HSE appoint Tony Canavan as CEO of region
TONY Canavan will be the new Regional Executive Officer for the north west following an announcement by the HSE Chief Executive Officer Bernard Gloster.
Current CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group Canavan will be expected to take up his new role on March 1.
Canavan brings 30 years of experience in the health sector to the table with a number of appointments held with the Western Health Board in Mental Health Services, the Department of Public Health, Primary Care Services and Acute Hospital Services.
In 2012, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the GalwayRoscommon University Hospitals Group, now known as Saolta, which was extended to include Letterkenny and Sligo.
He also served a four-year stint as Chief Office of Community Healthcare West before his return to Saolta.
As part of implementing Sláintecare, the HSE is organising service delivery into six health regions from March 1, 2024.
Following a Public Appointments Service-led process, the HSE CEO is appointed as REO for the HSE West and North West divisions. HSE West and North West will serve the people of Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, West Cavan, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The role of an REO is to lead and deliver health and social care in their areas.
Other appointments include Sara Long as REO, HSE Dublin and North East; Martina Queally as REO, HSE Dublin and South East; Kate Killeen White as REO, HSE Dublin and Midlands: Dr Andy Phillips as REO, HSE South West; and Sandra Broderick is in post as REO, HSE Mid West.
Each REO will be the accountable officer at the Health Region level, responsible for the delivery of high-quality, safe, and accessible services for the population of their region. REOs will report directly to the HSE CEO on the operation and management of the Health Regions. They will form part of the core HSE Senior Leadership Team, providing regional input into the development of national policies and standards.
“The move to the new regions, and a reformed and repurposed HSE Centre, represents a considerable change to our organisational structures,” HSE CEO Bernard Gloster said.
“I am confident we have assembled a strong team of the six most senior officials in the HSE, reporting directly to me. Individually and collectively, they bring a broad range of skills and experience, placing them as the healthcare experts who will lead the next phase of health service delivery in Ireland. I look forward to working with them.
“Shortly we will announce the details of the new re-organised HSE Centre, designed to support these regional leaders and ensure excellence in our public services.
“I want to emphasise that structural change is not the main goal of this reform. The idea behind reorganising our structures is to ensure that people experience just one health service, providing whatever care they need at the right time and in the right place. When we talk about ‘integrated care’, this is what we mean.
“I’d like to thank HSE staff around the country for their support and hard work as we transition this year. I look forward to working with each of the new REOs, and the teams they will form over the coming months, to provide a better health service for everyone living in Ireland.”
"I’m delighted to welcome the six new Regional Executive Officer appointees who will work with the CEO and myself to ensure that this reorganisation of our health and social care services delivers for patients,” Stephen Donnelly, TD,
Minister for Health said.
The HSE Health Regions Implementation Plan has been developed in partnership with health and social care stakeholders and aims to deliver more joined-up care to people when they need it.”