HSE’s ongoing review of clinical director role ‘timely’ – IHCA CEO

The HSE’s review of the clinical director role is expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year, the Medical Independent (MI) understands.

The review was commissioned in 2025 by Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry and is being led by Prof Pat Nash.

“The purpose of the review is to ensure that this critical leadership role is aligned with new HSE governance and healthcare reforms,” said a HSE spokesperson.

Speaking to MI at the IHCA’s recent FutureCare conference in Dublin, the Association’s CEO Mr Jim Daly welcomed the review. 

“I think it is very timely that [the HSE] are reviewing the role of clinical director,” said Mr Daly. According to feedback he had received from IHCA members, these roles “have a lot of the responsibility, but none of the corresponding authority”.

“It is very difficult to be real leaders in that situation. I think that is recognised across the system as well.”

Consultant clinical leadership in hospitals was one of the main themes of the FutureCare conference.

Prof Jennifer Walsh, the new Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, told attendees that the evidence supporting clinical leadership is “substantial”.

“It provides clear benefits for quality of care, team effectiveness, and overall health system performance.”

The HSE’s review will provide a “standardised” description of the clinical director role across the health regions, Dr Henry told the IHCA Annual Conference in October.

Speaking to MI at that meeting, Dr Henry said there were different “drivers” for the review. These included the “proliferation of titles” and a “dilution of the original clinical director role” as outlined in the 2008 consultant contract. Another factor was the devolution of the health service into six regions. See news feature.