Press release
Minister Simon Harris announces membership of Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, has today, Wednesday 3rd October, announced the membership of the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council. The advisory council will have 23 members from a range of backgrounds, including a number of medical professionals, experts and patient advocates.
Announcing the membership, the Minister said:
“The Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council is a critical element in the implementation of the Sláintecare vision. The Advisory Council will provide advice and support to the Sláintecare Programme Office on the delivery of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy. I am delighted that we have been able to appoint a diverse group of people with a breath of experience and expertise in healthcare, governance, change management and leadership. The Council combines patient/service user representatives, senior health service leaders, clinical leadership and a number of independent change experts from outside the health service who will bring expertise and an independent perspective.”
“I wish the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council well and look forward to working with it in delivering fundamental change to the Irish health system. I would like to thank the members for agreeing to participate in this challenging role, which will ensure the Sláintecare ambition turns into reality.”
ENDS
23 members have been appointed to the Advisory Council for a 3 year period commencing on 24th October 2018.
Dr Tom Keane will chair the Council.
A native of Dublin, Dr Tom Keane attended UCD and subsequently completed three years post graduate training in St Vincent’s Hospital and the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin before taking up a post as consultant Radiation Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, where he held a number of significant leadership positions.
In 1995 he moved to Vancouver to take up new leadership positions at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) and the University of British Columbia (UBC).
He has researched and published extensively, particularly in the areas of cancer research, and has held visiting professor positions around the world.
Amongst the honours and awards that have been granted to him include the O’Farrell Gold Medal in Surgery (1971); The Annual Residents Award for excellence in clinical teaching, Dept of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto (1995); Governor General of Canada Award/ Commemorative Medal for the 125th anniversary of the confederation of Canada, in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada (1992); the Annual Gordon Richards Lecturer, Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (1993); Honorary Fellowship, Faculty of Radiology, The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (FFRCSI) (2006); Honorary Fellowship, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (2017); the Terry Fox lectureship and medal (shared with Professor Susan O’Reilly) presented by the British Columbia Medical Association in recognition of contributions to cancer care in British Columbia (2011).
In 2006 he was granted a 4-month temporary secondment to assist in the development and implementation of the National Radiotherapy plan in Ireland. This work was carried out from November 2006 to March 2007 at which time he returned to his former positions at BCCA and UBC. In November 2007 he was appointed as the founding Director of the National Cancer Control Programme in Ireland, with the goal of implementing the National Cancer Strategy. He completed this secondment in February 2010 and returned to Vancouver, where he served as senior policy advisor to the President of BCCA until his retirement in February 2011. In 2016/17 Dr. Keane chaired the Policy Forum “Towards 2026” for the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Over the last 28 years Ms Laura Magahy has led some of Ireland’s most significant and transformational public-sector projects, including the €1 billion urban renewal of Temple Bar (1990 – 2000), Ireland’s first urban renewal project; the €284 million development of the Mater Hospital (2000 – 2014); and the government initiative Irish Design 2015, which had considerable international reach and economic impact.
Through the strategic design and project management company that she co-founded in 2000, MCO, she has devised and led change initiatives on behalf of clients from the private and public sectors, and specifically in the health sector for the past 17 years, including recently, a number of Hospital and Hospital Group strategies. From 2002 – 2005 she worked with the HSE/St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group Board on the successful development of the €22 million New Ward Block Building including dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Unit, overseeing brief planning, construction programme, equipping, consultation, liaison with multiple stakeholders, Government funding agencies and the HSE.
Laura was also project director on the Great Northern Haven Intelligent Lifetime Homes Project, working with the Department of Environment and Local Government and Dundalk Town Council as well the HSE and a range of other stakeholders, to deliver sensor-enabled homes and community accommodation to foster independent living.
Laura Magahy is a Fellow and past President of the Institute of Directors, and is one of Ireland’s top Level A Project Directors. She is an honorary member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland and has served on numerous public, private and plc boards as Chairman, Non-Executive Director, and Executive Director, including CIE, The Arts Council and The Design and Crafts Council.
In 2014, she also founded ceramic company, Arran Street East.
Her qualifications include:
Dr Siobhán Kennelly is consultant geriatrician in Connolly Hospital & CHO9 and honorary clinical senior lecturer, RCSI. Her clinical and research interests include the care of older patients in community settings including residential care, the development of integrated ambulatory care pathways in older person’s services, the role of intensive case management in the care of older patients with complex needs and end of life care. As project lead for the Genio- awarded Connolly Integrated Dementia Pathways Programme she has developed dementia services that support the needs of people living with dementia across primary and secondary care services and is clinical lead for the Connolly Hospital Memory Assessment and Support service. She was appointed National Clinical Advisor and Group Care Lead in the Social Care Division in the HSE 2015 – 2018 and within that role has been clinical lead on the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP)
Dr Anthony O’Connor is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Tallaght University Hospital since 2016 and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Gastroenterology at Trinity College Dublin. He was Consultant Gastroenterologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds 2014-2016.
