Senior HSE staff drafted in to run West’s main hospitals

THE Department of Health has abandoned plans to bring in private management to resurrect the fortunes of the main hospitals in the West and will instead rely on the abilities of two existing senior health employees.

Just a few weeks ago, it emerged that five private companies were vying to manage Galway University Hospital as well as the Mid-Western Regional in Limerick.

However, late last night the Department of Health issued a statement saying Galway University Hospital, Merlin Park, Portiuncula , Ballinasloe and Roscommon General are to be placed under a single management structure with one CEO, Bill Maher, currently Acting CEO of St Vincent’s University Hospital. He will take up the role on January 9 on secondment.