HSE Performance Committee meeting minutes 20 March 2025

Members Present

Brendan Whelan (Chair), Lily Collison and Kenneth Mealy.

Apologies

Tim Hynes, Matt Walsh.

HSE Executive Attendance

Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Damien McCallion (CTTO), Colm Henry (CCO), Anne Marie Hoey (CPO), Grace Rothwell (ND Access and Integration), Pat Healy (ND National Services), Tony Canavan (REO West and North West), Joe Ryan (CRO), Gerry Tully (AND Disabilities – Adults), Philippa Withero (AND HR Workforce Planning), Mary Doran (AND HR Disabilities Workforce & Resourcing), Eithne Fox (AND HR Recruitment & Resourcing), Martina Queally (REO Dublin South East), Amanda Casey (Chief Social Worker), Pamela Fagan (NIRP Chair), Bernie NcNally (Previous NIRP Chair), 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 20 February 2025.

2.3 Committee Annual Report 2024

The Committee approved the Committee Annual Report 2024.

HSE Executive Members joined the meeting

The CRO presented the Q4 2024 Corporate Risk Register (CRR) and accompanying Committee extract and metric report to the Committee. The Q4 2024 Corporate Risk Register was reviewed and approved at the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meeting on the 28th January and subsequently brought to the Audit and Risk Committee.

The Committee discussed its allocated principal risks (R001 Delivery of Care, R002 Standards of Safety and Care, R004 Health Care Acquired Infections and Anti-Microbial Resistance, and R007 Cyber Security) and a change in the rating of R004 was highlighted by the CRO. The CRO also outlined that changes are proposed to R002 which will include more clinical risk.

The Committee queried the risk management structure in the regions and the CRO advised that this is still being finalised with the CEO and REOs. The Committee noted the Q4 2024 CRR and associated documentation.

4.1 National Performance Report (NPR)

The NPR (January 2025 Data) and accompanying briefing paper, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, were noted. The January 2025 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] 2025.

The Committee noted the key metrics relating to: Screening Programmes; Complaints and Serious Incident Reviews; UEC; Scheduled Care; Disability Services; Human Resources; and Finance which were highlighted by the ND Planning and Performance.

The Committee discussed the presentation of data in the NPR and the narrative portrayed by the RAG statuses. It was agreed that additional management commentary would be added to the NPR to add context to the data. The allocation of NSP targets was also considered and it was agreed that the Estimates and NSP 2026 process would be discussed by the Committee at its next meeting.

4.2 Disabilities Report

AND Disabilities – Adults joined the meeting

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 specifically on Residential and Respite Services, as requested by the Committee at its February meeting, and a short briefing on Section 39 Pay related funding increase.

The Committee discussed the residential services, particularly the HSE’s private sector spend to provide the required places. The ND Access and Integration outlined the engagement underway to allow the HSE to address the shortage of suitable housing, particularly with the Department of Housing and Local Authorities nationwide.

In relation to respite services, the Committee discussed the regional variations in demand and queried whether data was available on unmet demand. The ND Access and Integration advised that this is difficult to quantify but further information would be available later in the year following a capacity report. The Committee discussed the commitment in the Programme for Government for a statutory home care scheme and requested that more information on home care be provided as part of the next update.

AND Disabilities – Adults left the meeting

AND HR Workforce Planning, AND HR Disabilities Workforce & Resourcing and AND HR Recruitment & Resourcing joined the meeting

5.1 Lens of Workforce

The Committee noted the presentation on Workforce provided by the CPO which had been circulated in advance of the meeting. The presentation focused on the Performance Reporting Suite - HR Metrics and Recruitment Reform & Resourcing.

In relation to the Performance Reporting Suite, the Committee discussed the individual Workforce metrics provided in the NPR, particularly relating to Absence Rates & Turnover, and requested a narrative report be included as part of future Workforce focus area updates.

Regarding Recruitment Reform & Resourcing, the Committee was updated on the HSE Resourcing Strategy. The briefing covered areas including: new engagement initiatives such as the HSE Career Hub; Collaboration with the Regions; modernisation of recruitment; and Disabilities Recruitment and Retention.

AND HR Workforce Planning, AND HR Disabilities Workforce & Resourcing and AND HR Recruitment & Resourcing left the meeting

AND Planning joined the meeting

The ND P&P presented the first draft of the Annual Report 2024, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, to the Committee. The Committee considered the content of the draft AR 2024 and made suggestions relating to the narrative of the Annual Report, suggesting that more management commentary be included to accompany the data.

The Committee noted the outlined timeline for finalisation of the Annual Report and agreed to submit feedback on the draft via email. The final draft of the Annual Report is due to be submitted to the next Committee meeting on 24 April before its submission to the HSE Board on 30 April for consideration.

ND Planning and Performance and AND Planning left the meeting

Chief Social Worker, NIRP Chair, B McNally, and REO Dublin South East joined the meeting

The NIRP Chair provided the Committee an overview of the NIRP’s work, outlining that it was established by the HSE in 2017 to review the most serious incidents within the HSE and HSE funded disability services. Its remit was later expanded to include all community health and social care services.

The Committee discussed the governance structure of the NIRP, which has a direct reporting line to the Performance Committee. It was agreed that bi-annual updates will be provided from NIRP to the Committee. It was clarified that the Committee does not manage the recommendations of NIRP reports, and instead has an oversight role and will receive updates on NIRP reports and the implementation of their recommendations. It was agreed that documentation circulated in advance of the meeting would be updated to accurately reflect the Committee’s role.

B McNally, as the NIRP Chair when this report was produced, provided an overview of the ‘Holly’ Report to the Committee. This report outlines the NIRP review into the care provided by a service provider funded by the HSE to a woman known as Holly. The Committee discussed the potential for learning from the ‘Holly’ Report and agreed to seek the view of Holly’s family before making a recommendation on publication. The Committee was briefed by the REO Dublin South East on the implementation of recommendations by the service provider in the ‘Holly’ Report.

The Committee thanked B McNally for her work and commitment to the NIRP process during her time as the Chair from 2016-2023.

No matters arose under this item.

The meeting ended at 17:38.

Terms of Reference: Performance Committee