Neil Guckian has been head of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) for more than four years, having been appointed in July 2021.
He had served as the Trust’s Director of Finance and Contracting since August 2019 and previously spent a decade as Director of Finance and Estates in the South Eastern Trust.
Trust Chairperson, Dr Tom Frawley CBE, said Mr Guckian had led the organisation through a challenging period.
“Neil has led the Western Trust with compassion, clarity, and resilience. His steady leadership during some of the most difficult years for health and social care has been invaluable,” he said.
“The Trust Board is deeply grateful for his dedication, professionalism, and the positive impact he has made over many years. We wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
I want to thank colleagues across all services for their unwavering commitment to those we care for
Interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, Mike Farrar, said Mr Guckian had been an “outstanding public servant and senior manager”.
“His contribution to improvements in healthcare over the course of his career have been significant in terms of his commitment to patients and to staff alike. He will be sorely missed, but we wish him all the very best wishes for a long and healthy retirement,” he added.
Mr Guckian said holding the role had been a “privilege”.
“I and the Senior Management Team are immensely proud of our staff, who consistently demonstrate courage, professionalism, and compassion,” he said.
“I want to thank colleagues across all services for their unwavering commitment to those we care for. As I retire, I do so with pride in what we have achieved together and with complete confidence in the future of the Trust.”
Mr Guckian will officially retire in April 2026. The Trust has commenced the process of appointing a new Chief Executive.
South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen
It comes after Mr Guckian appeared alongside Mr Frawley and Trust Director of Operations for the BSO, Teresa Molloy, at a meeting of the Health Committee held at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Co Fermanagh.
Mr Guckian was pressed over the temporary removal of emergency general surgery at the site, which has been suspended since December 2022.
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds said Trust admissions that the service could not be run meant that two consultations held in relation to the decisions were a “done deal”.
The Trust’s handling of the consultations was also slammed at a recent meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC), with Chairperson Barry McElduff claiming Mr Guckian had not met with the council for “some considerable time”.
A Western Trust response said the Trust was “dismayed” by some of the comments and would “take some time to reflect before making any further comment.”
Campaign group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) said the Chief Executive’s retirement was a “surprise development”.
Outgoing Western Trust Chief Executive Neil Guckian
Dean Stephen Forde on the Black Santa Appeal 2025
“Only last week there was widespread shock at the open admission that there was never any intention to restore timely access to emergency surgery to our community,” added a spokesperson.
“There is a deep-seated mistrust of the Trust management. Today’s announcement will not end that.
“We need and indeed demand a new management with real ambition for the delivery of health services in our area and for the SWAH in particular.”