15th April 2008 - Board Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of theBoard of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service held on Tuesday 15^th April 2008at 2.00pmin the Boardroom, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin 8.

Present:

Ms Maura McGrath (Chairperson)

Dr Mary Cahill

Ms. Margaret Mullett

Dr Robert Landers

Mr David Lowe

Mr Gerry ODwyer

Mr Sean Wyse

Ms Jane OBrien

Dr Cees Van Der Poel

Mr Mark Moran

Apologies:

Mr David Keenan

Dr Margaret Murray

Also in attendance:Mr. Andrew Kelly, Chief Executive

Dr William Murphy, National Medical Director

Mirenda ODonovan, Secretary to theBoard

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The Chairperson expressed sympathy on behalf of the Board to Dr M Cahill and her family on the recent death of her mother.

1.                 Minutes of the meeting of  19^th February 2008

The minutes of the meeting of the Board of 19th February 2008 were agreed subject to amendment and were proposed by Ms J OBrien and seconded by Ms M Mullett.

2.                 Matters arising

Progesa Stabilisation Project

This project has been completed, including encryption for servers and USB keys.

Board away day

The proposed away day for the Board will be rescheduled.  The Chair requested that the profile of the IBTS be included on the agenda for the away day.

Legal case

A settlement has been agreed in a legal case. 

BOSS

Secure remote access has been put in place for the NYBC.

3.                 Chief Executives Report

Blood Supply

The blood supply for the year to date has been very strong, with the exception of O negative.  Additional advertising has been required for O negative donors to ensure that we can meet hospital demands for this particular group.

In Cork, a transfer arrangement has commenced between St Marys Orthopaedic and South Infirmary/Victoria and CUH.  In a full year this will transfer approximately 1,800 units and will have a significant saving for HSE South.

Quality

The IMB will inspect the MRTC on the week commencing 19^th May and the NBC on the week commencing 26^th May.

HR Issues

The MLSA is balloting its members on the Labour Court recommendation on changes in work practices in the laboratories.  This will be concluded on 18^th April.  On personnel matters, the Environmental Health and Safety Manager has resigned. 

Finance

Stolen laptop

Letters to the 171,000 donors affected issued on Friday 22^nd February. In relation to the patients, 66 institutions were written to on 7^th March and meetings were held with a number of hospitals in Cork, where the bulk of the patient records came from.  In addition, 27 GPS who had submitted patient samples to the IBTS for testing have also been contacted by letter. 

IBTS status as a data controller or data processor under the relevant Acts, is being considered, with a view to developing a policy on the issue.

Board manual

This is in final draft form and will be ready for Board members prior to the next meeting.

Mislabelling issue

An investigation is being concluded on a serious mislabelling incident which occurred in January.  Following this investigation, it is intended to carry out a process flow analysis on the operation of the components laboratory.

4. Minutes of the MAC meeting15^th January 2008

The MAC considered progress in the ongoing prion filter trials in CUH.  It has been decided that the importation of cryoprecipitate from Sweden was not feasible because of the ISBT 128 issue.  The alternative is a supply of fibrinogen instead of cryoprecipitate.  CSL Baring will make it from USA only donors.  The MAC is looking at the feasibility of discontinuing the use of cryoprecipitate. The MAC KPIs were finalised.  The terms of reference for the MAC were circulated and proposed to the Board for approval.  The Board approved the revised terms of reference for the MAC.  The Board noted the MACs discussion of the media coverage of the IMB inspection of the MRTC.

5. Review of Internal Financial Controls

The Board reviewed and approved the statement of Internal Financial Controls which had been previously discussed by the Audit & Compliance Committee.

6. Minutes of the Finance Committee11^th December 2007

The final accounts for the year were reviewed at the February meeting and there was a discussion on the Committees terms of reference.

7. Minutes of the Audit & Compliance Committee12^th February 2008

The contract for IT Audit would be awarded shortly.  An overview of the Quality Management System was presented by the Director of Quality and Compliance. An audit on internet and phone use was also presented to the meeting.

8. CorkCentre

A copy of the letter sent to the Minister for Health and Children was circulated to the Board.

9. Correspondence

Correspondence was noted.

10. Profile of the IBTS

The Chair requested that a subgroup of the Board with members of the Executive be established to take charge of this issue and asked that members of the Board interested in taking part contact her directly.

11. Presentation on Key Performance Indicators (item 4 on the agenda)

 The Chief Executive made a presentation to the Board on KPIs for 2008.  The Board thanked the CE for his detailed and informative presentation.

12. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be on 20^th May at the Westbury Hotel at 2pm and will incorporate the strategic away day for the Board, commencing after the Board meeting on Tuesday 20^th May and recommencing on the morning of Wednesday 21^st May at8.30am.