There’s still time to have a flutter on who will replace Prof Brendan Drumm as Chief Executive of the HSE, reports Niamh Mullen
And, they’re off! Betting has begun on who will take over one of Ireland’s top — not to mention challenging — jobs when HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm leaves his position next August.
Bookies Paddy Power is offering odds on a range of HSE staff members, business people and even a few celebrities at very long odds indeed.
A spokesperson for the betting company said the field was open and there hadn’t been too many wagers as yet.
“The most backed has been Prof Tom Keane, followed by Pat McLoughlin at 18/1. We’re not sure ‘Jedward’ would do a great job, but they say laughing is good for your health and we’d certainly get that with those twins,” she said.
Prof Keane is the front runner at 2/1, while X Factor twins ‘Jedward’ are definitely the outsiders in the field, or ‘rags’, at 1000/1. However, Prof Keane, the head of the Cancer Control Programme, is due to return to Canada shortly to the British Columbia Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia — posts from which he currently is on secondment.
Replacement
In October last, Prof Keane agreed to stay on for a specified time while a replacement was sought for his position. His contract expired on November 30.
According to the bookies, outgoing EU Commissioner and former finance minister Charlie McCreevy (50/1) has a better chance of getting the job than the outspoken consultant medical oncologist Prof John Crown (100/1) or indeed even Health Minister Mary Harney (250/1).
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is at 500/1, while Emmy Award -winning actor Brendan Gleeson, who has publicly criticised the care his parents received in hospital numerous times, is at odds of 750/1.
Among the more likely candidates at the gate is Pat McLoughlin, who resigned as National Director of the National Hospitals Offices in 2006 and set up his own health consultancy business. He is a former CEO of the South Eastern Health Board.
Potential candidates
Other potential candidates include the HSE’s joint National Director of Integration, Laverne McGuinness, at 5/2. Until October, McGuinness was National Director of Primary, Community and Continuing Care when the department was merged with the office of National Director for Hospitals.
Ann Doherty, the other joint National Director of Integration with responsibility for reconfiguration of acute hospital, primary care teams and pre-hospital care is at odds of 6/1 to be promoted to the role.
At 10/1 is Liam Woods, National Director of Finance with the HSE, while temporary National Director of the winter initiative, John O’Brien, is at longer odds of 14/1. Seán McGrath left National Irish Bank to take up his current post as Director of Human Resources of the HSE. He has odds of 20/1.
The man who was famously offered the job in 2004 and then turned it down for personal reasons is at 6/1. Prof Aidan Halligan is the Chief of Safety at Brighton and Sussex University and Director of Education at University College London Hospitals.
Dr Barry White became the National Director of Clinical Care in July, when he was seconded for two years from his role as consultant haematologist at St James’s Hospital. He is at 16/1 to take over as HSE CEO.
Donegal-born businessman Sir Gerry Robinson, who participated in the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh in August, is at odds of 20/1. In the 1980s he turned around Coco-Cola’s UK business at its parent company Grand Metropolitan.
He has also chaired Granada Television, ITN and BSkyB, as well as making several documentaries, including a programme entitled ‘Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS?’.
Closing date
The closing date for applications for the job is this Friday, January 15. Those interested can send their CVs to: Amrop Strategis, Iona Building, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Note: Odds correct at time of going to print.
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