HSE board meeting minutes 23 May 2023

A meeting of the Board of the Health Service Executive was held on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 4:30pm via video conference.

Present:

Mr Ciarán Devane (Chairperson), Ms Anne Carrigy, Mr Brendan Whelan, Mr Aogán Ó Fearghaíl, Mr Fergus Finlay, Prof Fergus O’Kelly, Dr Yvonne Traynor and Ms Michelle O’Sullivan Apologies: Prof Deirdre Madden, Mr Tim Hynes, Dr Sarah McLoughlin.

In Attendance for Board Meeting:

Mr Bernard Gloster (CEO), Ms Mairead Dolan (Asst. CFO), Mr Dean Sullivan (CSO), Mr Damien McCallion (COO), Mr Joseph Duggan (ND IA), Dr Philip Crowley (CCO), Mr Dara Purcell (Corporate Secretary), Ms Niamh Drew (Office of the Board).

Minutes reflect the order in which items were considered and are numbered in accordance with the original agenda. All performance/activity data used in this document refers to the latest information available at the time.

1.1 Declarations of Interest

No conflicts of interest were declared.

1.2 Chairperson’s Remarks

The Chairperson informed the Board of the appointment made by the Minister for Health of Mr Matt Walsh as a new Board Member, and Mr Walsh will attend the Board meeting on 31 May 2023.

The Asst CFO joined the meeting.

2.1 Final Annual Financial Statements 2022

The Board reviewed with the CEO and Asst CFO the Draft Final Annual Financial Statements (AFS) 2022, notes to the accounts, Statement of Internal Control, Operating and Finance Review, Letter of Representation 2022, Chair’s Comprehensive Report and draft HSE audit certificate, which had been circulated in advance.

An outline of the position on the AFS was provided by the CEO and Asst. CFO and the Board were briefed on the requirement for the adoption of the AFS in accordance with the requirements of Section 36 of the Health Act 2004. Section 36 of the Health Act requires the AFS to be adopted by the Board on or before the 1st April annually. Once these are adopted and signed by the Chairperson on behalf of the Board they are then submitted to the Minister for Health and to the Comptroller and Auditor General for formal audit. The HSE Board adopted the AFS in accordance with the requirements of Section 36 of the Health Act 2004 on 31 March 2023.

The Board had agreed to reconsider the final draft AFS should there be any material or important issues arising that require amendments to the signing pages of the financial statements. There were a small number of important changes which had arisen as part of the final audit and review which were outlined to the Board. Although these were not material they impacted the signature pages of the final financial statements and therefore the CEO and Chairperson were asked with the support of the Board to resign these accordingly.

The Board welcomed that the C&AG will provide a clean audit certificate following the audit of the AFS and noted the matters that may be emphasised in the C&AG audit certificate.

The Board proceeded with their re-adoption of the AFS and related documents on the grounds that they have been recommended by the Audit & Risk Committee as confirmed by the Committee Chairperson and nominated the Board Chairperson and the CEO to re-sign these accordingly.

Decision No.: 230523/29

2.2 Contract Approval Requests

The CFO presented to the Board the following Contract Approval Requests, which were recommended by the Audit & Risk Committee for Board approval at their meeting of 12 May 2023, to which the Board considered and approved.

1. CAR 19974 - GP Access to Diagnostic Services Decision No.: 230523/30
2. CAR 214531 - Intermediate Managed Laundry Service CHO Area Decision No.: 230523/31
3. CAR 17466 - Agency Nurses and Midwives Panel Agreement Decision No.: 230523/32
4. CAR 17156 - Provision of Assisted Admissions for Mental Health Services Decision No.: 230523/33
5. CAR 17737 - Provision of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Services for NSS Decision No.: 230523/34
6. CAR 19953 - Ambulance Services to Transfer Low and Medium Acuity Patients Decision No.: 230523/35

It was noted that the ARC had documented that a number of contracts expiry dates had passed, and that a request was made to the Asst. CFO that internal processes would be reviewed to ensure contract renewals are timelier.

The Board discussed the processes with regard to recruitment and agency staff, and the CEO advised that the HSE is embarking on an agency conversion process for nursing, with 330 conversions to be made shortly, the Board noted that it would be challenging.

2.3 Properties & Contracts

The Board approved the following property transactions which were recommended by the Audit & Risk Committee:

1. Proposed Acquisition of building at Cork Business & Technology Park, Model Farm Road, Cork Decision No.: 230523/36
2. Award of Additional Hospital Infrastructure Works at University Hospital Limerick Decision No.: 230523/37

The Chair provided an update on the arrangements for the Board meeting being held on 31 May 2023. No further matters arose. The meeting concluded at 17.15pm.