William McKee (died on 12 December 2018, aged 66)
Extract from obituary in the Belfast Telegraph
The former head of the Belfast Health Trust has been recalled as a "first class professional" following his death at the age of 66.
He was chief executive of the Royal Hospitals for over a decade before taking the top job at the Belfast Health Trust.
A death notice described him as the "dearly loved husband of Ursula and proud father of Catherine and William, brother of James, Janet and Susan, nephew of Lindsey and Amelia."
Mr McKee was born in Belfast, studied at Queen's University and received an MBA from Ulster University.
Pursuing a career in the health service, he held senior positions at various hospitals including Daisy Hill in Newry and Musgrave Park in Belfast.
He received his CBE in 2006 for services to health in Northern Ireland.
His role at the head of the Belfast Trust also saw him deal with divisive issues such as funding cuts to frontline services.
Tributes were also paid by former Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and Richard Pengelly, the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health, who said Mr McKee’s dedication to the health service was “immeasurable”.
Mr McGimpsey, who was health minister from 2007 to 2011, said he would remember Mr McKee as “very competent, very efficient and very capable”.
Mr Pengelly said: “His influence and contributions to health and social care over a number of years was invaluable and he will be greatly missed.”
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