HSE boss leaves for private sector

Deputy director of the HSE Laverne McGuinness has left her position to take up a role with nursing home provider the Talbot Group.

It is understood that Ms McGuinness informed the HSE of her decision last Friday and that it was an “unexpected announcement”.

She will take up her new role with the Talbot Group in early 2016.

Ms McGuinness had worked in the public health services sector for the past two decades and had served in a range of positions within the HSE since its creation.

She has held various positions at national director level including the former Primary Community and Continuing Care (PCCC) directorate and Integrated Services.

Director general of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, expressed his thanks to Ms McGuinness and wished her well in the new phase of her career.

“Laverne is one of the most experienced members of the leadership team of the HSE. Her insight and experience across all of the services will be greatly missed.

“I would like to thank Laverne for her hard work, diligence and input in helping to improve and reform the health services through times that have been far from easy.

“Many of the positive steps that are being taken currently in reforming the health services have been assisted greatly by Laverne’s experience and knowledge,” said Mr O’Brien.

The Talbot Group was established in the early 1990s and employs over 420 staff with 250 clients availing of its services.

It began by opening two nursing homes in Dublin and Meath but has since expanded into residential services for adults with significant learning disabilities.

It also operates a specialist facility for adults with autism, intellectual disabilities and Down Syndrome and a service for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

In 2014, the Health Information and Quality Authority criticised restraint methods used on residents in the group’s Redwood Extended Care Facility in Stamullen in Meath.

In response the facility said it had “serious concerns regarding about the accuracy” of the HIQA report and also expressed concern about the investigative process and the means by which the findings were brought into the public domain.

However, an unannouned inspection by HIQA last summer found a 95% reduction in the recorded incidents of physical restraints at the facility.