NMH

NMH | 2024 12 Governance EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (THE BOARD) At the first Board meeting following the 2024 AGM, Mr Pat McCann was re- elected unanimously as Deputy Chair – effectively the Chair of the Hospital. We congratulate Cllr James Geoghegan who was elected Lord Mayor in June 2024. Cllr Geoghegan was appointed to the Board as one of two Dublin City Council (DCC) representatives. We congratulate Cllr Naoise Ó Muírí and Cllr James Geoghegan on their elections to Dáil Éireann in the General Election in November 2024 and wish them well in their future careers. Both Cllr Ó Muírí and Cllr Geoghegan made many helpful contributions to the deliberations of the Board. Cllr. Naoise Ó Muírí was a long standing member of the Board having been elected to the Board following his term as Lord Mayor during which he showed a keen interest in the Hospital. Following the election of James Geoghegan, TD, Cllr Emma Blain, one of the DCC representatives on the Board, was elected as Lord Mayor on 18th December 2024; we congratulate her on her appointment. Six Board members resigned during the year: Ms Mairéad Butler, Fr Enda Cunningham, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, Dr John Murphy, Prof Peter McParland and Dr Ingrid Browne. Ms Mairéad Butler resigned from the Board and as a Governor in May 2024. Mairéad was elected a Governor in March 2017 and was elected to the Board in January 2019. She was a valued member, not only of the Board, but also as a member of the Audit, QRPS and Nominations Committees. We thank her for her very significant contribution to the Hospital and especially for her role as Chair of the Quality Risk and Patient Safety Committee. Fr Enda Cunningham came onto the Board in August 2016 as Administrator of Westland Row, and served the Board faithfully until he moved Parish in June 2024. Fr Cunningham actively contributed to the Board; his perspective on the business of the Board was unique and of great assistance. In May 2024, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan resigned from the Board and as a Governor. Nóirín was elected a Governor and a member of the Board in May 2021 and was a member of the People and Organisation Committee from May 2022. Her contributions were always particularly useful. Dr John Murphy was elected as a Governor in April 2001 and onto the Board in November 2004. During his time with the NMH, John served as Clinical Lead in Neonatology, Director of Paediatrics and Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was also Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics and Neonatology. In 2022, Dr Murphy was awarded the prestigious RCPI Kathleen Lynn Medal for exceptional service on behalf of children. Prof. Peter McParland was elected as a Governor in May 2005 and onto the Board in December 2008. Peter established and developed the Fetal Medicine Unit, of which he was Director until 2022. Dr Ingrid Browne was elected as a Governor and onto the Board and the NMH Executive Ethics Committee in May 2016 serving with her expertise as Director of Anaesthetics. She was subsequently elected onto the QRPS Committee in January 2019. The knowledge and experience of John, Peter and Ingrid very much enhanced the deliberations of the Board. Cllr Cat O'Driscoll was nominated to the Board in July 2021 as one of two DCC representatives. Cllr O'Driscoll served the Board with worthwhile contributions until July 2024, when new DCC representatives were nominated. Executive Committee Report The following were appointed to the Board during 2024: Andrew Crotty, Jill Beck, Dr Deirdre Sweetman and Alison Quinn. Dr Deirdre Sweetman was appointed in place of Dr John Murphy, and as Director of Neonatology. Fr Alan Hilliard in place of Fr Enda Cunningham and two new Councillors appointed were Emma Blain and Cian Farrell. Board Work To enhance the understanding of, and thus contributions by Board members, there have been several presentations to the Board during the year: In February, Dr Susan Knowles, Director of Pathology and Mr Damian Lally, Laboratory Manager presented the work of the Hospital Laboratory. In March, Mr James Byrne presented the role of the Tendering Office within the Hospital. In June, Ms Martina Cronin, CMM3, gave a presentation on the Labour and Birthing Unit. Mr David Fitzgerald, Pharmacy Executive Manager, presented on behalf of Pharmacy Services in September. Ms Sophie MacNeice, Communications Officer, along with Ms Patricia Ryan, Managing Director, DHR Communications, gave a presentation on Communications Overview. The NMH Strategy 2024 – 2028, Goal 4, was presented, by Ms Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery and Nursing, to the Governors and to the Board at the AGM in May 2024. At each monthly meeting of the Board, reports from members of the Executive Management Team (the EMT) are discussed and where considered appropriate, further direction is given by the Board to the EMT. Clinical aspects of these reports are covered elsewhere in the Annual Report. An issue which is continually brought to the attention of the Board is the cost of living and accommodation in Dublin. This impacts directly on recruiting and retaining midwives. The cost of living outside Dublin is considerably lower and

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