Drumm believed to be back in HSE head talks

A SENIOR consultant, who turned down the post of chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is believed to be back in talks about taking up the position.

Prof Brendan Drumm refused to head-up the new health service because the HSE could not guarantee him a post as professor of paediatrics at UCD when his five-year contract - with the option of an additional three years - expires.

His rejection was a major embarrassment to the HSE and the Government, who announced his selection last April. Their initial choice, deputy chief medical officer of the British NHS, Prof Aidan Halligan, also rejected the post.

Yesterday, however, a spokesperson for Prof Drumm did not deny he was back in the frame for the job.

The recruitment committee of the HSE met to consider their options. The HSE has already spent approximately €200,000 of taxpayers’ money seeking a HSE chief executive, which carries a salary and perks of close to €500,000.

It also emerged yesterday that 11 chief executives of the health board areas which the HSE has replaced will get a €2 million pay off when they step down next week.

The chief executives, whose salaries range from about €120,000 to €140,000 a year, have been offered severance packages, which they must accept by next week. The packages entail a lump sum equal to twice their annual salaries if they leave the service by July 1. In addition, each of them will be offered a retraining grant of up to €10,000.

The package is being offered only to health board chief executives who have not taken up top jobs in the new HSE. This mean former chief of the South Eastern Health Board, Pat McLoughlin, who is now director of the HSE’s National Hospitals Office, can not avail of the package. Nor can Seán Hurley, former chief executive of the Southern Health Board, now director of information and communications technology with the HSE.

Midlands Health Board chief executive Pat Vaughan is leaving the HSE as is North Eastern Health Board chief officer Paul Robinson, making both eligible for the severance package.

A spokesperson for the HSE South Western Area said Pat Donnelly, chief officer, is considering his options.

A statement from the HSE Mid-Western Area said it was “not considered appropriate for the HSE to comment on future career plans” of its chief, Dr Stiofan deBurca.