Meeting details
Date of meeting:
Wednesday 7th June 2023
Time of meeting:
11am to 1pm
Meeting format:
MS Teams meeting
Members Present:
Dr Deirdre Mulholland (DM, Chair), Ms Mary Hewson (MH), Mr Damian Nee (DN), Prof Fergus O’Kelly (FO’K), Ms Margaret Brennan (MB)
Apologies:
Dr Alissa Connors (AC), Dr Caroline Mason Mohan (CMM), Ms Lorraine Schwanberg (LS), Ms Jennifer Martin (JM)
In attendance:
Prof Padraic MacMathuna (PMacM), Prof Conor O’Keane (CO’K), Dr Noirin Russell (NR), Ms Suzanne Lynch (SL), Ms Colette Brett (CB), Ms Grainne Gleeson (GG), Ms Helen Kavanagh (HK), Ms Hilary Coffey (HC), Ms Julie Keegan (JK), Ms Michelle Lynch (ML), Ms Karolina Guzek (minutes)
Meeting minutes
1. Welcome, Introduction and Apologies
The Chair welcomed all members and thanked them for attending the meeting.
Apologies were noted.
2. Conflict of Interest
There was no conflict of interest to be noted.
Action: Noted
3. Minutes of Meeting 7th June 2023
Minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and approved by the Committee.
Action: Noted
4. NSS Quality, Safety & Risk (QSR) Information Report
NSS QSR Review Q1, 2023
- Review report discussed.
- Update on work of Quality Assurance (QA) Framework and the recruitment of QA Committee Chairs for NSS
- CB emphasised that NSS follow the HSE Open Disclosure Policy; all NSS staff must complete mandatory HSELanD Open Disclosure training (Module 1) and relevant staff are also required to complete additional training in Open Disclosure; in addition, Open Disclosure Workshops are organised internally for NSS staff
- Action 44: HSE Open Disclosure Policy to be circulated to the Patient Representatives for their information
- FO’K informed of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report being launched in July, which might be relevant to this group. Action 45: Relevant IARC reports, and Expert Reference Group Interval Cancer Steering Committee update to be included in Q3 meeting pack for information
- Appetite for comparison report for screening between Ireland and other countries was noted, which could look at cost, availability, types of screening offered and patient experience
- Action 46: CB will discuss with NSS Chief Executive. It was stated information is already included in the four Programmes and NSS Annual Reports that are available to the public
- It was also acknowledged that opportunities for promoting screening and its benefits should be availed of and NSS to continually communicate benefits and risk of screening
- Action 47: To invite Communications teams for an update on their work
NSS Corporate Risk Register Report Q1, 2023
- 2023 Q1 report presented and acknowledged.
QSR Dashboard Report Q1, 2023
- Dashboard reviewed
- Query regarding DiabeticRetina Screen accessibility and uptake was raised – HK informed no-shows, accessibility, feedback and issues with transport are considered operational and discussed as such at regular intervals as part of the Operational meeting
- Action 48: HK will discuss the concerns raised with QSRM Committee member
Action: Noted
5. Cross-Programme Review
BreastCheck Programme Review Q1, 2023
- Report reviewed.
CervicalCheck Programme Review Q1, 2023
- Report reviewed.
BowelScreen Programme Review Q1, 2023
- Report reviewed.
DiabeticRetina Screen Programme Review Q1, 2023
- Report reviewed.
Decision was made by the Committee that the Opening Statement for the quarterly reviews to be added at discretion of the programmes and the idea of the opening statement wording to be reconsidered in Q4 2023. Action 39 to be closed. Amended version of Quarterly Review Template to be finalised and circulated to relevant staff via Q-Pulse.
Action: Noted
6. NSS Stakeholders Update
The National Screening Service stakeholders’ updates were shared for noting.
Action: Noted
7. Patient Safety Act
Patient Safety Act 2023 was circulated ahead of meeting to Committee members. CB advised it includes the process for management of notifiable incidents and Open Disclosure. NSS following standard HSE procedures for incident management and Open Disclosure.
Open Disclosure of Part 5 Reviews, which is relevant to cancer screening programmes provide clients with right to request review in screening with responsibility to inform client of such right, carry out reviews and disclosure the results of review to the client. As Open Disclosure definition is linked to incident/adverse events, having screening reviewed does not necessarily mean an incident has happened; wording of Open Disclosure in the respect to Open Disclosure of Part 5 Review requires further clarification from Department of Health (DOH). CB informed NSS is linking with the HSE regarding Patient Safety Act implementation plan and timelines.
Action: Noted
8. NSS Strategy 2023-2027
NSS Strategy 2023-2027 document was circulated and reviewed. Clear governance, timelines and ownership of actions are in place.
Action: Noted
9. Actions Update
Actions reviewed and updated on the Action Log.
Request for all abbreviations to be removed from the Action Log and not used going forward.
Action: Noted
10. Any Other Business
CO’K informed will be stepping down from DiabeticRetina Screen Quality Assurance Committee Chairs’ role from September and QSRM Committee members’ role. Chair and Committee members thanked CO’K for his commitment and expertise.
Action: Noted
11. Date of next meeting
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 13th September IN PERSON – Central Office, NSS.
Poll to ensure majority can attend in person will be conducted closer to date.
Action: Noted