He holds an MB, BCh, BAO, BMedSc from University College Cork 2004 & a MD Trinity College Dublin 2012. He is has a Fellowship in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA 2014
Memberships
Professor Patrick Broe is a Board Member Bon Secours Health System Limited, College Road, Cork and is the immediate Past President and Emeritus Clinical Professor of Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is currently Group Clinical Director for the RCSI Hospitals Group and although recently retired from his public practice at Beaumont Hospital continues to practice privately in the Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, Dublin.
Professor Broe completed his medical education at University College Dublin Medical School and having graduated in 1974 did his Basic Surgical Training in Ireland and obtained his Fellowship of RCSI in 1978. He spent the next two years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore doing predominantly laboratory based research into the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and its complications. This work formed the basis of his Master’s Degree in Surgery (MCh) which was conferred in 1982. He spent a year at Guy’s Hospital London as a Surgical Registrar and then returned to Ireland where he completed the Higher Surgical Training programme in 1985.
He then took up the post of Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant surgeon at the Richmond Hospital and the Surgical Department of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In 1987 he was appointed Consultant General Surgeon to the Richmond Hospital which subsequently transferred to Beaumont later that year.
In his current role as Group Clinical Director in the RCSI Hospitals Group he has a medical leadership role with important emphasis on quality and safety and reconfiguration of surgical services to ensure adequate elective work within the Group. In September 2015 he was appointed to the Board of the Bon Secours Hospital Group. He is also a Board Member of the Kimmage Development Education Centre, an organisation that supports postgraduate education in overseas development.
Dr Colm Henry is the Interim Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE.
Prior to this current appointment he was National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acute Hospitals in the HSE from 2014 to 2018 and National Lead for the Clinical Directors Programme in the HSE from 2012 to 2014.
He was appointed as Consultant Geriatrician to the Mercy University Hospital in Cork in 2002 and was the hospital’s Clinical Director from 2009 to 2012.
Ms. Annette Kennedy was elected 28th President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) in June 2017 after serving four years as Vice President.
Annette was appointed Commissioner on the WHO High Level Advisory Commission on NCD’s and Mental Health in 2017 by the Director General. She is also a member of the board of Nursing Now.
Previously, she held the position of President of the European Federation of Nurses and was active in lobbying the European Parliament, Commission and Council. Annette also served on the Maynooth College and UCD Board of Governors.
A Registered Nurse and Midwife with a BA in Nursing Studies an MSc in Public Sector Analysis and an Honorary Fellowship from the faculty of nursing RCSI . Ms. Kennedy was the Director of Professional Development for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation for 19 years and established the INMO’s very successful Professional Development Centre.
Dr Ronan Fawsitt is a full-time GP and Chair of the Carlow-Kilkenny ICGP-St Luke’s Hospital Local Integrated Care Committee (LICC). He will bring his experience of developing the Carlow/Kilkenny model of integrated care and will advise on how the Implementation Strategy can ensure that the different elements of the health and social care system, including general practice, hospitals and the community work together in a more integrated way.
Ms Gillian O’Brien is the Director of Clinical Governance at Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. In her current post, Ms. O’Brien is responsible for ensuring safe, high quality and effective clinical practice in 12 Jigsaw youth mental health services nationwide. Prior to taking up this post in 2014, Ms. O’Brien worked as Director of Education and Training in Jigsaw. She trained as a clinical psychologist; obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and her Doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast. She has also completed a Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Before joining Jigsaw, Ms. O’Brien worked in a variety of mental health settings with young people including primary care psychology in the HSE, CAMHS in Northern Ireland and an extensive period of voluntary work in Central America.
Ms Roisin Molloy has a BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care and previously worked in the voluntary health sector for 12 years before taking a career break to raise her young family.
Roisin is married to Mark and they are parents to 5 boys. In 2012, her fifth son Baby Mark tragically died shortly after birth as a result of a number of “Care Failings and Systems Failure”. The impact of her baby’s avoidable death and her search for the truth thrust Ms Molloy and her husband into the roles of campaigners, advocates and researchers.
Along with her personal experience of grief and rearing a young family, she carried out extensive research in order to know the real reason her son had died. She participated in numerous internal HSE investigations, the Coroner’s process, a HIQA investigation, a Civil Case and an external review of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. All these experiences have given her a unique insight into the existing structures and the areas that are not functioning as they should.
After 2 years of continuous interactions with the HSE in relation to their son’s death and faced with continuous inaction, she came to the shocking realisation that their son’s death and the deaths and injuries to many others was never going to be the catalyst to improve patient safety practices or prevent further needless similar deaths or injuries.
