HSE Performance Committee Meeting Minutes 20 February 2025

Committee Members Present:

Brendan Whelan (Chair), Tim Hynes, Matt Walsh, Lily Collison and Kenneth Mealy.

HSE Executive Attendance:

Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Damien McCallion (CTTO), Colm Henry (CCO), Philippa Withero (AND HR), Grace Rothwell (ND Access and Integration), Pat Healy (ND National Services), Tony Canavan (REO West and North West), Gerry Tully (AND Disabilities – Adults), Bernard O’Regan (AND Disabilities - Children), Sharon Hayden (CCO Office), Dara Purcell (Corporate Secretary), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Rebecca Kennedy (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.

The Committee held a private session to review the agenda, the relevant papers and approach to conducting the meeting.

2.1 Declarations of Interest

No conflicts of interest were declared.

2.2 Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of 09 January 2025.

2.3 Workplan 2025

Discussion deferred to the March meeting.

2.4 Current Items – Incident ref Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH)

CCO, REO West North West and S Hayden joined the meeting

The REO provided a verbal update on an incident in PUH outlining particular six areas which included the status of the incident team and communications with the families impacted. The REO and CCO answered questions from the Committee relating to team oversight and reporting measures.

The Committee was assured that the matter is being managed appropriately. It was agreed that an in-depth briefing would be arranged with the CCO and the National Clinical Director for the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) and for Committee members.

S Hayden left the meeting

HSE Executive Members joined the meeting

3.1 National Performance Report (NPR)

The NPR (December 2024 Data) and accompanying briefing paper, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, were noted. The December 2024 NPR presents the HSE’s performance through the four lenses of the Balanced Scorecard [Quality, Access, People, Money], against a sub set of the KPIs contained in the National Service Plan [NSP] 2024.

The Committee noted the key metrics relating to: BreastCheck activity; UEC; OPD Waiting Lists; urgent Colonoscopy, Cancer Rapid Access; Primary Care; Assessment of Need; and CAMHS. The ND Planning and Performance highlighted a number of Issues and Risks relating to: Urgent Colonoscopies and Data Returns. Finance and Human Resources metrics were also highlighted.

The Committee acknowledged that the development of the NPR which will continue to be refinedover time and discussed the HR and Disabilities metrics contained in the NPR. The ND Access and Integration advised that work is underway concerning Disabilities metrics with a view to additional metrics being included in the NPR from April onwards. It was agreed that Respite and Residential care would be the focus of the March Disabilities report standing item. Concerning the possibility of including additional HR metrics or of providing a supplementary report to the NPR, it was agreed that the CPO would meet with Committee members in advance of the next Committee meeting to discuss further.

The Committee discussed National Ambulance Service (NAS) metrics, particularly those related to ambulance handover thresholds. It was agreed that the ND National Services would provide a paper to the Committee on NAS indicators.

This item was deferred to the March meeting.

AND Disabilities – Stability and Sustainability and AND Disabilities - Operations joined the meeting

4.1 Lens of Access and Integration – Disability Services

The Committee noted the briefing on Specialist Disability Services provided by ND Access and Integration which had been circulated in advance of the meeting. The briefing provided an update on: Residential Services; Day Services; Respite Services; PA and Home Support Services; Children’s Disability Services; and Assessment of Need.

The Committee discussed the disabilities services as a whole, highlighting that integration of services will be key in improving the service and the CTTO highlighted that the EHR rollout will be a key enabler in this regard. Workforce was discussed, particularly relating to Children’s services, and the AND Disabilities Children confirmed that a live action review of these services is due before the end of March and that residential services in particular will need to be targeted.

It was agreed that Committee members would meet in advance of the next Committee meeting to consider how the Committee and Board will provide oversight of Disability Services going forward.

AND Disabilities – Adults and AND Disabilities - Children left the meeting

This item was deferred to the March meeting.

No matters arose under this item.

The meeting ended at 4pm.

Terms of Reference: Planning and Performance Committee