The Health Service Executive Board are desperate to improve their online presence, it would appear.
According to The Irish Times the HSE hired a number of social media experts in advisory roles over the past few months to advise staff on a range of social media topics.
This comes at time when the HSE was €60million over-budget in the first two months in 2016, with figures pointing to a possible budget deficit of more than €350 million by the end of this year.
Well-known food blogger, social media consultant and digital influencer Niall Harbison was hired by the HSE to address staff about his integrated vision for healthcare in Ireland at a recent seminar.
According to the HSE, they initially told Harbison’s team that they do not pay speakers; however they reached an agreement with Harbison charging a fee of €500, which is reserved for charitable events.
Harbison is best known as the outspoken founder of the Lovin’ Dublin website, a food and lifestyle blog, and is perhaps lesser known for his advising on health matters.
After speaking at the Ehealth Ireland event in Dublin on June 29th, the Chief Information Officer of the HSE, Richard Corbridge, said in a blog post after the seminar that Harbison “had inspired the audience with his vision for an integrated health system”.
This story has since sparked a big reaction online, with the over-riding sentiment from commentators being that Harbison should not have charged the HSE for a 20 minute talk.
Nice of @NiallHarbison to only take €500 quid of the HSE for a 20mins talk.
— Mark Malone (@soundmigration) September 1, 2016
Worth remembering @NiallHarbison once advocated ghettoising Dublin's homeless. Now he's being paid to lecture on our health system
— Shred Bundy (@BrianAnglim1) August 31, 2016
Following departure of Jack Wilshere to Bournemouth, Arsenal have released 3 doctors and 2 physios. Arsenal were advised by Niall Harbison.
— Graeme McQueen (@GraemeMcQ) August 31, 2016
@NiallHarbison @LaurenceMackin even a rough idea of your qualifications in healthcare integration'd be great. Is it a degree course? A plc?
— Ben Fraser (@benfraser06) August 31, 2016
"Can I have life saving drugs please HSE?"
"No, we've spent it hiring Niall Harbison"
"OK, grand so, makes sense".#vinb
— martinmcmahon (@williamhboney1) August 31, 2016
niall harbison is going to become a politician in 10 years here we go ireland is making its own donald trump
— kelly (@donlothario) August 31, 2016
Social media trainer Samantha Kelly, known online as ‘The Tweeting Goddess’ ,was also paid €650 by the HSE for a staff meeting in June.
We reached out to Niall Harbison for comment, and a member of his team informed us that he was travelling and unavailable at this time.
Cover image via Niall Harbison on Twitter.