Cancer Czar Prof Tom Keane – who remained in Ireland over Christmas – is understood to be considering applying for the job of HSE Chief Executive and has just days to decide whether to throw his hat into the ring.
Prof Keane has been quoted this week as refusing to rule out a move to succeed Prof Brendan Drumm as CEO. The closing date for applications to head the Executive for the next five years is January 15.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has indicated her support for Keane, should he decide to stay in Ireland. “There is nobody more than me who would love to see Prof Keane staying in Ireland. He has done a remarkable job,” the Minister stated recently.
Prof Keane, who is due to return to Canada next month, has overseen the centralisation of cancer care from 33 hospitals into eight designated centres.
His job as Director of the National Cancer Control Programme has already been advertised and has a closing date of January 22.
Outspoken Irish-born British business guru Sir Gerry Robinson believes the salary for the new HSE CEO should be twice the current €370,000-plus-bonus pay package in order to attract the very best people.
“The only test is that whomever you choose should have a proven record of delivering things before,” said the Donegal-based former boss of Sky TV and presenter of the BBC’s ‘Can Gerry Robinson fix the NHS?’
“It wouldn’t bother me if the person had a medical background or not,” Robinson added. “This is probably the most important job in the country and getting the appointment right is key.”
The management trouble-shooter told IMT that in his view the HSE has worked very poorly up to now and the administration side needed to be ‘slimmed down’ dramatically.
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