Hospital board to decide on appeal over radiology head next week

The governing board of Zagreb's Sestre milosrdnice hospital is expected to meet next week to consider an appeal against the appointment of Dijana Zadravec as the new head of radiology, hospital sources said on Friday. The meeting comes after 11 radiologists submitted their resignations over the decision.

The appeal period for Zadravec's appointment expired on Thursday, but the board will wait until Monday for any appeals that may still arrive by post. So far, one appeal has been received, according to information from the hospital.

Zadravec was appointed on 28 October by hospital director Davor Vagić, with the governing board taking note of the decision. She previously led the radiology department but was removed in May 2021, with hospital management at the time citing severely damaged interpersonal relations and staff departures. Before her removal, there were complaints about alleged mobbing, which Zadravec denied, calling it an organised attack. Since then, no official complaints have been filed against her, according to the hospital.

The hospital said most of the 11 resignations are regular notices rather than mutual agreements, with the first notice period ending on 25 November. Management is continuing talks with the doctors and believes an agreement can be reached to retain the expert teams.

Meanwhile, radiologists at the Vinogradska location sent an unsigned letter expressing serious concern about the appointment and possible changes to the radiology service, and showing support for colleagues who resigned. Radiologists at the Traumatology clinic have requested that their department be returned under the clinic's management, warning that all radiology specialists there could otherwise resign. Health Minister Irena Hrstić recently met with dissatisfied radiologists to discuss possible organisational changes, but said she did not get the impression they opposed the proposed changes.