Deputy chief resigns in fresh hospice crisis

The deputy chief and nursing director of the Northern Ireland Hospice has handed in her letter of resignation.

Liz Atkinson, who had been with the hospice for 18 years revealed in a brief statement to the BBC that the ongoing situation at the hospice had made her continued employment untenable. She also said she was putting the matter in the hands of her solicitors.

It has since emerged that Ms Atkinson has secured another post in the charity Action Cancer, based on the Malone road in Belfast.

Ms Atkinson’s resignation is another chapter in the hospice’s recent troubled history.

The organisation's problems first came to light two years ago when Tom Hill, a leading fundraiser in the hospice’s campaign to build a centre for children with life limiting illnesses, was suspended and dismissed from his post.

His dismissal led to a year of bitter acrimony and dispute for the charity.

However, this decision was reversed by a tribunal who ruled in March this year that Mr Hill had been “unfairly dismissed”. It is estimated Mr Hill received around £80,000 in compensation.

Following this decision the management council then resigned and a new council was co-opted.

Anne O’ Reilly was appointed as the new chief executive and a new council was elected. However three days later Ms O’ Reilly resigned.

(AMcE)