Galway hospice moved a step closer to resuming a full consultant-led service with the approval of a second palliative care consultant for the 12-bed unit.
The hospice in Renmore has been operating as a GP-led service since the end of April following the withdrawal of clinical director and palliative care consultant Dr Dympna Waldron and her team.
A GP-led service is to continue operating at the facility until a consultant-led service can be restored.
Chief officer of the HSE (west), Dr Sheelah Ryan, announced that Comhairle na nOispidéal had approved an additional palliative care consultant to work between the hospices in Galway and Mayo. She said it was hoped a third position would be approved soon.
Minister for Health Mary Harney, who was at University College Hospital Galway last week to open a new radiotherapy unit, said the situation at the hospice was regrettable and disturbing. She said she would be meeting the hospice board in two weeks.
"It is important that a full consultant-led service is resumed. The Galway hospice does a terrific job and it's important that any internal disputes do not interfere with patient care there."
A HSE investigation concluded in April that three staff members were bullied by Dr Waldron.
A new investigation has begun into 22 more allegations of bullying against the consultant.
The hospice asked the HSE to reassign the consultant pending the outcome of this investigation, and in the interim to provide alternative consultant-led services in accordance with its obligations to the hospice under a service agreement between both parties.
However, despite all efforts, the HSE was unable to secure replacement cover, leaving the hospice with no option but to operate a GP-led service until a full consultant-led service can be restored.
The facility had only reopened in August 2004 having been closed to admissions for 15 months while an investigation was carried into clinical errors highlighted by Dr Waldron at the unit.
The hospice board chairman, Dr Richard Joyce, said the organisation welcomed the comhairle approval and hoped to secure approval for a third consultant.
