12th January 2005 - Board Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service held on Wednesday 12th January, 2005 at 2.00 p.m. Liffey Room, Conrad Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.
Present: Ms. Maura McGrath (Chairperson)
Mr. Sean Wyse
Ms. Valerie Mannix
Dr. Mary Cahill
Dr. Cees Van Der Poel
Mr. David Keenan
Ms. Jane OBrien
Apologies: Mr. Tony McNamara
Dr. Mary Horgan
Dr. Liz Keane
Mr. David Lowe
In Attendance: Mr. Andrew Kelly (CE)
Dr. William Murphy (NMD)
Mr. Michael Healy (SEO)
Ms. Maura McGrath welcomed Board members and suggested that there might be follow up to the mornings workshop on Governance. She agreed that a summary paper could be drafted on the salient points of the workshop, which could facilitate future discussion and clarity on the operation of the Board.
1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes of Meeting 8/12/2004
The minutes of the Board meeting held on Wednesday, December 8th 2004, were adopted on the proposal of Ms. V. Mannix, seconded by Mr. D. Keenan and signed by the Chairperson subject to agreed amendments.
Minutes of Reconvened Meeting 14/12/2004
The minutes of the reconvened Board meeting held on Tuesday, December 14th 2004, were adopted on the proposal of Mr. D. Keenan, seconded by Dr. M. Cahill and signed by the Chairperson subject to agreed amendments.
2. Matters arising
3. Correspondence
The correspondence from the Tánaiste was noted. The Chair briefed the Board on the meeting she and the Chief Executive had with the Tánaiste December 14h 2005. The Tánaiste acknowledged the concern of the Board about the development of the Cork Centre and reiterated her Departments commitment to the provision of a new centre. She noted that the estimated cost had risen to over 30 million and asked that the design specifications for the project would be re-examined to check whether each element of the proposed development gives value for money. She suggested that public private partnership might be worthy of exploration. The Chief Executive felt that there was not a lot of scope for scaling down the project.
4. Donor Services
Mr Phelim OLeary of Behaviour & Attitudes presented the findings of the Qualitative Research on public perception to blood donation and the IBTS, which had been carried out in 2004. Mr Kieran Healy Donor Services Manager briefed the Board on the work to date of the Task Force set up to review the operation of blood clinics and to examine the effects of implementing the vCJD 1 year UK residency deferral policy. The Chairperson thanked Mr O Leary and Mr Healy for their comprehensive briefings. The CE noted that there had not been a requirement to conduct a public appeal for donations since January 2002 in spite of the fact that the vCJD deferral policy had been extended. He felt that this was due in no small part to the work of the Donor Services Department and he wished to convey his thanks to Mr Healy and all the medical and clerical staff involved. The Board fully endorsed Mr Kellys sentiments and proposed that the Board would receive more frequent briefings from the Donor Services Department so as to be kept up to date on the services to donors.
5. Recommendations of Donor Notification Report
6. Chief Executives Report
The report was noted. The proposed IMB inspection of the NBC for February 14th 2005 has been deferred. The IMB inspection of the MRTC for 28th February is to go ahead.
Mr Peter Breen has been appointed Facilities Manager.
Interviews for the 2nd Consultant post in Munster are to take place on February 4th 2005.
It was noted that Mr Martin McMorrow Laboratory Manager Cork is to resign as of February 4th 2005. Mr. Kelly noted that it was important to fill this position without delay.
The Business Review Group (BRG) will be reviewing the Employee Climate Survey and prioritising the ensuing recommendations. The BRG will also be reviewing the Risk Register and it is hoped to have this available for presentation to the Board at the February 2005 meeting.
7. Minutes of Audit Committee 25.11.2004
The minutes of the Audit Committee were noted.
8. Date of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Board would take place in the NBC at the later date of Wednesday February 16th 2005.
Signed: . .. Date:
