HSE chief's role: The newly appointed chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Prof Brendan Drumm, said yesterday on his first day in office that he wanted to use the coming weeks to absorb as much as possible before outlining his plans and priorities.
In a message to staff, he signalled, however, that he was fully committed to health service reform. He stressed there were many demands and difficulties ahead and a lot of work had to be done in a relatively short time frame.
"One of my key priorities is to engage directly with staff and I am looking forward to visiting locations around the country over the coming months to meet with as many of you as possible in different settings. During these visits I am keen to hear what you have to say about the way we plan and deliver healthcare services," he said. "While there is much that we do very well, there are many demands and difficulties ahead - we all have a lot of work to do in a relatively short time frame," he added.
He has already spoken about a "demoralised" staff within the health sector as something he wants to overcome. He has also said he wants to see efficiency in the sector rewarded rather than money being thrown at problems for political reasons, GP services restructured, a new consultants contract negotiated, and a reduction in the hours worked by junior doctors.
Prof Drumm will also have to contend with ongoing overcrowding in A&E units, nurse and GP shortages, and problems over the introduction of doctor-only medical cards.
Aged 48, Prof Drumm has, up to now, worked as a consultant paediatrician at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and professor of paediatrics at UCD. In taking on the position of first chief executive of the HSE, he assumes responsibility for the day-to-day running of the entire health service, its €11 billion budget and 100,000 staff.
The position, which commands a salary of €330,000 and annual performance-related bonuses of up to 25 per cent of his salary, was turned down at the last minute last year by Prof Aidan Halligan, the UK's national director of clinical governance.
Following a second recruitment campaign, it was offered to Prof Drumm in May, but within weeks he walked away from the contract he was being offered because it failed to guarantee he could return to his duties in Crumlin and UCD after his five- year term at the HSE ended.
After UCD stepped in and guaranteed to provide him with a professorship after he completed his term of office with the HSE, the matter was finally resolved.
Documents released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act show the Department of Health has made it clear to the HSE that the package offered to Prof Drumm is "in light of the significant and particular challenges facing the first appointee to the CEO position" and that "the remuneration of subsequent CEOs of the HSE will be determined by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector".
Plans by Prof Drumm to have a hand-picked team of six people arriving with him at the HSE to assist with the speedy implementation of reforms have not yet been finalised. The HSE said yesterday that "a procurement process is underway" to recruit these people.