Dr Kevin May appointed Medical Director
Dr Kevin May takes up the role of Medical Director at Safetynet Primary Care, succeeding Dr Angy Skuce after six years.
Safetynet Primary Care has appointed Dr Kevin May as Medical Director, effective Tuesday, 19 May 2026. Dr May succeeds Dr Angy Skuce, who steps down after six years in the role and will continue with Safetynet as a GP.
Welcoming Dr May to the role, CEO Nicola Perry said the appointment reflects both continuity and renewal at the organisation. "We are delighted to welcome Dr Kevin May as Medical Director. Kevin has worked for Safetynet for just over four years, and during this time, his passion for inclusive healthcare and his commitment to accessible, holistic care have been clearly evident."
Dr May has worked across Safetynet's services for people experiencing homelessness, international protection applicants, and other marginalised communities. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine from RCSI and a postgraduate certificate in clinical trials from the University of London. Alongside his Safetynet role, he is in private general practice and serves as a member of one of the National Office for Research Ethics Committees. His expertise spans biomedical science, infectious disease medicine, pharmacology, pharmaceutical medicine, and public health medicine, drawing on prior hospital experience across rheumatology, elderly medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics.
He takes up the role at a pivotal moment for inclusion health in Ireland. The International Protection Act 2026 commences in June, bringing significant changes to Ireland's asylum system. The Department of Health's Statement of Strategy 2025–2028 commits to making access to healthcare "fairer and faster" as one of its five strategic priorities. And the latest Health in Ireland: Key Trends — Primary Care and Community Service data, published today by the Department of Health, shows medical card coverage at 29% of the population — its lowest level in the publication's dataset, down from 37% in 2015.
Speaking about taking on the role, Dr May said: "I am honoured to take on the role of Medical Director at Safetynet Primary Care. The organisation's commitment to meeting people where they are — both physically and in terms of their healthcare needs — aligns with my own values and experience. I look forward to building on the strong clinical foundations established by Dr Skuce and working with the team to deliver high-quality care to some of Ireland's most excluded communities."
Those foundations are considerable. Over her six years as Medical Director, Dr Skuce has guided Safetynet through the pandemic, the expansion of screening services for international protection applicants, and the development of services including the Step Up Step Down unit and Jane's Place women's service. She has been a leading voice in inclusion health in Ireland throughout this period.
Reflecting on her time in the role, Dr Skuce said the experience had been a privilege. "I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of being Safetynet's Medical Director over the past six years — challenging times during which the Safetynet team has risen to the challenge every single time, providing compassionate care of the highest standard in sometimes very difficult circumstances. I am delighted that my colleague, Dr Kevin May, will take over the role, and I know that Safetynet will continue to thrive under his leadership. I will happily continue as a GP working alongside all my colleagues who supported me so good-humouredly throughout."
For Nicola Perry, Dr Skuce's decision to remain with Safetynet as a GP is itself a statement of confidence in the organisation's direction. "We are grateful that Dr Angy Skuce, outgoing MD, will continue with Safetynet as a GP. Her clinical leadership and contribution to the field of inclusion health in Ireland have been exemplary. She has been instrumental to our growth, and her decision to remain reflects the strength of our mission and her continued dedication to the patients we serve."