3.1 People and Culture Committee
The minutes of the Committee meeting of 12 January 2024 and HR Dashboard (January data) were noted. In the absence of the Committee Chair, Committee member Matt Walsh provided a verbal report on the matters considered at the Committee meeting that took place on 12 March 2024.
The Committee approved the draft Committee Annual Report section.
The HR Bi Monthly report was presented to the Committee, which included an update in relation to the suspension of the Fórsa Industrial Action and the agreement to develop a specific Framework in relation to the recruitment of management and administrative staff which will be done in the context of the PNS. Also included was an update on the Diversity, Equality & Inclusion– staff with disabilities survey; the Health Sector Workforce Census data; the number of Consultants currently employed on the Public Only Consultant Contract; and that the People Strategy 2019 - 2024 would be reviewed at a future Committee meeting.
The Committee reviewed the HR Internal Management dashboard, and noted that the PNS is in its final stages, with the expectation that the final WTE limits will be issued to inform discussion of the HR dashboard at its next meeting.
The Committee received an update on the Implementation Plan currently under development relating to the National Taskforce on NCHD Final Recommendations Report, noting the significant progress being made in relation to the interim recommendations, and that costing of the recommendations is required. The Committee noted that feedback on the implementation of the interim recommendations has been positive.
The Committee received an update in relation to the Corporate Risk Register. The Health Regions programme was discussed, with the Committee noting the cultural shift involved in devolving authority and accountability to the Regions, and were advised that a Culture Framework has been devised and finalised.
The Committee were briefed on the HSE’s approach to Succession Planning, and agreed to have an end of year review exploring the complexities of succession planning.
3.2 Safety and Quality Committee
The Committee Chairperson advised the Board that a Joint Committee meeting with the Planning & Performance Committee took place on 14 March 2024 to discuss Mental Health. The Chair provided a verbal report on the different areas of mental health service delivery, policy implementation, current challenges and prioritised areas for service improvement considered at the meeting and acknowledged the work of the ND Community Operations and team.
The Committees were presented with two service users experiences of accessing mental health services on behalf of a family member through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). Both highlighted similar issues within these services, noting that the complexity of the current system requires significant work on behalf of the service user to successfully navigate. Both Committees highlighted that the HSE should make better use of lived experiences of service users, as these experiences tell us so much about the effectiveness, safety and quality of the services we provide. The ND Community Operations confirmed they do aim to do this as much as possible in service development.
The Committees received an overview in relation to mental health services under General Adult Mental Health; Child & Youth Mental Health; Psychiatry of Later Life; Mental Health of Intellectual Disability; and Forensic Services. The Committees discussed the importance of access to these services noting referrals by GPs; performance data for CAMHS; the redefining of KPIs with the emphasise on the need for a modernised IT system; the impact of the recruitment pause, and the problems caused by the lack of multiannual funding.
The Committees were provided with an update on the Policy & Strategy landscape areas, which covered Sharing the Vision; Connecting for Life; the Maskey Report; and Sláintecare and integration. The Committees discussed the implementation of the recommendations of Sharing the Vision and the 10 work streams underway to achieve them. In relation to the implementation framework for the Maskey Report it was noted that recommendations in 3 broad areas: clinical, governance and supporting, are now being considered in services across the country.
In relation to Regulatory Compliance, the Committees discussed the Mental Health Commission (MHC)’s Annual Report 2023, and it was highlighted that the MHC expressed ongoing concern about low levels of compliance with four key regulations. The Committees were also advised that the HSE has agreed to support broadening of the MHC’s remit to allow regulation to residential community mental health services.
Following the joint meeting, the Safety & Quality Committee went on to consider items on its monthly agenda.
The minutes of the Safety & Quality Committee meeting of 15 February 2024 were approved.
The Committee approved the draft Committee Annual Report section, and the monthly Chief Clinical Officer’s Report was presented to the Committee. This included an update on the Development of a HSE Laboratory Strategy; the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group (PHREAG); the Sepsis and HSE Awareness campaign; the HSE CHI Independent Review; delays in Breast Check surgery resulting from recruitment challenges and theatre access issues.
The Committee provided feedback to the CCO on the new Quality and Patient Safety Model, which aims to create a leaner corporate centre for the HSE and noted that the existing infrastructures around incident management and risk will be dealt with under the new structure.
The Committee noted the Quality profile from the January data cycle.
