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8 Governance Rep ts 2020 | NMH Annual Rep t I t is my great privilege as Master of The National Maternity Hospital to introduce this year's combined Corporate and Clinical Reports. This year marks the first time in the history of the Hospital that we have combined the two reports with the goal of achieving one complete report that showcases The National Maternity Hospital and all we do; we hope to build on this in the coming years My sincere thanks to Mr Nicholas Kearns, Deputy Chair, Ms Michele Connolly, Honorary Treasurer, Mr William Johnston, Honorary Secretary and all members of the Executive Committee and other Board Sub-Committees for giving so freely of their time, expertise, knowledge and advice during the year. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Executive Management Team of Ms Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery and Nursing, Mr Ronan Gavin, Secretary General Manager, Dr Roger McMorrow, Clinical Director and Mr Alistair Holland, Financial Controller for their unwavering support and commitment to the Hospital during an extraordinary year. I would also like to thank Ms Bernadine O'Driscoll and Ms Tracy O'Dea, Master's Secretaries, for their hard work during the year. However, in the year that was, it was the 1,100 staff, all of whom worked tirelessly to provide safe and effective Master's Rep t care to all our patients, that I have nothing but growing admiration and praise for and they make me proud to be Master of The National Maternity Hospital. The National Maternity Hospital has been in operation at Holles Street since 1894. It remains an independent voluntary organisation operating under a Charter with a Board of Governors and the Master responsible for clinical and operational management. The Royal Charter granted to the hospital by Edward the VII in 1903 formally lays down the structure of the hospital and remains to this day the legal basis of the hospital's existence. In addition, the NMH is governed by a set of Bye Laws which help to ensure that the operational activity of the hospital is consistent with the Hospital Charter. Since opening our doors we have understood that there is nothing more important than the safe care of our mothers and the safe delivery of our children. As a leading provider of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal care, our team is dedicated to creating an environment where women, babies and their families receive the highest standard of care. The National Maternity Hospital was founded with two objectives: firstly, to cater for the women of the tenements of Dublin that were among the worst slums in Europe at a time in which one-third of families lived Prof Shane Higgins, Master with his Daughter, Dr Tess Higgins, Senior House Officer, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (from July).