Meeting of Consultative Council on Hepatitis C
21st February 2008, Department of Health and Children
Present:
Dr. Elizabeth Kenny (Chair)Consultant in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, CUH
Mr. Michael MadiganExecutive Member, Transfusion Positive
Mr. Mike KellyCo-ordinator of Counselling Services, Irish Kidney Association
Ms. Margaret DunneAdministrator, Irish Haemophilia Society
Mr. John MurphyTechnical Officer, Cork Institute of Technology
Ms. Michele TaitHepatitis C Liaison Officer, Health Service Executive
Ms. Margaret ScarryClinical Nurse Specialist, UCHG
Mr. Noel RichardsonMen’s Health Researcher, Health Service Executive
Ms. Mary RoweExecutive Member, Transfusion Positive
Mr. Ian CarterCEO, St.JamesHospital
Ms. Siobhan O’ConnorExecutive Member, Positive Action
Ms. Kate FrazerSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, UniversityCollegeDublin
Apologies
Dr. Suzanne NorrisConsultant Hepatologist, St.JamesHospital
Ms. Lara HynesBlood Policy Division, Department of Health and Children
Mr. Damien LowryPsychologist, Liver Unit, Mater Hospital
Ms. Joanne DeveneyExecutive Member, Positive Action
In attendance:Fiona O’Connell, Health Services Executive (Secretary to Consultative Council)
- Welcome & Apologies
- Minutes
Minutes of previous meeting were agreed and adopted.
- Reports from the Working Groups:
I)Information Day 2008
The Information Day 2008 – Hepatitis C – towards a better understanding, took place on Sat 16th February 2008 in Croke Park Conference Centre. Feedback has been excellent and attendees were very happy with the venue and access to same. This year the workshops style sessions were very well received again and clients were happy with the overall organisation of the day. Approx 120 evaluation sheets were returned - all very positive. During her introduction at the plenary session Dr. Liz Kenny introduced the members of the Consultative Council who were present. Following discussion it has been decided to hold an Information Day in 2009 - leaving it until after the International Conference in 2009 would be unfair to clients.The Information Day group will meet to debrief and begin planning the 2009 event, suggestions include focusing on workshops titles to ensure appropriate attendances and also reducing the number of sessions and extending the length of same to allow more time.Positive Actionand Transfusion Positive extended their thanks to the Information Day working group for organising the day.
Actions:Fiona to arrange de-brief and planning meeting for Info Day 2009
Fiona to send thank you notes to Info Day Speakers
Fiona / Michele to provisionally book CrokePark for Info Day 2009
II )International Conference 2009 Working Group
The International Conference Working Group met this morning. Plans are progressing well and the draft Clinical and ‘Living With’ programs are complete and includes an exceptional list of speakers. The half day program for GP’s & Community Health Professionals will be drafted shortly with the help of Walter Cullen who has joined the working group on behalf of the ICGP and Kate Frazer of Consultative Council. The website is up and running and can be found at The focus of the next group meeting will be the budget and event costings. The conference will take place in DublinCastle with the Gala dinner being hosted in the State Apartments and the welcome reception in the Chester Beatty Library.
Action: Fiona to follow up on Gala dinner costs
III )National Consultants Committee
This group have not met since the last Council meeting – it is hoped that a meeting will take place in April ( ISG ) and that Nursing representatives will also be present.
IV )Management of Death Group
The document is expected to be ready in March – It will be circulated to the Scientific Group and then all interested parties for consideration before finalised.
V ) Database Group
The Database Group met 30th January. Main discussions related to the plenary presentation and the workshops planned for the hepatitis C Information Day. The magazine style Database Newsletter is complete and has gone to print. Follow-up data is currently being loaded onto the database. Consent level has risen slightly and currently stands at 74.5%. Promoting consent is ongoing through the support groups, Council events and in the hepatology units – The security re. patient confidentiality is highlighted and reminders that there are no names / addresses contained in the database. The HPSC will be doing a call for research later this year.
Action: Fiona to circulate DB newsletter as soon as available
VI )Consultative Council Seedling Research Group
The Seedling Research group met today. It was agreed that the group would apply for a bursary of €200,000 from the DOHC to fund seedling research grants. A marketing campaign will encompass a very broad call for research which will encourage those with new seedling idea’s in all area’s of services to apply. An application form is currently being drafted. A scoring system for applications received and a formal business proposal for the DoHC will be considered at the next group meeting.
Action:Council members with ideas / suggestions re scoring applications please submit to Fiona for collation
- AOB
- Insurance
There are still some unresolved issues relating to life Insurance when clients are applying for amounts over €420,000. Bank of Ireland has also enlisted in the scheme to provide Insurance but the terms are different to that of Eagle Star and clarity has been sought on this issue. The Travel Insurance Scheme must be in place 12th March – work is continuing and we await news from the Administrator.
- Consultative Council Website
Work on the website is continuing and Fiona & Michele will be meeting with the designers to work on the overall appearance of the site and confirm content in the coming weeks. Before the site goes live Council members will have the opportunity to consider same and submit their input.
- Home Nursing
The clinical nurse co-ordinator, Ms Maria Breton, had planned to attend today’s meeting and present her ideas on a model for the home nursing service however she was on study leave and will attend the next meeting instead. Maria who is based in Palmerstown has already dealt with numerous requests for Home Nursing; she looked at the whole home care package in each instance and installed appropriate care where necessary ( home nurse /home support /care assistant ). The HSE evaluation on the pilot scheme has not yet been completed. Positive Action circulated a response to Mary Dunworth’s report in hardcopy at today’s meeting. Council members are asked to consider and revert if queries.
- Date of next meeting: TBC