Dr Rosa McNamara has been appointed as HSE’s Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme (NCP) for Emergency Medicine.

Dr McNamara is a consultant in emergency medicine, working with the St Vincent’s University Hospital. She is Associate Clinical Professor at University College Dublin and Chair of the Geriatric Emergency Medicine Special Interest Group at the International Federation for Emergency Medicine.

The National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine, operated in partnership between the HSE and RCSI, is responsible for providing a framework for the delivery of appropriately prioritised high-quality emergency care to the patients who present to our emergency departments. These patients present with emergencies of all types encompassing a wide range of severity from the small number with immediately life-threatening conditions to those whose condition is found to be less serious after appropriate assessment. 

The National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine is within the portfolio of NCPs that are under the governance of Dr Mike O’Connor, the HSE’s National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acutes (NCAGL Acutes). The programme works collaboratively with several other HSE National Clinical Programmes, such as the National Clinical Programmes for Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Anaesthesia and Surgery. It also works with the HSE’s National Office for Trauma Services, hospitals, health regions, specialty and professional bodies, patient advocacy groups and all relevant stakeholders across the health system.

Speaking on behalf of Clinical Design and Innovation within the HSE is Dr Siobhán Ni Bhriain, National Clinical Director, Integrated Care: “I would like to express the warmest of welcomes to Dr McNamara and I look forward to working with her on the strategic clinical design and development of emergency medicine delivery in Ireland. I would like also to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Dr Gerry McCarthy in his role as outgoing Clinical Lead, Emergency Medicine Programme, for his hard work and dedication in leading and supporting the important work of the programme over the last number of years.”

Dr Gerry McCarthy spoke of Dr McNamara and her new role: “I am delighted to welcome Dr McNamara as lead of the National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine. Her strong background in emergency medicine and particularly emergency medicine for older persons, along with her international research profile, makes her an ideal candidate to lead on strategy development for emergency medicine in Ireland.”

Professor Deborah McNamara, RCSI President, said: “The National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine is a really important strategic initiative between the HSE and RCSI, working to develop and deliver change initiatives which improve patient care in emergency medicine. I am delighted to welcome Dr McNamara in her new role as clinical lead and I look forward to working with her as she progresses with the programme’s critical work.”

Find out more about the work of the National Clinical Programme in Emergency Medicine here.