As a result, in 2014 Ms Molloy made the difficult but necessary decision to bring their story to public attention in an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme called “Fatal Failures”. This resulted in both public and political action and ultimately led to much needed improvements in our National Maternity Services.
Their work has brought about many crucial developments in our health service such as the National Maternity Strategy, the National Perinatal Bereavement Standards and most importantly, she has campaigned successfully for Patient Safety to be prioritised in government and in our Health Service and were instrumental in the establishment of the National Patient Safety Office.
Her work to find the truth about Baby Mark’s death has highlighted many areas that are having a negative impact the health service delivered by the State. Issues such as no managerial accountability, no open disclosure, inadequate and inconsistent investigation processes, no learning from mistakes and the lack of compassion for patients at a time that patients need it most.
Ms Molloy has made many submissions on the above issues to the HSE, Health Ministers Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar & James Reilly, the Department of Health and both the Oireachtas Health and Finance Committees.
Roisin has presented at numerous health conferences on the issue of Open Disclosure.
Both Ms Molloy and her husband were honoured with the Rehab People of the Year Award 2016 and also received the CMG Health Care Persons of the Year Award in 2016. Both were for their contributions to improving health services in Ireland.
Ms. Molloy continues to act as an independent patient advocate and a campaigner for equitable safe health care for all.
The RTE documentary We Need to Talk About Dad, focused on the difficult choices faced by the Courtney family in trying to provide the best care possible for Frank Courtney after he had a stroke. It highlighted in particular the difficulties in navigating the Fair Deal nursing home support scheme and the fact that it does not cover care in the home. The documentary highlighted the lack of supports available for families trying to care for older people. The programme showed the lack of viable options for home care or step-down care and the difficulties in applying for a nursing home place. Mr Brendan Courtney is currently in production with a follow up documentary, 'We need to talk about Mam', which looks at ageing and retirement in Ireland.
A native of Tipperary and a graduate of University College Cork, Boston College and the European Institute of Communications, Ms Sarah O’Connor has a background in public relations, having worked at a PR agency for three years. She worked with clients like Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, ESB and a number of private sector clients. Prior to that, Ms O’Connor worked for Fine Gael in various research, strategy and communications roles.
In May 2018, she was appointed CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland.
She understands the challenges that people face in managing their asthma due to her personal experience with the condition. She is dedicated to ensuring that the patient’s voice and needs are at the core of our health system.
Mr Brian Fitzgerald joined Beacon Hospital as Deputy CEO from St. James’s Hospital where he was the Chief Executive and Director of Finance. He is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. He also holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Centre of Health Policy and Management at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine.
Former General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Mr Liam Doran joined the Organisation, as Student Officer, in June 1983 and subsequently worked as an Industrial Relations Officer and Deputy General Secretary before his appointment to the post of General Secretary in October 1998. Mr Doran was a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Mental Handicap Nurse and he also has a BA in Health Administration and an MA in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations.
Mr Leo Kearns is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He joined RCPI as CEO in 2006, and since then has led a major programme of transformation. Under his leadership, RCPI has adopted a proactive and progressive role in the improvement of medical training, practice and patient care in the Irish health system. Mr Kearns has played a national leadership role in the development of the National Clinical Programmes and been centrally involved in the development of Clinical Directors within the Irish health sector, and also the introduction of Professional Competence. In addition to his role of CEO of RCPI, Mr Kearns served as National Lead for Transformation and Change in the HSE from 2013-2015. Mr Kearns was centrally involved in the publication of Towards 2026 by RCPI, a new vision for hospital services. Prior to his current role, Mr Kearns has had a significant track record in implementing large-scale change in both public and private sector organisations.
Josep Figueras, MD, MPH, PhD (econ) is the Director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. In addition to WHO, he has served major multilateral organizations such as the European Commission and the World Bank. He has served as policy advisor in more than 40 countries within Europe and beyond. He is a member of several governing, advisory and editorial boards, including the board of the European Health Forum Gastein.
He is an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (United Kingdom); received the Andrija Stampar Medal for excellence in Public Health and a Doctorate Honoris Causa from Semmelweis University (Hungary); and has twice been awarded the European Health Management Association prize. He is currently a visiting professor at Imperial College London (United Kingdom), and an external examiner at London, Maastricht and Cork universities. He was Director of the MSc in Health Services Management and lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom).
His research focuses on comparative health system and policy analysis. He is an editor of the Observatory series published by Open University Press, and has published a wide range of volumes in this field, most recently: “Health systems governance” (2015); “Economic crisis: impact and implications for health systems policy in Europe” (2014); “Health systems, health and wealth: assessing the case for investing in health systems” (2012); “Health professional mobility and health systems. Evidence from 17 European countries” (2011); and “Cross-border health care in the European Union. Mapping and analysing practices and policies” (2011).
