LIMERICK and the Mid West became the first in the country to get a lead appointment under the new health regions plan, with a new Executive Officer starting work on Monday (December 18).
The move is a jump ahead of the scheme, with other areas due to have their senior staff take up position in March.
It has not been stated whether the parachuting in of the new executive officer is in any way linked with the massive overcrowding being experienced on a daily basis in University Hospital Limerick (UHL), the Mid West’s only acute hospital.
The HSE chief executive, Bernard Gloster, has appointed Sandra Broderick to take up the new role as regional executive officer of the new HSE Mid West health region from next week.
According to Mr Gloster: “I have considered it is necessary at this time to proceed ahead of the changes in other regions and to make this intervention in the Mid West.”
“I have asked Sandra to establish an immediate office presence and support team in the Mid West pending her own final decisions on more permanent arrangements.
“I would ask that all of the leadership of the organisation support this expedited arrangement and I am sure you will join me in wishing Sandra the very best for what will be a challenging, new but exciting phase of development in our health services,” Mr Gloster said.
According to the CEO, Ms Broderick emerged as the preferred candidate for the Mid West in the recent recruitment process to fill the six regional leadership posts. The other five successful candidates will be announced shortly.
The Regional Executive Officers are to assume responsibility for their new roles from March 1. However, in a statement, the HSE said that the CEO has decided to proceed earlier in the Mid West region.
“Our many fine staff and services there will benefit from the additional support and oversight management”, Mr Gloster said yesterday. “The other five will be announced shortly and will work with the new HSE centre and national teams to migrate the system fully.”
Ms Broderick is currently the HSE’s assistant national director responsible for services for older people. She has significant experience in health and social care service delivery both internationally and in Ireland.
Ms Broderick began her healthcare journey in the UK where she qualified as a general nurse working across community and acute services.
While in the UK, she worked in a variety of patient facing and integrated management roles, from staff nurse working on the front line through to regional improvement advisor supporting several health and social care provider organisations.
Five years ago, she returned to Ireland taking up the role of assistant national director of older people operations within the HSE.
From Monday, she will assume responsibility for UL Hospitals, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare, and Mid West Public Health. The Hospital Group CEO, the Community Health Organisation’s chief officer, and the Director of Public Health will report directly to her, and she will report directly to the HSE’s CEO.
