Head of Western Trust Dr Anne Kilgallen to retire this summer

Speaking to staff today Dr Anne Kilgallen said: “I want you to know that I plan to retire this summer and having just celebrated my 60th birthday I know that the time is right to do so.

“My retirement may still be some months away but I felt it important to maintain openness in how we as an organisation communicate.

“We will soon commence a process to recruit my successor and I have no doubt that someone very good will take up the reins into the future. I will brief you further on this when I have more detail.

“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to lead and work with you as your Chief Executive since 2017.

“While we have endured unprecedented challenges together in recent times, it has also been inspiring to see such amazing commitment and ingenuity shine through from all parts of our Trust.

“This period has also further enabled us to develop differently, working more closely than ever across our directorates and teams, and in doing so I believe that we have progressed for the better as an Organisation.

“Today, however, what matters to me is that you know that I will continue to lead and support you with all my energy; that together we will continue to focus on our patients and clients and their families, strong in our resolve to always deliver the best care we can and with compassion.

“Thank you and stay safe!”

Anne is a doctor, trained as a Consultant in Public Health Medicine. Before taking up post as Chief Executive she worked as Deputy Chief Medical Officer with responsibility for population health policy in the Department of Health, Belfast.

In 2013/14 Anne was funded by the Health Foundation and supported by the Western Trust to undertake a Quality Improvement Fellowship based at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston, USA.

She had the opportunity to study international healthcare systems that have successfully brought clinical leadership, improvement science and system thinking together to transform care. She has a particular interest in the use of IHI’s Triple Aim framework as a means to improve outcomes at population level.

Prior to her fellowship, Anne served for six years as Medical Director here in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, and has a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University.

She is a fellow of both the Faculty of Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in Ireland, where she has served on the board.