HSE Performance Committee meeting minutes 24 April 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), Anne Marie Hoey (CPO), Joe Ryan (CRO), Grace Rothwell (ND Access and Integration), David Walsh (ND Access and Integration), Gerry Tully (AND Adult Disability Services), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Patricia Perry (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 March 2025.

2.3 Matters for noting

It was agreed that this item would be deferred to the May 2025 meeting.

Mr Joe Ryan, Chief Risk Officer joined the meeting

3.1 Feedback on the Risk Appetite Statement

The CRO presented the draft HSE Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) 2025 to the Committee. He advised the Committee that the draft RAS was informed by a consultation process, which involved a survey of the SLT, the Corporate Risk Support Team (CRST), and key stakeholders, to assess their agreement with the proposed risk appetite levels. It was noted that a key premise of the update to the risk appetite levels is that each appetite level has been informed by the content of the National Service Plan (NSP) 2025 and the current draft Corporate Plan.

The Committee discussed the content of the draft RAS 2025, noting that it was reviewed by the Audit & Risk Committee at their meeting of 14 April 2025 and that they had recommended it to the Board for approval.

Mr Damien McCallion (CTTO), Mr Neal Mullen (CISO), Mr Fran Thompson (CIO) and Mr Tom Laffan (Chief Data and Analytics Officer) joined the meeting

4.1 Lens of ICT

The CTTO introduced Mr Neal Mullen, CISO, Mr Fran Thompson, CIO and Mr Tom Laffan, Chief Data and Analytics Officer to the Committee. The Committee discussed the CTTO Dashboard report (Q1 2025 Performance Period (March Data)) provided by the CTTO which had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

The discussion focused on both operational performance and progress against transformational Digital for Care (DfC) priorities. The key focus areas presented included the summary of notable go-lives across the DfC portfolio of programmes thus far in 2025; the high level view & status of the entire portfolio; a focussed update on agreed priority programmes within Digital for Care; operational metrics; and cyber security update.

The Committee welcomed progress being made, noting of the 71 programmes, 54 were Green, 9 Amber and 1 Red, and of the 19 Digital for Care Priority Programmes, 16 were rated Green and 3 Amber. The Committee also discussed the growth and developments that have taken place within the area of ICT since 2018.

The Committee were briefed on and discussed AI and Automation, noting the establishment of an AI & Automation Centre of Excellence (CoE) which is due to be implemented by Q2 2025 and the development of a framework for the use of AI within Irish public health sector by Q3 2025. It was agreed that a further update would be brought back to the Committee.

5.1 National Performance Report (NPR)

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

The Committee noted the key metrics relating to: Screening Programmes; Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC); Urgent Colonoscopy; Cancer Rapid Access Clinics; Primary Care Therapies; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Home Support – Older Persons; Disability Services; Human Resources; and Finance which were highlighted by the ND Planning and Performance.

The Committee agreed that a deep dive in relation to Cancer Rapid Access Clinics be brought to the Committee at a future meeting, and that a briefing on Primary Care Therapies and Urgent Colonoscopy be included in the May Committee agenda.

5.2 Quarterly Reporting 2025 – Corporate and National Service Plan deliverables

The National Director Planning & Performance advised the Committee that as well as the monthly NPR, an expanded NPR will be produced on a quarterly basis, which will provide a status update on priority actions and deliverables set out in the HSE’s Corporate Plan 2025-2027 and the National Service Plan 2025.

The Committee considered and approved the proposed set of draft priority actions and deliverables; the proposed format for quarterly reporting; and the SLT actions required to meet the Q1 2025 reporting timelines, and noted that the Q1 2025 NPR will be brought to the May 2025 Committee meeting.

5.3 Chief People Officer Report

The Committee noted the report from the Chief People Officer (CPO). As outlined in the report, it was noted that a review of the Disciplinary Procedure for employees of the HSE is underway and internal consultation of a revised Procedure is ongoing.

5.4 Disabilities Report

It was agreed that Focus on Home Care would be deferred to the May Committee meeting, and a verbal update was provided by the National Director Access & Integration in relation to Therapy Service in Schools.

The Committee held a discussion in relation to the Department of Education standing up Therapy Service in Schools and the potential Impact for children and for the health services. An outline was provided in relation to CDNT in Reach to Schools Model (current model); School Based Therapists Employed by Department of Education; and the collaborative approach between Department of Children, Disability & Equality: DES, HSE and NCSE to develop a more integrated model.

6.1 Final Draft Annual Report 2024

The ND P&P presented the final draft of the HSE’s Annual Report 2024, which had been circulated to the Committee in advance of the meeting. The Committee considered the content of the final draft, the proposed design for the Annual Report.

The Committee noted the outlined timeline for finalisation of the Annual Report and thanked the ND P&P and the planning team for their work on the report. The Committee recommended that the final draft of the Annual Report be submitted to the next meeting of the HSE Board on 30 April 2025 for consideration and adoption.

The ND P&P advised the Committee that following the planning cycle for the 2025 NSP and to inform the approach to be adopted for 2026, a comprehensive After-Action Review (AAR) had been undertaken, and outlined some key developments for 2025 in response to the key findings of the AAR. The Committee noted and welcomed the actions being taken to prepare for the NSP 2026 process.

No matters arose under this item. The meeting ended at 5pm.