed to the court. However, according to a statement released by Peamount following the decision, Professor Luke Clancy ceases to be medical director with immediate effect.
However, he will occupy a post of senior treating physician until the end of this year when he will cease to be employed by Peamount. Dr Paul Kelly will retain his post as senior hospital medical officer.
The action by Prof Clancy and Dr Kelly was initiated after Prof Clancy was told on March 8th last, in pursuit of the implementation of a new five year strategic plan for the hospital, that he was to finish working for the hospital on March 22nd.
He had been medical director for some 20 years.
Dr Kelly's proceedings were taken because of his concern that, unless he agreed by March 22nd to take up a new post, which was not recognised by Comahirle na hOspideal and for which the court was told Dr Kelly believed he hadn't the necessary qualifications, he would be treated as having resigned.
The High Court was told that Prof Clancy was the only person of consultant status in the hospital. If he departed as sought in the absence of any transitional arrangements, it was claimed that would leave a situation where patients admitted under his care would remain in the hospital without any doctor of consultant status having any role in their care.
In court the Board of Management of Peamount denied the claims that the health and safety of patients was at risk.
It was claimed that Prof Clancy had opposed the new strategic plan and failed to co-operate with measures to implement it. Prof Clancy denied those claims.
In its statement, Peamount Hospital said Prof Clancy and Dr Kelly have agreed to be bound by and fully co-operate with the implementation of the strategic plan.
The court made no decision on the issue of costs.