Meeting of Consultative Council on Hepatitis C

25th Sept 2008, Department of Health and Children

Present:

Dr. Elizabeth Kenny (Chair)Consultant in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, CUH

Ms. Michele TaitHepatitis C Liaison Officer, Health Service Executive

Mr. Mike KellyCo-ordinator of Counselling Services, Irish Kidney Association

Mr. John MurphyTechnical Officer, Cork Institute of Technology

Mr. Michael MadiganExecutive Member, Transfusion Positive

Ms. Margaret ScarryClinical Nurse Specialist, UCHG

Ms. Mary RoweExecutive Member, Transfusion Positive

Ms. Joanne DeveneyExecutive Member, Positive Action

Ms. Kate FrazerSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, UniversityCollegeDublin

Ms. Siobhan O’ConnorExecutive Member, Positive Action

In Attendance:

Fiona O’Connell ( mins )Consultative Council on Hepatitis C Secretariat

Apologies

Dr. Suzanne NorrisConsultant Hepatologist, St.JamesHospital

Ms. Lara HynesBlood Policy Division, Department of Health and Children

Mr. Damien LowryPsychologist, Liver Unit, MaterHospital

Mr. Noel RichardsonMen’s Health Researcher, Health Service Executive

Mr. Ian CarterCEO, St.JamesHospital

Ms. Margaret DunneAdministrator, Irish Haemophilia Society

  1. Welcome & Apologies
  1. Minutes

Minutes of previous meeting were agreed and adopted.

  1. Matters Arising
  2. Further to the discussion at our last meeting regarding Home Care and Nursing for HAA cardholders, an inital meeting will take place in October to discuss. Liz Kenny, Michele Tait, James Conway ( Asst. National Director chronic Illness and Palliative Care, Office of the CEO ) and Tagdh O’Brien (Asst National Director Primary Community & Continuing Care ) will be in attendance. Liz and Michele will feedback to Council on way forward.
  3. We wrote to Brendan Drumm inviting him to open our Hep C Information Day in February unfortunately he is not available.
  1. Reports from the Working Groups

4.1Information Day Group:

The Information Day Working Group last met 9th September. The program is near finalised. Complementary session GP needs to be confirmed. It has been agreed that it would be beneficial for the treatment session to be co-hosted by the Support Groups and a hepatology Nurse. Booking forms and letters have been drafted.The next meeting will take place on 18th November.

Action: Fiona to circulate program and booking form to Council members once confirmed.

4.2International Conference Planning Group:

The clinical, living with programmes and the half day program dedicated to healthcare professionals working on the community have all been confirmed, details of program are contained in the Final announcement which is in the final stages of being proofed. The program will also be available on the Conference website in the coming days ( ). The A3 posters have gone to print. ICGP & RCSI accreditation is in progress. Brendan Drumm has been invited to participate in opening the Conference.Focus will now move on to publicity. Next meeting scheduled for November 24th.

4.3National Consultants Committee

The consultants will be invited to attend a meeting on November 24th which will take place in the DoHC. Liz and Michele will update the consultants present on Council Business and new developments. Lelia Thornton may be invited to this meeting to give brief update on the Hep C Database.

Action:Fiona to send letter to Consultants

4.4Management of Death

This group has not met since draft document was submitted to the scientific committee on June 18th for their feedback. An issue has arisen which is being debated within the committee. As previously stated the document will be circulated to all interested stakeholders including patient support groups for their consideration before it is finalised.

4.5Database group

The database group has not met since last Council meeting – next meet take place on September 30th. Further to our last meeting the Support groups drafted a letter which will be sent to members encouraging non-responders to consent, this letter was circulated to the Database Steering Committee and will be signed off before distribution to Group members. Work has begun already on the first annual report from the Database and it will be completed by the end of the year, printed copies will be available in time for the Hep C Information Day in February.

4.6Seedling Research Group

The Seedling research group have not met since last Council meeting – they meet later today. The draft business plan / proposal, the application form & corresponding notes have all been completed. A letter will be written advising the Minister that Council would like to progress its work into research, the value that Council places on such research and its benefit not just to HAA cardholders but to the HSE, DoHC and the wider community dealing with Hepatitis C.

  1. Website

Access to the new site which is not yet live was circulated to Council members. Council members are asked to forward any feedback to Fiona on the website. The site will be ready to go live in the coming weeks.

  1. Home Care and Nursing

The new Clinical Home Nursing Co-ordinator, Ms. Niamh Lavin took up her post on Monday 22nd September. Michele Tait is currently doing a full handover and induction with Niamh. Niamh has over 7 years working in the community which will be very helpful in her new role. Niamh is currently familiarising herself with patients currently using the service and making links with the Hepatology Units.

Action: Fiona to draft letter welcoming Niamh and inviting her to come and meet with Council in the new year.

7.Date of next meetings:Monday 24th November @ 2pm

Wednesday 4th February @ 2.30pm

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