HSE Technology and Transformation Committee Meeting Minutes 15 May 2024

Members Present

Tim Hynes (Chair), Brendan Whelan (left approx. 10:15), Martin McCormack (left approx. 10:15), Derick Mitchell, Barry Lowry.

Apologies

Fergus O’Kelly, Rosaleen Killalea.

HSE Executive Attendance

Fran Thompson (Chief Information Officer), John Ward (Interim Chief Technology Transformation Officer), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Rebecca Kennedy (Office of the Board).

Joined the Meeting

Puneet Kukreja (Interim Chief Information Security Officer – Item 5.2), Damien McCallion (Chief Operations Officer – Item 6), Miin Alikhan (AND National Strategic Planning and Performance – Item 6), Gary Holohan (PwC – Item 6).

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 approved the minutes of:

• 20 March 2024
• 17 April 2024

The CIO presented to the Committee on the development of the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) programme which is a strategic programme that seeks to compose a digital record of a patient’s key healthcare data aggregated from various electronic sources and settings. It aims to enable the sharing of standardised, interoperable digital health records for both healthcare professionals and citizens and is one of the key initiatives under principle 3 - Digitally Enabled and Connected Care in the HSE Digital Health Strategic Implementation Roadmap (DHSIR).

The CIO outlined the tender responses received to date and answered the Committee’s queries in relation to these applications. In particular, the CIO highlighted the projected data sources for the NSCR and the requirement to standardise coding of data across the system.

The Committee queried progress made in relation to the Integrated Community Case Management System (ICCMS) which is expected to be the core community health ICT system. The CIO advised that there are current concerns around affordability and a document on Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) policy direction would be circulated after the meeting. The language around SCR and EHR was discussed and it was agreed that a briefing on this would be provided at a future meeting.

3.1 Item 14 - eHealth

The Committee discussed the eHealth section of the BSS (March KPI data) which was prepared for inclusion with the BSS Report for the March Board meeting and circulated to the Committee in advance of the meeting.

The CIO highlighted three areas in particular for discussion with the Committee. It was noted that the Digital Health Framework (DHF) has been completed by the DoH and the HSE Digital Health Strategic Implementation Plan will be submitted to the Board for approval following the DHFs publication.

In relation to the Patient App, the CIO advised that there are two challenges to the resolved but it is projected to be live by the end of May 2024.

The Committee discussed the proposed operating model for eHealth in the regions and emphasised the need to ensure that regional CIOs are sufficiently aligned to allow cooperation and receive sufficient support as required. The Committee agreed to invite the CIOs to attend a future meeting once the roles have been filled and to offer its support as necessary.

4.1 CTTO Air Traffic Control Report

The CTTO presented to the Committee the CTTO Report which provides a broad view of relevant programmes under the headings of eHealth Achievements, Run, Grow, Transform, and Protect.

The Committee discussed staffing in particular and the CTTO advised that the eHealth staff numbers are not growing overall but there has been some improvement and discussions on how headcount will be allocated in the regions are pending. In relation to the Chief Data Officer post which will be a key role for eHealth, the Committee agreed that it should have input into the job description when drafted.

The CISO presented the draft Cyber Strategic Statement of Intent (CSSI), which included an internal and external version, to the Committee. The CSSI is the HSE’s strategic vision for cyber security over the next number of years. It sets the guiding principles and articulates the HSE's approach to cyber security, emphasising the need to implement the recommendations made following the 2021 cyberattack on the HSE.

The Committee gave feedback on format of the draft CSSI documents which were circulated in advance of the meeting. It was highlighted that the publication of the CSSI will be a good communications opportunity and the Committee advised that the Communications Division should be engaged in this regard.

The COO updated the Committee on the implementation of the HSE Prioritisation Framework for Transformation (the Framework), which was developed in 2023 as a management support tool. He confirmed that work on the new Corporate Plan has commenced and the Framework will be embedded into the planning cycle for 2025. He confirmed that an example using the Framework to assess certain disability services, which was previously requested by the Committee, is being developed and will be brought to a future meeting.

The Committee discussed the potential culture shift which will be required to get the Framework rolled out and utilised by each service may be challenging and recognised that the change may take time. The Committee agreed to support the planning team as required during this process.

The Committee thanked the interim CTTO for his work with the HSE as it was his last Committee meeting in the role.

The Committee discussed an overall issue in the workforce with digital and data skills which has become apparent in the course of its work and agreed that there is a pressing need to push upskilling in this area.

The meeting concluded at 11:58.