1. National Maternity Hospital Business Case
The Committee and Board members noted the papers previously circulated relating to the Final Business Case (FBC) Approval and request for the approval of the Contract Award for onward submission to Department of Health and ultimately for Government Decision for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park; and the Contract Award for the Pre Services Contract Agreement with the selected contractors while awaiting Government Decision on the contract award and FBC Approval.
The ND, Head Strategic Health Infrastructure & Capital Delivery (ND SHICD) advised the members that the replacement of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at Holles Street and co-location with St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) at Elm Park is a Government priority project and has been in development for some time. The principle underpinning of the project is to facilitate the provision of a comprehensive model of maternity, neonatal, and women’s health services in a modern healthcare facility that is co-located with an adult acute hospital in order to enable the provision of care to the highest international standards.
He advised that the NMH at SVUH Programme Board have at their last meeting recommended the onward submission to SLT, ARC, HSE Board for approval to submit to Department of Health and ultimately to Government for approval to award the construction contract. Department of Health and Government approval will be required in order to proceed to the main construction phase.
Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the NMH at Holles St. provided an update to the Committee with regard to the services and facilities at NMH at Holles St. at present, noting that the quality of care delivered at the NMH at Holles Street is of the highest standard but is limited by its current facilities.
A presentation was provided to the Committee by Accenture officials which outlined the background and context and components of the FBC which included Strategic relevance and objectives; detailed demand analysis; climate and environmental performance plan; Risk Management Strategy; Delivery Schedule; Financial and Economic Appraisal; Detailed Sensitivity and Scenario Analysis; Project Execution Plan; Programme Governance Structure; Benefits Realisation Plan; Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
The Committee discussed the FBC presented and the ND SHICD provided responses to a number of queries from Committee members which were submitted prior to the meeting and included matters such as the management of risk, premium rate increases, minimisation of delayed days and succession planning.
The Committee discussed lessons learned from other major health infrastructure programmes and were advised that these are embedded in the FBC in terms of the execution plans and associated costs of the programme, including lessons learned from the National Children’s Hospital, and were provided with an outline of governance and project controls.
The Committee discussed the management of possible changes in the NMH @ SVUH Programme Board, the project and governance hierarchy. The ND SHICD advised the Committee of two recent appointments to the Programme Board to strengthen expertise and experience in the delivery of major capital programmes and clinical and managerial healthcare.
ND SHICD confirmed that there are currently two vacancies on the Programme Board, one for an additional patient representative, and one for an external expert, with efforts ongoing to identify a suitable candidate.
The Committee requested that a succession plan should be in place to make sure that any gaps are mitigated.
The Committee considered the details of the proposed business and agreed to recommend to the Board for approval the NMH at SVUH Programme - Business Case and Contract Award
- Final Business Case Approval and request the approval of the Contract Award for onward submission to Department of Health and ultimately for Government Decision for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park.
- Contract Award for the Pre Services Contract Agreement with the selected contractors while awaiting Government Decision on the contract award and Final Business Case Approval.