10th September 2003 - Board Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service held on Wednesday 10th September, 2003 at 2.00pm
Present: Dr Mary Horgan (Acting Chairman)
Ms Valerie Mannix
Dr Gerry Crotty
Mr Tony McNamara
Apologies: Dr Liz Keane
Dr Helen Enright
Dr Cees Van Der Poel
Ms Maura McGrath
In Attendance: Mr Andrew Kelly (A/CE)
Dr William Murphy (NMD)
Mr. Michael Healy (Secretary)
The Board recorded its appreciation and thanks to Mr. Michael McLoone whose term as Chairman finished on 31st August 2003. The Board also recorded its appreciation for Dr. Ann OConnor, whose term finished on 30th June 2003.
As a new Chairman had not as yet been appointed, the Board agreed to appoint Dr. Mary Horgan as Acting Chairman of the meeting.
1. Minutes of Meeting 09.07.2003
The minutes of the Board meeting held on Wednesday July 9th 2003 were adopted on the proposal of Mr. T. McNamara, seconded by Dr. G. Crotty and signed by the Acting Chairman subject to agreed amendments.
2. Matters arising
Budgets
Ms. S. Bailey, Director of Finance, will be briefing the Board at the November meeting on the 2004 budgets.
Pensions
Irish Life have been appointed as PRSA providers for the IBTS. Ms. S. Bailey, Director of Finance, and Ms. M. Cahill, AON, will be meeting on November 5th to review the pension fund and the role of Board and Pension trustees.
3. Chief Executives Report
The report was noted.
The IBTS has written to MAK Systems stating that we intend to carry out an audit at the end of October 2003 with the assistance of an external advisor.
It was noted that the contract with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for NAT testing might have to be extended beyond 31.12.2003.
The A/CE briefed the Board on the precautionary recall of product with respect to WNV and version 12 BT1 forms. Corrective action has been put in place so that all future deliveries of BT1s will be batch accepted by Quality Assurance and only after they have been passed by QA will they be issued to clinics for use.
The successful candidate for the position of Training and Development Manager has accepted the position and is undergoing a medical examination before finalising the appointment.
The A/CE briefed the Board on a letter from Mr. H. Keenan, Baxter Healthcare, to Dr. B. White, Product Selection and Monitoring Advisory Group (PSMAG), in regard to third generation Factor IX concentrates. It was noted that the Board was awaiting advice on the matter and that guidance would also be sought from the PSMAG.
The issue of the supply of bone allograft from the Cork Centre was discussed. There was uncertainty with regard to indemnity under the establishment order and departmental approval. It was agreed that written approval would be required from the Department of Health and Children to clarify the matter.
The Board noted the amendment by Dr. E. Lawlor to her report on Hepatitis C outside the core years. It was also noted that the amendment had no bearing on the substance or conclusions in the original report.
4. Plasma Contract Compensation Claim
It was agreed that the IBTS should review the claim with the company in question and seek a statement of claim for losses. It was also noted that the Department of Health and Children had previously agreed to cover costs associated with vCJD.
5. Donor Notification 1991 1994 Dublin Centre
6. Development of New Cork Centre
The Board was circulated with a letter from Mr. P. Barron, Department of Health & Children, which stated that the development of the new centre in Cork would not be considered in 2003. The Board expressed extreme disappointment at this response. In addition, the letter states that projects proceeding in 2004 and subsequent years will need to submit additional revenue costs arising. Mr. A. Kelly emphasised that in the interim, that to deliver an appropriate level of service at the existing site of the Cork Centre in St. Finbarrs Hospital, we need to prepare a report on the options available. It was noted that the IMB had regularly reported on the condition of the centre in Cork. The Board members were unhappy with the state of the centre in Cork and agreed that the current facilities required suitable refurbishment. However, the Board were anxious not to compromise the prioritisation of the development of the new centre in Cork by placing further temporary accommodation at St Finbarrs site. They requested the A/CE to draft a response to Mr. P. Barron emphasising the Boards position on the matter and to cc the Minister for Health and Children.
7. Organisational Development Programme
Dr. G. Crotty expressed his concern at the speed of the process. It was understood that a number of medical consultants were unavailable over the summer months to participate.
It was noted that a new Chairperson would be required to sit on the sub-committee of the Board which was working closely with the A\CE on the OD Programme.
8. QA Presentation
Ms. Marie OConnell, National Quality Assurance Manager, gave a presentation to the Board on the Quality Management System in the IBTS. A question and answer period followed and Dr. M. Horgan thanked Ms. OConnell for her informative briefing.
9. Finance Committee
Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting 11.06.2003
Mr. T. McNamara briefed the Board on the minutes of the meeting of the Finance Committee of June 11th 2003.
It was agreed that the selection of nominees for the Audit and Finance Committees would be deferred to the October Board meeting.
10. Minutes of MAC Meeting 11.06.2003
The minutes were noted. Dr. Horgan emphasised that deferring agenda items of the MAC meetings without due notice was not satisfactory. She also felt it important that the Chair and Secretary of the MAC would be informed in advance of non-attendance at MAC meetings.
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the IBTS Board will take place on Wednesday 15th October at 2.00 p.m. in the National Blood Centre, Jamess Street, Dublin 8. It was agreed that Mr. T. McNamara would Chair the October Board meeting, in the event that a Chairman had not been appointed by the Minister for Health and Children.
It was also agreed that the meeting of the IBTS Board on November 12th would take place in Cork. The time and venue will be confirmed.
Signed:
.. Date:
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