Two days after a decision by the Minister for Health, Ms Harney, to lift suspensions on two surgeons at Cavan General Hospital, it has emerged that one has been told by his employer not to return to the hospital until further notice.
The Irish Times has learned that solicitors acting for Mr Liam Joyce received a letter yesterday from lawyers for the North Eastern Health Board, which runs the hospital, stating that Mr Joyce should not attend at Cavan General Hospital until further notice.
Mr Joyce and another surgeon, Mr Pawan Rajpal, were suspended without pay in August 2003 over "interpersonal difficulties".
Both were seeking to have their suspensions lifted by the courts when Ms Harney made her decision. She did so on legal advice and on the basis of the length of time the suspensions had continued.
In the aftermath of Ms Harney's decision both surgeons said they looked forward to returning to work in Cavan, which has been at the centre of controversy since their departure. The surgery unit was described as "dysfunctional" by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland after a recent visit, and several adverse clinical incidents have been reported at the unit since they were suspended.
However, it is clear that not all in the North Eastern Health Board were happy about Ms Harney's decision, as there had been conflict in the surgery unit when they worked there. All the health board will say since the suspensions were lifted is that they are "considering the position".
It was not known last night whether Mr Rajpal had received a similar communication.
Meanwhile, the Medical Council has decided to visit Cavan hospital again to see if recommendations it made during a previous visit have been acted on.