3.3 Planning and Performance Committee
The Committee Chair advised the Board the he and another Committee member had met the CSO and team to discuss the draft HSE Annual Report 2023 and a further meeting was being arranged to finalise the Annual Report, which would be then brought back to the Board for approval.
3.4 Technology and Transformation Committee
The minutes of the Committee meeting of 24 January 2024 were noted. The Committee Chairperson provided a verbal report on the matters considered at the Committee meeting that took place on 20 March 2024, and advised the Board that Committee meetings will now take place monthly.
The Committee approved the draft Committee Annual Report section, and noted updates relating to eHealth Talent Plan, Microsoft reseller agreement renewal and IFMS.
The Committee discussed the eHealth section of the BSS (January KPI data), noting that there will be more to be learned from the data provided later in the year.
The Committee reviewed the CTTO Air Traffic control dashboard, with a discussion on staffing and highlighted the importance of succession planning. An update on the current ICT Capital Plan spend was provided, and the Committee requested a 3-year rolling plan of eHealth projects. Also included was an update on the Change Healthcare cyber-attack which occurred in the US in February 2024, with assurance that there was no compromise of HSE service as a result of this cyber-attack.
The Committee received an update on progress in relation to the HSE Digital Health Strategic Implementation Plan (DHSIP), and subject to the Department of Health’s internal governance, the Committee agreed to recommend the DHSIP to the Board for approval on the provision that updates are provided on governance as it progresses and on the communications surrounding the eventual launch.
The Committee were presented with an update in relation to the development of Acute Virtual Wards (AVW), and expressed their full support for the development.
In relation to the Health Regions, the Committee were presented with an update on the work completed to date, the key next steps and deliverables for the implementation of Health Regions. The Committee discussed the organisational structure and the proposals to manage ICT risks within the new structures.
The Committee were provided with an update on the Prioritisation Framework for Transformation, and were provided with examples of some programmes and emphasised the importance of a clear model to work within for the delivery of these programmes.
The Committee discussed the approach to date to design a HSE Business Continuity Management (BCM) Policy and Handbook, with final drafts due to come back to the Committee. It was noted that the Audit & Risk Committee would take the lead in relation to the BCM.
3.5 Audit and Risk Committee
The minutes of the Committee meeting of 19 February 2024 were noted.
The Committee Chairperson provided a verbal report on the matters considered at the Committee meeting that took place on 22 March 2024 as follows.
The Committee approved the draft Committee Annual Report section.
The Committee were provided with an update in relation to the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) Project and Programme, and noted the significant issues and risks with this large and complex programme. The Committee discussed the operational and governance accountabilities of CHI, and noted that an external assurance review was commissioned, and once completed would be brought before the Committee.
The Committee had considered the detail of proposed building contracts, and recommended approval to the Board.
The Committee received updates in relation to YTD Expenditure and Health Budget Oversight Group, and were presented with the draft Annual Financial Statements (AFS), which are being presented later in the meeting.
The Committee were provided with an update in relation to IFMS and the significant challenges and measures identified relating to invoice processing for Implementation Group 1 (IG1). A paper seeking the approval of the Change Control Note (CCN) to the IFMS System Integrator contract for SAP Implementation Support for a new IFMS was presented and the ARC agreed to recommend to the Board for approval.
The Committee considered the Corporate Risk Register (CRR) 2024, with members providing further feedback to the CRO. The CRR 2024 will be presented to the Board at the April 2024 meeting. The Committee were provided with an update on the engagement and training programme associated with the roll-out of the Enterprise Risk Management Policy and Procedures; and noted the position of Risk Management within the Health Regions.
The Committee noted three reports with regard to Protected Disclosures, which were the Statutory Report 2 to the Minister of DPER, the Protected Disclosures Annual Report 2023, and the National Office for Protected Disclosures Report for January – December 2023.
The Committee reviewed the Interim Audit Report 2023 and noted that Limited assurance can be provided in respect of the governance, risk management and control systems operating in the subject areas audited. The Committee noted in the report the good progress on actioning of Audit Recommendations and the modest improvement of the Audit Ratings, and outlined its aspiration for 2024. It was noted that an Access and Cooperation Escalation Protocol, will be brought before the ARC at its April meeting. The Committee received an update on the IA Strategic Review and Industrial Relations, and in relation to the successful tender for an outsourced ICT audit provider.
Board member M O’Sullivan left the meeting @ 12.50pm