14th April 2004 - Board Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service
held on Wednesday 14th April, 2004 at 1.00pm
Boardroom, National Blood Centre, Jamess Street, Dublin 8
Present: Ms Maura McGrath (Chairperson)
Mr Sean Wyse
Ms Valerie Mannix
Mr Tony McNamara
Dr Cees Van Der Poel
Dr Liz Keane
Apologies: Dr Mary Horgan
Dr Helen Enright
Dr Gerry Crotty
Mr David Lowe
Mr David Keenan
In Attendance: Mr Andrew Kelly (A/CE)
Dr William Murphy (NMD)
Mr. Michael Healy (SEO)
1. Minutes of Meeting 10.03.2004
The minutes of the Board meeting held on Wednesday 10th March 2004, were adopted on the proposal of Ms. V. Mannix, seconded by Mr. S. Wyse and signed by the Chairperson, subject to agreed amendments.
2. Matters arising
The vCJD Group in the IBTS, Chaired by the NMD, will be looking at the impact of the current deferral rates in relation to vCJD policy. The BT1 questionnaire is being adjusted to reflect the policy. It is expected that there will be a 5% reduction in donor base from this policy and the Donor Services section is taking steps to address this shortfall.
The Donor Services Manager will head up a team to devise strategies to enable the IBTS move to a one-year UK residency deferral policy. This strategy will include timelines, resource requirements and so forth. The team will include medical, technical and financial personnel.
It was noted that the issue of retention of donors needs to be addressed, notwithstanding the fact that increasing numbers of new donors are bring recruited. In this regard donor focus groups are to be set up with a view to encouraging donors to donate on an ongoing basis and to promote better customer relations through staff training.
It was noted that the Audit Committee is short one Board member. It was agreed to deal with the matter at the next Board Meeting.
3. Correspondence
The Board noted the correspondence from the Minister for Health and Children and from the Chairman of the Southern Health Board in regard to the Cork Centre development.
4. Chief Executives Report
The report was noted.
It was suggested that the Donor Services Manager could give a presentation to the Board on blood supply issues, once the donor focus groups have been established. The number of deferrals was discussed and how best to reduce these numbers.
It was noted that a proposal regarding eProgesa would come to the Management Team in the near future.
The position of QA Manager in the Cork Centre will be taken up week commencing 26th April 2004.
The Board expressed concern at the lack of agreement in finalising the appointment of a Laboratory Manager in Cork. The Chief Executive has decided to re-advertise the position as a matter of urgency. The Board recommended that the Chief Executive be part of the interview board, so as to overcome any obstacles to making an appointment from any future competition.
Interviews have been held for the position of Internal Auditor and it is hoped that a suitable candidate can be selected in the coming weeks.
The HR staff manual is being launched today by the Chairperson. The Chairperson complimented the HR Director and his team for their efforts in bringing this project to fruition.
The Chief Executive briefed the Board on the operation of NAT testing in the NBC and the problems encountered with the availability of samples from the Munster Region to the NBC for testing. Parallel running has operated successfully with the SNBTS. It is expected that the SNBTS will be contracted to provide backup until the end of 2005.
5. Donor Notification 1991 1994
6. Review International Panel Recommendations on Testing
The Chief Executive briefed the Board on the updated review of the recommendations of the International Panel on Testing. The Board discussed the proposed letter that would accompany the review to be sent to the Minister for Health & Children. The Board noted that the only recommendation on which there has been no progress to date, is the establishment of a new centre in Cork.
7. Revised Code of Conduct for Board Members
Due to the absence of some of the medical consultants, this item is deferred to the May 2004 Board meeting.
8. Development of Cork Centre
Planning application was lodged on March 12th 2004. The Chief Executive outlined to the Board the necessary changes to the original specification, which has increased the costs. The Board approved the change and set a maximum budget of 3 million.
There will be a meeting with the Irish Medicine Board next week to update them on the Cork Centre.
9. Organisation Development Programme
As part of the process, IBTS medical consultants were invited to make final inputs following on from their meeting with the Board on March 9th 2004. The Chief Executive gave a presentation to the Board on progress to date with the OD Programme. He outlined a model of the organisation of work for the IBTS and how the revised structures would operate to ensure a more cohesive, safe and efficient national organisation. The Chief Executive will be meeting with Senior Managers on an individual basis to obtain feedback and input. He felt it important that a step by step approach be adopted. It was agreed that the Board OD subgroup would, in the first instance, analyse the proposed new structures. A workshop for the Board would follow, inviting comments and suggestions and evaluating all options. It is hoped to have this workshop at the May Board meeting. However, it was agreed that this deadline might need to be extended, to facilitate discussion and feedback from all parties.
10. Minutes of MAC meeting 14th January 2004
The minutes of the MAC meeting of 14th January 2004 were noted. The Board was concerned, in regard to governance, at the small numbers attending the MAC meetings. It was suggested that the Chairperson might write to the MAC members and the DOH&C, outlining these concerns. Due to the ongoing absence of some medical consultants from the MAC meetings, as a result of the IHCA dispute with the DOH&C, the Board agreed to temporarily adjust the Terms of Reference for the MAC, so that a quorum would only require the presence of one Board member.
11. Terms of Reference for Pension Review Group
The Terms of Reference for the Pension Review Group were approved by the Board. The Board also approved the appointment of Mr. David Lowe as Chairman of the group.
12. iBusiness Banking Resolution
The Board approved the resolution to allow the IBTS to move to iBusiness Banking for business transactions.
13. Date of next meeting
The next meeting of the IBTS Board will take place on Wednesday 12th May 2004.
Signed:
.
.. Date:
.
