After an outstanding career in medicine spanning over four decades, in Health and Social Care, the Medical Director of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Charlie Martyn, has retired.
Charlie’s medical journey began at University College Dublin, where he completed an Honours BSc in Physiology in 1978, followed by a degree in Medicine in 1983. He began his internship and early medical training at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, before moving to Northern Ireland to complete his basic surgical training. In June 1988, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
In November 1995, Charlie was appointed as a Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine at the Ulster Hospital, a post he held for 30 years. During his time in the Emergency Department, he combined clinical excellence with a strong managerial focus, always striving to provide the highest quality of care for patients and a supportive training environment for staff and trainees. With a particular interest in trauma management, Charlie completed Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training and continues to serve as an ATLS Instructor to this day.
In 1997, Charlie took on the role of Clinical Director for Specialist Surgery, overseeing Accident & Emergency, Orthopaedics, Plastics and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Since his appointment as the Trust’s Medical Director in 2007, Charlie has provided strategic leadership and oversight for patient safety, clinical quality, and integrated governance. Under his direction, the Trust has implemented robust systems to support appraisal and revalidation, ensuring the highest standards of medical professionalism and patient care.
Reflecting on his long and fulfilling career, Charlie said “I have been a Doctor for 43 years and it has been a pleasure. I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have been a Consultant for 30 years at the Ulster Hospital.
“I have met great people and some wonderful teams along the way. This is a difficult day, but I have thought about it and I know I am now ready for retirement.
“I have worked with a whole variety of different people and teams across the Trust and the wider Health and Social Care Service. It has been fantastic. I appreciate the work that our people do every day in the Health Service. I would like to thank everybody that I have worked with over the years, particularly in this special place called the South Eastern Trust.”
Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride extended his thanks and added, “This is an end of an era. Charlie Martyn is one of a kind. He has been a stalwart in the Health Service in his own specialty. In my time knowing him as Medical Director, he has been a source of wisdom, advice and support. He has been there for his clinical colleagues, especially at a system level during the Pandemic.
“Charlie has worked tirelessly and he will be sorely missed.”
Thanking Charlie for his many years of service across the Trust, Chief Executive, Roisin Coulter, commented “ Today is a really special day in the South Eastern Trust. We are here to celebrate and recognise the contribution that our Medical Director, Charlie Martyn has made to the Trust over a long career.
“It has been an absolute privilege to have had Charlie as our Medical Director. He has been very committed to the Trust, driving clinical safety and creating a really positive culture which are the values of the Trust. He will be greatly missed.”
