THE former matron of a hospice was prevented by its new chief executive from visiting a patient there, it was alleged yesterday.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, worked for the St Vincent's Hospice, in Howwood, Renfrewshire, for seven years - including five years as matron - until last month.

She returned there yesterday, after contacting staff in advance of her intention to collect personal belongings and visit a patient she had helped nurse for a year, but left without achieving either of her objectives.

She said that when she arrived she was met in the car park by chief executive Norris McGilloway, and taken into the building via a back door, rather than through the main reception area.

Inside, she said, she was told she would not be allowed to pick up her personal effects and they would be sent to her.

She then tried to make her way to the ward to see the patient but, she said, Mr McGilloway shouted after her and escorted her from the building.

She said she asked him if he was telling her she could not be there as a visitor to see the patient, and he confirmed this.

The former matron was not available for comment yesterday but her husband said: ``My wife is obviously greatly distressed by the discourteous and offhand manner in which she was treated.

``She worked tirelessly for St Vincent's for seven years but, because of recent developments, she felt she could no longer continue to work under the new management structure.

``Even given that, it seems quite amazing that a former matron and friend of a patient should be prevented from visiting him, not it appears for any medical reason, but because the chief executive did not want her to visit the ward.''

The hospice is partly funded by the St Vincent de Paul Society, a Roman Catholic charitable organisation.

Approached by The Herald yesterday, Mr McGilloway referred any request for comment to the press office of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Its spokesman said: ``I am told that the former matron had intimated the previous day that she was coming into the hospice and that when she arrived, this morning, the staff said they would rather she did not come into the building as they would be upset.

``Mr McGilloway intercepted her and said it was better that she did not come in, and that her belongings would be delivered to her on Monday.''

Commenting on this response, her husband told The Herald: ``The staff at the hospice have been nothing but fully supportive of my wife during her time there, and subsequently.''

The Herald revealed in May this year, that Mr McGilloway and two other voluntary directors of the hospice had given themselves paid jobs without advertising the posts.

The directors said they acted in the best interests of the hospice and that the posts had not been advertised because it could not afford to pay going rates for the positions.