CEO of St James’s Hospital appointed as new HSE national director of acute operations

The chief executive of St James’s Hospital in Dublin has been promoted to one of the most senior positions in the health service, overseeing acute hospitals nationwide.

Professor Mary Day will take up the position of national director for acute operations on an interim basis, taking over from Liam Woods, who is heading up the operational transition to Regional Healthcare Associations – one of the key parts of the State’s Sláintecare plan.

In an update to staff on Friday, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said Prof Day, who was previously the chief executive of the Ireland East Hospital Group and in the Mater hospital, had contributed to “the development of lean management for healthcare improvement”.

She holds qualifications in cancer nursing and a Master’s in Health Service Management.

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Mr Reid said she would aim that hospitals “irrespective of size work together… to meet the needs of patients and staff, with an increased focus on small hospitals managing routine or planned care locally, and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals”.

Mr Woods was a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) during the Covid-19 pandemic and was centrally involved in planning the response of the hospital system to the virus.

In a statement, the chair of the St James’s Hospital board, Catherine Mullarkey, said the appointment was “testament to the leadership of Mary Day which she has ably demonstrated here at St James’s Hospital during one of the biggest health crises the world has ever seen”.

“We are very sorry to say goodbye to Mary, but look forward to welcoming her back to St James’s Hospital at the end of her secondment.”

Prof Day said it was a “bittersweet moment for me as I have relished the opportunity to shape the strategic direction and priorities of St James’s Hospital during my time here”.