Josep Figueras is based at the Observatory’s Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Ms Joanne Shear is the CEO and President of Primary Care Transformation Experts LLC. She has recently retired from her role as National Primary Care Clinical Program Manager at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) where she was a key leader in the development and implementation of the VHA patient centred medical home model.
As national clinical program manager for VA primary care, she served as a clinical resource expert for national planning, designing and implementing clinical care and national health policy.
Dr Heather Shearer is a Clinical Teaching Fellow in the School of Medicine at the University of St. Andrews. Dr Shearer studied psychology at Durham University and was awarded a PhD in Psychology from the same institution.
Dr Shearer has significant experience in health service improvement in the UK. Among the roles Dr Shearer has held in NHS Scotland and NHS England are Deputy Director of Service Development in an NHS Trust in England, Head of Quality Improvement in NHS Fife and QI Board Development Lead at Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Dr Shearer brings to the Advisory Council a passion a commitment to health service improvement and can offer input around the application of systematic quality improvement and safety approaches in healthcare.
Dr Eddie Molloy specialises in strategy, large-scale change and innovation. For 40 years he has worked in Ireland and abroad in all sectors including high tech multinational companies, government departments and state agencies, higher education, NGO’s and the health service. He is Director of Advanced Organisation and Honorary Consul for Barbados in Ireland.
Mr Paul Reid is Chief Executive of Fingal County Council since April 2014. He previously worked as the Chief Operations Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform from 2011-2014 where he was responsible for leading a whole set of reforms across the public service. In this role he negotiated the Haddington Road Pay Agreement, with the 26 Public Service Trade Unions, to reduce the public service pay bill by €1BN. From 2010 to 2011, Paul worked as Head of Corporate Affairs with Trócaire working on an agenda to strengthen the overall governance of the organisation. His previous career was as the Executive Director of Networks & Operations with Eir as well as a number of other senior roles within the organisation. He was previously appointed as vice chair of the Task Force on Young Mental Health by Minister Helen McEntee that brought a final report to Government. Paul holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Trinity College, Dublin and a BA in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the National College Ireland.
Professor Mary Higgins is from Kildare and trained in University College Dublin. Professor Higgins completed training in obstetrics in Ireland, before getting advanced training in maternal and fetal medicine. Since 2013, Professor Higgins has worked as a consultant obstetrician and MFM Subspecialist in the National Maternity Hospital.
Dr. Anna McHugh is a General Practice Registrar living and working in Co. Donegal. She graduated from NUI Galway Medical School with a first class honours degree and the Gold Medal in General Practice. She worked as a hospital doctor in Dublin and Australia before choosing Donegal to complete her GP training. She has served as lead NCHD for Letterkenny University Hospital, receiving national recognition and awards for patient safety and quality improvement initiatives which she implemented during her role. She has presented and published both nationally and internationally on the theme of Quality Improvement and it’s importance in an Irish healthcare setting. She played a key role in the recent referendum on the 8th amendment – acting as a committee member of Doctors for Choice who were pivotal in advocating for equitable access to healthcare within the state. She sits on The ICGP National GP Trainee committee ensuring the training pathway for GP’s during this time of expansion reflects and fulfills the needs of it’s graduates with a view to enhancing GP retention. She looks forward to continuing to bring energy, enthusiasm and experience to progress patient centered reform in the Irish healthcare system.
Dr Emily O’Conor is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and is President of the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine. A Fellow of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine since 1999, she is a native of Clonee, Co Meath, graduating from Trinity College Dublin in 1991 and becoming a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland in 1994. She decided on a career in Emergency Medicine while a junior doctor and in 1996 began Emergency Medicine Higher Specialty Training in Merseyside, UK. Upon her return to Dublin, Dr O’Conor worked in both St James and Tallaght Hospitals before taking up post in Connolly in 2004.
A Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council will be established, comprising an independent chair, the Sláintecare Executive Director, clinical and health service leaders, patient/service users, international experts and independent change management experts.
The role of the Council is to periodically advise and support the Sláintecare Programme Office on the change programme.
The Council has been selected on the basis of their experience and/or expertise in implementing change both within and outside health services, in Ireland and/or internationally.
The Council is appointed for a term of three years, to coincide with the term of the inaugural Implementation Strategy.
The Council will meet between two and four times per annum.
All Council discussions and engagement with the Sláintecare Programme Office will be conducted on a confidential basis.
The Council will have a secretariat who will organise, minute and follow up on actions arising from the meetings.
The Council will not be remunerated. However, the Council will have their direct travel expenses reimbursed.