Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has announced the appointment of Ms Anne Carrigy and Mr Brendan Whelan to the board of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The appointments come following a Public Appointment Services (PAS) campaign for additional members to the board.
Welcoming the appointments, the Minister said: “I am delighted to welcome Ms Anne Carrigy and Mr Brendan Whelan to the HSE board, who will both take up challenging but important positions at this time”.
“The board is central to strengthening governance and contributes to enhancing the oversight and performance of the HSE. The current pandemic is our focus and by ensuring the full capacity of the HSE Board, I am ensuring that they will be in the best possible position to tackle the challenges of reform and reorganisation that will accelerate in the coming months and years.”
The appointment of the two new members brings the total membership of the board to twelve, bringing the board to full capacity for the first time since its establishment in 2019. The legislation establishing the board allows for a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and 10 members and the full board is now in place.
These appointments were made following an open competition operated by the Public Appointments Service, which invited applications from individuals with specific expertise in patient advocacy and/or experienced clinicians. These are competencies that are specified in legislation as being required by at least two of the members of the HSE Board.
Mr Whelan is appointed under the ‘Patient Advocacy’ provision and Ms Carrigy under the provision requiring the candidate to have practiced as a member of a health profession.