HSE yet to identify Drumm successor
The chief executive post will become vacant in August when Prof Drumm finishes up his five-year term.
But despite efforts to find a new HSE chief since before Christmas, no one has been picked yet.
Ms Harney said the board of the HSE were still undecided. A decision was needed soon, she added: “They had a huge level of interest when they advertised the post internationally. They have interviewed a number of people. They haven’t yet identified the successor to Brendan Drumm and when they do that, they will notify me and I hope that that will happen pretty quickly.”
The former head of the state’s national cancer control programme Prof Tom Keane pulled out of the race for the job last month after reportedly not obtaining guarantees on budgets or the hiring of staff from the HSE.
Australian healthcare manager Mike Reid was recently tipped as being considered by the HSE to replace Prof Drumm. The front-runner for the job has led health reform projects across Australia and is the director general of Queensland Health.
However, it is unclear whether Mr Reid has expressed serious interest in taking up the position.
Ms Harney warned anybody taking up the post would find it challenging: “Obviously Professor Drumm is in the post until August so we have quite some time. The recruitment process began early. It’s a very challenging, very difficult job. It needs somebody that is tough and has a lot of stamina and I hope such a person can be identified as soon as possible.”
