Minute of Meeting of GRAMPIAN NHS BOARD Held in Open Session

DRAFT

APPROVED

NHS GRAMPIAN

Minute of Meeting of GRAMPIAN NHS BOARD held in Open Session

on Thursday 29 June 2006 at 1.30pm

in the Conference Room, Summerfield House, Aberdeen

Present

Mr Jim Royan

/ Chairman
Mrs Barbara Bruce / Non-Executive Board Member
Ms Margaret Burns / Non-Executive Board Member
Dr David Cameron / Non-Executive Board Member
Mr Richard Carey / Chief Executive
Councillor Kate Dean / Non-Executive Board Member
Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen / Medical Director
Mr Alan Gall / Director of Finance
Professor N Haites / Non-Executive Board Member
Mrs Judith Hendry / Non-Executive Board Member
Mrs Elizabeth McDade / Non-Executive Board Member
Mr George McIntyre / Non-Executive Board Member
Mr Gordon Stephen / Non-Executive Board Member
Mr Tony Ward / Non-Executive Board Member
By Invitation / Mrs Laura Gray / Director of Corporate Communications
Mr Dave McConnell / Assistant Director of Audit (Health), Audit Scotland
Mr Ewan Robertson / Director of Performance Improvement/Board Secretary
Mr Jim Rundell / Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland
Miss Kay Smart / Assistant Director of Finance
Attending / Miss Lesley Hall / Assistant Board Secretary
Item / Subject / Action
1. /

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly MrDaveMcConnell and Mr Jim Rundell from Audit Scotland, and MissKay Smart, Assistant Director of Finance.
He was pleased to announce that following interviews the previous day, Dr Lesley Wilkie, currently working with the Chief Medical Officer, had been offered the position of Director of Public Health for NHS Grampian.
2. / APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor R Bisset, Miss S Jappy, Professor V Maehle, Mrs E Smith and Dr S Watson.
4. / MINUTE OF MEETING HELD ON 6 JUNE 2006
The minute was approved subject to amendment of the list of those present to include Councillor R Bisset, Mrs B Bruce, Mrs E McDade and Professor V Maehle. There were no matters arising.
5. / STATEMENT TO THE GRAMPIAN NHS BOARD FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Ms Burns, chair of the Audit Committee advised that Internal Audit had provided the Audit Committee with an annual statement on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls at its meeting that morning. Committee members had confirmed acceptance of the Statement to the Grampian NHS Board, which MsBurns had subsequently signed.
The Board accepted the Statement from the Audit Committee Chair.
6. / APPROVAL OF GRAMPIAN HEALTH BOARD’S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2005/06
Ms Burns, as chair of the Audit Committee, advised that the Grampian Health Board’s Annual Accounts 2005/06 had been considered by the Committee that morning and had been recommended for approval by the Board.
She wished to put on record the Committee’s appreciation to finance department staff for completing the accounting process. She advised that the auditors had praised the staff for their professionalism and commitment in producing the accounts on time.
Mr McConnell, confirmed that the audit for 2005-06 had been successfully completed. He advised that Audit Scotland’s Independent Auditor’s report (pages 22-23 of the Annual Accounts) was unqualified and confirmed that the financial statements gave a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Board as at 31 March 2006.
He reiterated the message of thanks to finance department staff for their assistance and for completing the process one month earlier than last year, in line with requirements.
Mr Royan thanked the auditors for their work, Mr Tony Ward for effectively chairing the Committee during the 2005-06 financial year, MrCarey and his predecessor Mr Alex Smith, as Accountable Officer and Mr Gall and his finance team for their input to the process.
The Board approved the adoption of the Grampian Health Board (commonly known as NHS Grampian) Annual Accounts 2005-06.
7. / PATIENTS’ PRIVATE FUNDS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006
Mr Gall explained the importance of the work done in taking care of patients’ private funds. Board Members considered the Abstract of Receipts and Payments which had been audited by independent auditors, Williamson and Dunn. Mr Gall recommended these for approval by the Board. In response to a query, he confirmed that the interest accrued was accounted for back to patients.
The Board approved the abstract of Receipts and Payments.
8. / ENDOWMENT FUND ACCOUNTS FOR 2005/06
Mrs Bruce, as chair of the Endowment Committee, reported that the Committee had approved the accounts of the Grampian Health Board Endowment Fund (the Fund) for 2005/06 at its meeting on 26 June 2006. She highlighted the main points to note in relation to the accounts as detailed in Miss Smart’s paper which had been circulated to the Board with the accounts, explaining the additional requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2005. She explained that the Fund’s net assets had increased because of improved investment performance. The Board noted an increase of £4.5 million in the value of the investments held by the Fund between 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006. She expressed thanks to those who had donated generously to the Fund.
Mr Royan was pleased to note that the funds were being used more effectively now that NHS Grampian was functioning as a single system.
Mr Ward advised that he was the Board’s representative on the Matthew Hay Fundraising Committee, which aimed to raise £4million towards the state of the art training facility. He was pleased to report that the Endowment Committee had agreed to support the project by a contribution of £490,000. Mr Gall advised that the source of this funding was one-off windfall gains from variations in the stock market and agreed that this was an excellent use for these funds.
It was agreed that a presentation on the Matthew Hay project would be a useful topic for a future Board Seminar. The Board Secretary agreed to factor this into the forward plan.
The Board noted the accounts of the Grampian Health Board Endowment Fund for 2005/06. /

E Robertson

9. / CAPITAL PLAN
Mr Gall referred to the paper which had been prepared by the Head of Service Development, explaining that the Asset Investment Group (AIG) had recently endorsed the expenditure plans for 2006/07 and had agreed that the plans were consistent with the aims of the Health Plan. The AIG had also endorsed the provisions identified for the period to 2015/16. MrGall advised that the capital spending during 2006/07 would be approximately £30million, with the very detailed plan having been discussed in depth by the AIG. The paper referred to a number of significant projects which had been approved or were at the detailed planning stage including the following: Picture Archiving and Communications System, Emergency Care Centre, Matthew Hay Project, Woolmanhill Replacement and Aberdeen Dental Institute.
Board members were advised of ongoing discussions between the Chief Executive and GP Sub-Committee colleagues regarding funding for GP premises.
Mr Carey reassured Board members that the capital expenditure plan over the next 10 years reflected the strategic aims and priorities for NHS Grampian and that the AIG and executive directors were ensuring that capital spend was aligned to Community Health Partnerships (CHPs).
The Board approved the 2006/07 capital plan and endorsed the approach taken to develop the overall 10 year programme.
10. / ITEMS FOR NOTING
The Board noted the following:
9.1 Approved minutes
1. eHealth Committee – 12 January 2006
2. Clinical Ethics Committee – 8 May 2006
3. Patient Focus and Public Involvement Committee – 6 January 2006
9.2 HDLs received since 19 May 2006
11. / AOCB
Thanks to Finance Department
Mrs McDade advised that she had recently visited the Finance Department and wished to personally thank staff for the help she had received from them in reviewing Endowment Fund expenditure.
12. / DATE OF NEXT MEETING