Cultural revolution: Unit to bring HSE change

The HSE has set up a dedicated culture unit as part of its transition from a “silo”-based “command and control” organisation to a “values-based one” — according to a note from former HSE chief Tony O’Brien the day before he resigned.

Mr O’Brien’s vision for the HSE, outlined in a memo of May 9, is against a backdrop of a complete collapse of public trust in the health service due to the CervicalCheck scandal, where at least 209 women diagnosed with cervical cancer had not been told an audit of their smear history showed cancer warning signs had not been detected,

Mr O’Brien, who was director general of the HSE for six years, sent the memo to his leadership team 24 hours before he stepped down.