Governance and Administration
1.1 Board Members Private Discussion
The Chairperson welcomed Board members to the meeting.
1.2 Declarations of Interest
No conflicts of interest were declared.
1.3 Chairperson’s Remarks
The Chairperson welcomed EMT members and Mr Liam Woods, former National Director Acute Operations and Dr. Mike O’Connor, National Clinical Lead Acute Services to the meeting.
Reconfiguration of Services at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan (OLHN)
Mr Liam Woods and Dr Mike O’Connor presented to the Board the outcome of the work completed by the Working Group in relation to the Reconfiguration of Our Lady’s Hospital Navan (OLHN). The Board considered documents presented regarding:
- Review of the Reconfiguration Plans for OLHN to a Model 2 Hospital
- Integrated Plan for the Reconfiguration of Acute Medical and Surgical Services
- Gantt Chart - timelines associated with the implementation plan
The Board were advised of the strong engagement in the process of the members of the Working Group throughout the review, where members, who included senior managers and clinicians from Ireland East and RCSI Hospital Groups, CHO 8, national clinical leads and a GP representative provided contributions including activity and workforce data, facilitated site visits and supported the review and development clinical pathways and looked at enhancing the pre-existing proposals and tested them for their impact on patient safety and on capacity.
The Board noted the Working Group’s review of services in the geographical area, the displaced activity, and the projected impact of displaced activity on other hospitals in the region and the investment required to support this, and of the pathways set out for the care for patients and the capacity requirements to meet the needs of those patients.
The Board held a discussion in relation to the key findings and the recommendations of the review. Board members outlined their views and concerns and welcomed the enhanced proposals set out in the review that has significant additional improvements to reduce the unacceptable immediate clinical risk at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan (OLHN) while addressing potential concerns at other sites, notably at Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda.
The Board emphasised the need to implement the recommendation made in the review to proceed with the reconfiguration of OLHN to a Model 2 hospital based on the enhanced reconfiguration plan which includes a two-step implementation approach which reduces the substantial risk at OLHN quickly but allows time to de-risk implementation.
It was agreed that a robust communication plan with all relevant stakeholders will be undertaken.
The Board endorsed the output of the Working Group and proposed to progress with the recommendations. The Board noted that the HSE has the primary statutory responsibility for the making of decisions such as this. It was agreed that the Review of the Reconfiguration Plans for OLHN to a Model 2 Hospital; the Integrated Plan for the Reconfiguration of Acute Medical and Surgical Services and the Gantt Chart be copied to the Minister for Health for his views, noting with the Board’s strong endorsement of same and its intention to proceed with implementation. Board members emphasised that while the Board is required under the legislation to have regard to any such views expressed by the Minister, this step ought not to be given an open ended or lengthy timeframe.
As some Board members were unavailable to attend the meeting, the Board Secretariat were asked to contact those members and inform them of the approach taken at the meeting and ask if they are happy to endorse the reports.
The Chair thanked the Working Group for the work that they undertook in what was a short timeframe.
AOB
No other business arose.
The meeting concluded at 4.15pm.