THE CEO of UL Hospitals Group is to take up a prime new position as integrated healthcare manager in the Mid West region.
Professor Colette Cowan, the head of the hospital group, is currently on leave and understood to be one of six people facing potential disciplinary actions following a report into the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston, who was waiting more than 12 hours in the University Hospital Limerick emergency department before being given sepsis medication which could have saved her life.
Ms Cowan’s new post was confirmed by the HSE on Wednesday, according to a report in The Irish Times newspaper.
It is understood that she will not take up the new position, which attracts a salary of €170,000, while she is on administrative leave.
It is also understood she was offered the post as she already been in a senior role in the health service.
Prof Cowan will be one of three people to hold such a position and will report to Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick.
A report by former chief justice Frank Clarke into the death of Ms Johnston found that her death was “almost certainly avoidable”.
The HSE said the positions in the Mid West and in locations elsewhere had been given to some individuals who already held senior positions in the health service.
“Five of those appointed to integrated healthcare manager roles had had permanent posts in community health organisations and hospital groups which were being abolished.
“They were offered assignments as integrated healthcare managers as part of our ambition to reconfigure the health service structure within existing numbers,” the HSE said.
