HSE Strategy & Reform Committee Meeting Minutes 19 February 2025

Committee Members Present:

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

HSE Executive Attendance:

Damien McCallion (CTTO), Sara Long (REO Dublin and North East), Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Grace Rothwell (ND Access and Integration), Brian O’Connell (ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery – Item 4.1), David Walsh (Access and Integration Disabilities – Item 4), Joe Ryan (CRO – Items 4-5), Miin Alikhan (AND Planning – Item 6), 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, 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 14 January 2025.

The CTTO updated the Committee on the HSE Transformation Programme focusing on the proposed reporting structure. He confirmed that a single reporting process for the 12 transformation programmes has been agreed with the Department of Health (DoH) and the HSE Sláintecare Transformation and Innovation Office (STIO) is currently testing the proposed draft quarterly dashboard report. The CTTO advised that the aim is to have no duplication of reporting coming to the Committee and the Board and that progress against Corporate Plan 2025-2027 measures will be reported to the Committee quarterly. STIO will work closely with SROs and National Planning and Performance in the monitoring and evaluation of transformation programme performance.

The Committee provided feedback on the proposed reporting structure, suggesting that detail on why each of the indicators are used be provided. It was highlighted that alignment between the Corporate Plan and the HSPA Framework should be clear. The Committee discussed risk culture and the Chair highlighted the need for keeping risk thresholds at the forefront during programme implementation.

The Committee highlighted that the OECD Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS) was due to be published on 20 February 2025 and Ireland did not participate in the study. The CTTO agreed to revert to the Committee on why this happened, how HIQA will engage with the survey results, and whether the HSE should have additional targets set for patient engagement surveys and the learning opportunity which accompany them.

ND Access and Integration Disabilities, CRO, ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery joined the meeting

4.1 National Children’s Hospital (NCH)

The ND Planning and Performance briefed the Committee on the NCH and the Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: NCH Programme roles, responsibilities and governance, NCH Programme update and priorities, and Risk Management.

The Committee discussed in particular the timelines for delivery and sought clarity on the governance and decision making processes of the Children’s Health Ireland Board and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. The Committee emphasised that it will need to be put in a position to engage at the appropriate level and be comfortable with the assurance provided from the ND Planning and Performance but that threshold has not yet been met. It was agreed that the KPMG NCH Operational Readiness Review (Samsom report), which was commissioned by the HSE, would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

The Committee discussed the potential workforce challenges which may arise as the hospital is progressed. It was highlighted that there may be culture challenges arising as staff from three hospitals are merged into one workforce and sought assurance that there will be a plan in place to manage this. The Committee also sought assurance that digital transformation will be adequately resourced.

The Committee emphasised the need to see evidence of contingency planning and for learning from the NCH be utilised for the National Maternity Hospital project. It was agreed that the NCH workforce would be the focus of the update provided at the next meeting.

4.2 National Maternity Hospital

This item was deferred to the March meeting.

ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery left the meeting

4.3 Disability Services

This item was deferred to the March meeting.

AND Planning joined the meeting

The ND Planning and Performance and the AND Planning briefed the Committee on final stages the Corporate Plan 2025-27 drafting process. The Plan will fulfil the HSE’s legislative requirement for a 3-year Corporate Plan and will establish a roadmap for improvements in health and social care services, enhancing population health outcomes, and addressing health inequalities. Discussion ensued about how to best ensure the Corporate Plan engages staff and teams and is enacted throughout the organisation

The Committee thanked the AND Planning for the update and the Planning team for their work drafting the Corporate Plan 2025-2027. The Committee recommended the Corporate Plan to the Board for approval and subsequent submission to the Minister for Health and Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

AND Planning, ND Planning and Performance, ND Access and Integration Disabilities, ND Access and Integration, D Mitchell, A Ó Fearghail and B Lowry left the meeting

The discussion on the Q4 2024 Corporate Risk Register (CRR) was deferred to the March Committee meeting.

The Chair highlighted that the CRR needs to become an integral part of the day-to-day operation of the organisation and should be used as a driver of culture change, particularly in relation to the culture around reporting of serious incidents.

The CTTO highlighted two Cyber Audits which had been completed recently and confirmed the Committee would receive a full briefing on them at a future meeting.

The meeting ended at 13:50pm.

Terms of Reference: Strategy and Reform Committee