The board of the National Maternity Hospital have rejected calls for its vice-Chairman to resign over a continuing row about the Governance and ethos at its proposed new location.

Former Master of the hospital, Dr Peter Boylan, alleges Mr Nicky Kearns has “seriously mishandled the project to date, in particular by your failure to advocate successfully for the hospital’s independence”.

“In my view you have failed to deal adequately with the issue, specifically the concerns in relation to the potential for Catholic ethos to adversely impact on the care of women in the new NMH as a consequence of it being owned by the Sisters of Charity on land also owned by them.”

The NMH board responded on Friday and accused Dr Boylan of attempting to “obstruct or derail this vital project for women and their babies”, calling it “exceptionally disappointing”.

“Your personal attack on the deputy chair is totally unwarranted . . . and unworthy of a governor.”

Dr Boylan reacted by seeking to have his objection to the relocation plan put on the agenda of the AGM in June.