New Secretary General at Dept of Health

anotherlostie

Ambrose McLoughlin, formerly the Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland was appointed the new Sec Gen last month. It was seen as a surprise as he wasn't an inside man.

He's a qualified dentist but has worked in health administration most of his career, including running the NEHB and then the PSI (and by all account he, and nobody else, ran it!).

Is this likely to result in any changes in the short to mid term? I really think, as Yes Minister showed, the top civil servants are far more important strategically than the temporary ministerial incumbents. Furthermore, while he probably would not be on the Christmas Card list of many pharmacists, he did oversee huge and unpopular change within that profession. Granted pharmacists would not be the most militant of groups in the face of organizational change, so I wonder what will be achieved in this role.

Delancey

Good to see an ' outsider ' getting the top job though he will have to work with career Civil Servants who may be a tad resentful.
Question is does the Secretary General job matter now ? Is this not just another example of the duplication since the establishment of the HSE ?
Who is head of the Health Service , the CEO of the HSE or the Secretary General ?

locum-motion

Dr. McLoughlin's not really an outsider at the DoH, though.
He worked for the DoH, and apparently was only ever 'on secondment' to the PSI. I've heard it said that the SecGen job is like a homecoming for him.

Delancey

locum-motion wrote: »

Dr. McLoughlin's not really an outsider at the DoH, though.
He worked for the DoH, and apparently was only ever 'on secondment' to the PSI. I've heard it said that the SecGen job is like a homecoming for him.

Ah , so the ' outsider ' is really an ' insider ' :rolleyes:

palmcut

He is not really known for being any good on cost control.

His time in the PSI had him charging each pharmacy an annual licence of 2,500 euros and also charging each pharmacist an annual charge of 450 euros.
The UK has an annual charge for both at just over 225 pounds.

The PSI council is meant to be the governing body of the pharmacy regulator the PSI. Dr McLoughlin was the registrar and seemingly provided each council member with so much reading material that they were unable to keep up with all the required reading. He was then able to put stuff through the council at will.
Domineering, obtuse and bombastic are some of the words that I have heard to describe the functioning of the PSI under the absolute control of Dr McLoughlin.
I am not too sure if pharmacy's loss will be the DOH's gain.

opinion guy

palmcut wrote: »

Domineering, obtuse and bombastic are some of the words that I have heard to describe the functioning of the PSI under the absolute control of Dr McLoughlin.

Sounds like a perfect fit for maintaining the HSE status quo :rolleyes:

locum-motion

palmcut wrote: »

... register ...

"Registrar"

Just sayin'

palmcut

locum-motion wrote: »

"Registrar"

Just sayin'

Done.Many thanks.

Jim Bowen

He didn't last long; didn't suit Leo??