THE chief executive of the Health Service Executive, Bernard Gloster, has tendered his resignation, saying the move was a “significant personal decision”.
Mr Gloster, who took up the role three years ago, has been employed in the public health service for the past 38 years, and will formally step down as HSE CEO on March 5, 2026.
The Limerick man confirmed he had submitted his resignation to the Chair of the HSE, Ciaran Devane, and the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
“I wanted to bring certainty to the future leadership of the organisation as I am now in my third year as CEO. I have today submitted my resignation to the chair of the HSE Ciaran Devane and Minister Carroll MacNeill, allowing time to prepare for the next phase of leadership of our health and personal social services,” Mr Gloster said.
An internal HSE email sent to staff read: “HSE CEO Bernard Gloster has today confirmed that he will step down from the role at the beginning of next March. He will retire from the public service at that time having served almost 38 years in the public health service including three of those as CEO of the HSE.”
Mr Gloster said that he continues “to be privileged to serve in this very important role and, for the coming months, I will be working hard with the board, the Minister, and the Department to advance many improvements and responses to challenges”.
“I particularly want to thank the chair and the Minister for the kindness shown to me during this significant personal decision,” he added.
“I will retire from the public service on March 5th, 2026. I also want to express my deep appreciation to all of our staff for the work they continue to do every day to serve the public.”
The Limerick man, who is a native of Kildimo, formerly held the position of chief executive of child and family agency Tusla and has spent more than 30 years working in the health service.
He held several senior management positions including chief officer of HSE Mid West Community Healthcare, and worked in both community and acute hospital operations.
A social care worker by profession, he holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and an MSc in Management Practice from UCC.
The HSE has been asked for comment.
