A surgeon who has been away from his job at Cavan General Hospital since he was suspended more than two years ago has been instructed by the Health Service Executive to report for work this week.
Liam Joyce was suspended from his job at the hospital with another surgeon, Pawan Rajpal, by the former North Eastern Health Board in August 2003 over what were at the time described as "interpersonal difficulties".
Their suspensions were, however, lifted by Minister for Health Mary Harney in December 2004.
Mr Rajpal returned to work but Mr Joyce did not as the HSE attempted to impose preconditions on his return, a move which he challenged in the High Court.
His action was settled in October last year and the court was told at the time that the question of preconditions to his return had now been amicably resolved and the HSE wished it to be known that Mr Joyce was entitled to return to the hospital.
However he did not return, claiming this was because the HSE was still trying to impose conditions on his return.
When contacted yesterday, he said he wrote to Chris Lyons, manager of the northeast hospital network, a number of weeks ago, seeking a meeting to discuss a number of important issues including "matters related to patient and staff safety" before he could return to work.
However, he said, Mr Lyons did not meet him. "I was very disappointed by his decision not to meet me," he added.
Mr Joyce, who is being paid during his absence from the hospital, said he wrote to Mr Lyons again last Friday, after being directed to return to work today at 9am, and said he needed until this Wednesday to consider his position. It has been suggested to him that he will be in breach of his contract if he does not return to work.
A spokeswoman for the HSE North Eastern Area confirmed last evening that Mr Joyce had been instructed to return to work. She said Mr Joyce had asked for "a short delay" and that this was now granted.