Kilkenny woman takes up top job as National Director of Acute Hospitals

Kilkenny woman Grace Rothwell has moved on to take up a major new role as National Director of Acute Hospitals.

The Castlecomer native was previously the general manager of University Hospital Waterford before taking up the Chief Officer of South East Community Healthcare (SECH) position last year. Ms Rothwell is looking forward to concentrating on her new role in the HSE.

Martina Queally, meanwhile, has been appointed as Regional Executive Officer of the new Dublin and South East Health Region, as the HSE begins it transition to a new regional model. The Dublin and South East Health Region will encompass community healthcare services delivered to date by South East Community Healthcare (including Kilkenny) and the South/South West Hospital Group, (including Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital) and the Ireland East Hospital Group (including St Luke’s Hospital).

Speaking when leading her final South East Community Healthcare management team meeting last week in Kilkenny, Ms Rothwell paid tribute to those with whom she worked in recent years.

Grace Rothwell

“I would like to thank management and staff colleagues, the public and their representatives across counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford for their ongoing support in delivering so many ranges of Primary/Community Care, Mental Health, Care for Older Persons and Disabilities, Health and Wellbeing and other services,” she said.

“I have enjoyed being involved in this work to meet the needs of the people in the South East that depend on the HSE each day.

“The support for change is also appreciated. In the context of ongoing implementation of the Slaintecare strategy (inclusive of progressing the Enhanced Community Care programme, Community Health and Children’s Disability Network teams, projects in line with the Healthy Ireland initiative and mental health services reflecting the ‘Sharing the Vision’ framework), I look forward to continued development of new, integrated models of care, reduced dependency on hospital services and models of care responsive to the needs of local communities.

“In supporting the reorganisation of hospital services throughout the country, I look forward to working with Martina Queally as Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the new Dublin and South East Health Region. Indeed, on behalf of South East Community Healthcare (CHO 5) I congratulate Martina on her appointment as REO and extend a warm welcome to her.

“I know that SECH Heads of Service, management and staff look forward to working with the new REO and our partners in the region on delivering the highest quality care to the communities we serve.”