High Court Grants Injunction to CHI Manager Facing Dismissal

The High Court has issued a temporary injunction preventing Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) from dismissing Anita Little, a business manager responsible for overseeing the waiting list for spinal surgeries. This legal ruling comes following claims by Little that she was dismissed for serious misconduct after being instructed to suspend ten patients from the waiting list.

Ms. Little, who has held her position since January 2024 with an annual salary of approximately €76,500, asserts that her dismissal on August 19, 2025, was the result of a flawed investigation and disciplinary process. She contends that during this process, she was denied her right to present witnesses, introduce supporting documents, and challenge inaccuracies in the findings against her.

Details of the Disciplinary Process

The proceedings unfolded when Ms. Little received instructions in November 2024 to suspend the names of ten patients from the waiting list, following concerns raised by Stephen Flanagan, the former deputy chief executive of CHI, regarding the appropriateness of patients listed. During a meeting with Flanagan, Keelin Hession, the assistant director of nursing, and her direct supervisor, Ciara Ní Fhlathartaigh, Ms. Little claims she was pressured to implement the suspension.

After the suspensions were put into effect, Ms. Little alleged that she faced continuous undermining from Ní Fhlathartaigh, which contributed to her decision to take sick leave due to work-related stress. In February 2025, she learned of a formal complaint against her lodged by Ní Fhlathartaigh, leading to a disciplinary process that Ms. Little describes as deeply flawed and unjust.

Legal Developments and Future Hearings

On Tuesday, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Brian Cregan, granted an interim injunction to Ms. Little’s legal representative, Richard Kean SC, prohibiting CHI from proceeding with her dismissal or advertising her position as vacant until further notice. Kean stated that CHI refused to provide assurances that Ms. Little would not be dismissed without a fair hearing, insisting she had already been afforded a fair process.

“My client has been scapegoated in carrying out an instruction to remove the names,” Kean stated, asserting that the disciplinary proceedings were essentially a contrivance.

The case is set to return to court later in the week, where the legality of CHI’s actions and the merits of Ms. Little’s claims will be further examined. The outcome could have significant implications not only for Ms. Little but also for the management of healthcare waiting lists in Ireland.

This ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities surrounding healthcare administration and the challenges faced by those in managerial positions, particularly when navigating directives from higher authorities amidst scrutiny over patient care protocols.