19th January 2010 - Board Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of theBoardof the Irish Blood Transfusion Service held onTuesday 19th January 2010at2.00pmin theBoardroom, National Blood Centre, James’s Street,Dublin8.

 

 

Present:                                 Ms. Katharine Bulbulia (Chairperson)

                                                Mr. David Lowe 

Ms. Marie Keane

Ms. Jane O’Brien

Dr Mary Cahill

Mr Mark Moran

Ms Sinead Ni Mhaille

Mr Sean Wyse

Dr Paul Browne

Mr David Keenan

Ms Ann Horan

 

 

Also in attendance:               Mr. Andrew Kelly, Chief Executive

Dr. William Murphy, Medical & Scientific Director

Ms Mirenda O’Donovan, Secretary to theBoard

 

The Chairperson welcomed Ms Ann Horan to the Board. The Chairperson also welcomed the reappointment of Mr Sean Wyse. 

1.     Minutes of the meeting of the Board on15th December 2009

The minutes of the meeting of the Board on 15th December 2009were agreed subject to amendment.

 

2.     Matters arising

 

MUH Transfer

This is not now going ahead on the timeline agreed. Various aspects of the transfer arrangements have not been completed in time by MUH.  It is hoped the transfer can complete on 1st February.

Pension Scheme

A date for a meeting between IBTS, Department of Finance and Department of Health and Children officials has been arranged for 26th January.

Benchmarking

The outcome of the Plexus Report has not yet been presented to the Dutch parliament.

3.     Chief Executive’s Report

 

Blood supply

The blood supply suffered over the extended period of bad weather from Christmas to New Year.  Consistent shortfalls of between 20 and 25% of normal attendance left no option but to launch a major campaign on 7th January.  The public response was very positive, almost 4,000 units were collected in the following week and the blood supply has now recovered.

DPR Phase II

The extension of time and attendance to clinics has raised some issues.  A meeting with staff representatives and the relevant union official is being arranged to resolve these problems. 

Laboratory ReviewCork

The change in work practices comes into effect on 29th January.

Disposal of asset

A proposal to transfer the Tamiflu stock held by the IBTS to the HSE was proposed by Mr Mark Moran and seconded by Ms Sinead Ni Mhaille.

The Chairperson asked that a vote of thanks be conveyed to the Operations Director for conveying the appeal message so successfully.

4.     CorkCentre

Difficulties regarding the procurement of a suitable site either on, or adjacent to the CUH campus were discussed.  It was agreed that the CE would write to the Head of HSE Estates seeking clarification on previous discussions regarding the site options.  It was also agreed that the CE would make it clear that if a definitive response was not forthcoming at this stage, then the IBTS would have no alternative but to consider other options.  It was agreed that this matter be progressed before the February Board meeting.

5.     Revised Code of Conduct

The Board’s Code of Business Conduct and the Terms of Reference for the Finance and Audit and Compliance Committees in line with the Revised Code of Conduct on the Governance of State Bodies were approved by the Board.

6.     Proposal on use of Bequest

A proposal was made by the M&SD to use a bequest to develop the clinical application of research on Limbal stem cell transplantation in cooperation with DCU and RVEEH.  This was proposed by Mr David Lowe and seconded by Ms Jane O’Brien.  It was agreed that the M&SD would report to the Board annually on progress.

7.     MAC

The issue of the DOH&C reconstituting the vCJD Advisory Committee is still being pursued by the M&SD.  The issue of iron deficiency in donors was discussed.  It was agreed that the MAC would report back to the Board on this issue after further study.

Revised TOR for MAC

The MAC had further discussion about the quorum of Board members in attendance and was now proposing that it should remain at two. This was approved by the Board.  The Board further approved the appointment for a term of additional members to the MAC, other than IBTS Consultants or medically qualified Board members.

8.     Correspondence

Correspondence was noted.

9.     Sub-group on R&D

 

Dr Cahill reported that she had approached and secured agreement from a number of people who were willing to become part of an oversight and selection group for R&D funds.

10. Date of next meeting

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 23rd February at 2.00pm.

Signed:      __________________                                          Date:________________