HSE Strategy & Reform Committee Meeting Minutes 17 June 2025

Committee Members Present:

Tim Hynes (Chair), Brendan Whelan, Matt Walsh, Sarah Barry, Martin Mc Cormack, Derick Mitchell.

Apologies:

Barry Lowry, Aogán Ó Fearghail.

HSE Executive Attendance:

Damien McCallion (CTTO), Sara Long (REO Dublin and North East), Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), John Smith (AND Access and Integration), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Rebecca Kennedy (Office of the Board).

Joined the Meeting:

Joe Ryan (CRO), Aoife O’Donohue (AND Disability Services Transformation), Maria Kavanagh (GM Disability Services), Camille Staunton (GM Technology & Transformation), Brian O’Connell (ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery), Tom Laffan (Chief Data and Analytics Officer), Mia Hassler (Deloitte), Jo Shortt (AND Organisational Change Unit), Maurice Power (Health Region Corporate Implementation Lead), Anne Marie Hoey (CPO).

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, noting that the focus of the meeting would be to receive updates on key items and to suggest relevant actions as they became apparent.

2.1 Declarations of Interest

No conflicts of interest were declared.

2.2 Committee Meeting Minutes

The Committee approve the minutes of 12 March 2025 and 23 April 2025.

2.3 Matters for Noting

The Committee noted the Digital for Care 2030 Electronic Prescribing Update provided by the CTTO which was circulated in advance of the meeting.

The CRO presented the Q1 2025 Corporate Risk Register (CRR) and accompanying Committee extract and metric report to the Committee. The Q1 2025 Corporate Risk Register was reviewed and approved at the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meeting on the 22 April 2025 and subsequently reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee on 09 May 2025.

The Committee discussed its allocated principal risks (R006 Major Infrastructure, R007 Cyber Security and R008 Health Regions) and noted no change to risk status to R006 and R008. In relation to R007, the CRO highlighted an increase in residual risk rating. The Committee discussed business continuity and requested a briefing outlining how Board assurance can be provided in this context be brought to a future meeting.

4.1 National Maternity Hospital

The ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery (SHICD) briefed the Committee on the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) Programme. The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: the Main Contractor and Reserved Specialists tender process; submission of the Final Business Case; Governance and Resource mobilisation; Enabling Works; Risk Management; and Key Dates and Approvals 2025.

ND SHICD confirmed that the tender is concluded and viable returns have been received. The Committee discussed in particular the application of learning from the NCH process and the ND SHICD advised that engagement with CHI is ongoing in this regard. It was agreed that further information would be provided to the Committee at its next meeting.

4.2 National Electronic Health Record

The CTTO updated the Committee on progress on the EHR Preliminary Business case (PBC). The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: EHR Programme Priority Next Steps; Programme Leadership; Stakeholder Engagement and Communications and Risk Management.

The CTTO discussed the processes used in other jurisdictions in implementing EHR systems, advising that roll-out has been achieved in systems as similarly complex as Ireland. The Committee highlighted that data clean-up and digital literacy in both the workforce and the public will be key drivers for the success of the EHR Programme.

4.3 Disability Services

The AND Disability Services Transformation provided the Committee with a broad update on Disability Services. The Committee noted a paper circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: Assistive Technology; Assessment of Need (AON); Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Finance; Workforce; and Risk Management.

The Committee discussed in particular capital spend in disability services and it was agreed that a paper be provided at a later meeting outlining what the ideal level of capacity and capital expenditure would be.

The Committee noted the Quarterly Transformation Portfolio Report Q2 and associated documentation submitted by the CTTO and circulated in advance of the meeting. The papers provided a strategic and integrated overview of each of the priority programmes within the HSE Transformation Portfolio. This was the first time that the Quarterly Report was presented to the Committee and it was agreed that the direction of reporting was correct.

The CTTO provided the Committee with an overview of Na hOileáin Sláintiúil (Healthy Islands), a project which highlighted innovation in the health system, noting that Health Service Innovation in Focus has been added to the Committee’s workplan as a standing agenda item. The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: the Development of the HSE Innovation Framework, Sláintecare Integrated Innovation Fund (SIIF); Na hOileáin Sláintiúil (Healthy Islands).

The Committee discussed whether there is a process for linking innovation to core functions and established practice, and the criteria for ensuring continued funding for effective projects. The CTTO confirmed there is a framework in development to provide clarity in this regard.

The Chief Data and Analytics Officer updated the Committee on AI for Care - The AI Strategy for Healthcare in Ireland (draft AI strategy) and sought feedback on the draft AI strategy. The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which included a summary of progress to date and a copy of the draft AI strategy.

The Chief Data and Analytics Officer highlighted to the Committee that addressing governance and management in the draft AI strategy will be a key challenge. The Committee also discussed challenges around Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and standardisation of data, as well as the public trust required for successful use of this technology. It was agreed that Committee members would submit any written feedback on the draft AI strategy via the Board Office and a further update on the strategy would be provided at a later meeting.

7.1 Health Regions Programme

The AND Organisational Change Unit updated the Committee on the Health Regions Progress Report. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: HSE Centre Reform; Integrated Service Delivery Model; Clinical Governance; and Risk Management.

The AND Organisational Change Unit highlighted to the Committee that the programme is in an advanced stage in most regions and finalisation of Integrated Healthcare Area (IHA) design is underway. The Committee discussed in particular the staffing requirements of regions which is also being finalised in the context of the core principle of WTE and grade neutrality. The Committee noted that a process has commenced and is being led by the CCO around an updated clinical governance framework and was encouraged by the progress reported.

7.2 Integrated Workforce Programme

The Committee noted the papers provided by the CPO covering the People Strategy; Recruitment; and Workforce Programme which were circulated in advance of the meeting and requested that discussion focus on the draft People Strategy only. The Committee provided feedback on the draft strategy with further engagement to take place between the Chair and the CPO to finalise prior to bringing to the Board meeting. It was agreed that the draft People Strategy would go to the Board for noting at its next meeting on 27 June 2025.

No matters arose under this item.

The meeting ended at 15:10.