WB.15.42.1
WELSH BOARD
OPEN SESSION
Date of meeting:
15 May 2015
Title of Paper:
Minutes of meeting held on 6 February 2015
Presented by:
Board Chair for approval
Is a decision required? Yes
No
The Open session of the RCN Welsh Board was held on Friday 6 February
2015 in the RCN Welsh Board headquarters, Ty Maeth, Cardiff, which
commenced at 16:10pm.
PRESENT
APOLOGIES
WB.15.42.1
Gaynor Jones
Ann Griffiths
Christine EdwardsJones
Christine Thomas
Prof Donna Mead,
OBE, OSt.J, FRCN
Gareth Phillips
Jacqueline Davies
Jane Carroll
Kate Parry
Stewart Attridge
Tamara Morgan
RCN Welsh Board Chair
Mid & West Wales seat
Glamorgan seat
Billy Nichols
Owain Jones
Pamela Parsons
Board member seat
Glamorgan seat
Cwm Taf seat
Council Member for Wales
Cwm Taf seat
Cangen Gogledd Cymru seat
Glamorgan seat
Gwent seat
Vice Chair
Cardiff seat
Cwm Taf seat
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WB.15.42.1
IN ATTENDANCE
Tina Donnelly, CBE
David Wallace
Alison Davies
Helen Carlyon
Katie Branch
Lisa Turnbull
Claire Jenkins
Jayne Taylor
WB.15.16
Director, RCN Wales/Board Secretary
Associate Director (Employment Relations)
Associate Director (Professional Practice)
Finance & Business Continuity Manager
Complaints, Quality & Admin Services
Manager
Policy & Public Affairs Adviser
Learning & Development Co-ordinator
PA to Director, RCN Wales/Board
Administrator
WELCOME & APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Board Chair welcomed everyone to the Open Session.
Declaration of Interests
The Chair asked members to declare any possible interests they
may have had with any items on the agenda and none were
reported.
WB.15.16.1 RCN Centenary in 2016
The Board had received a presentation from Sarah Abley,
Centenary Programme Manager during the Closed session.
WB.15.16.2 Historical Artefacts held in RCN in Wales
The Board noted that the presentation on historical artefacts
would be deferred to the May Board meeting due to time
constraints.
WB.15.17.1 MINUTES
Minutes of the Board meeting held on Friday 6 February 2015
had been circulated and were confirmed as accurate.
Review of Action Sheet
The actions that had been completed were noted and the
progress on the other actions recorded on the action sheet
attached.
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WB.15.17.2 MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.
WB.15.18
BOARD CHAIR’S REPORT
A report had been received and was noted.
WB.15.19
DIRECTOR, RCN WALES’ REPORT
A report had been received and was noted.
WB.15.20
STAFFING INFORMATION
A report had been received and was noted.
The Director gave a further verbal update as follows:
WB.15.21

The interviews for the Senior Housekeeper post would be
held on 20 February 2015.

Andrew Evans, Senior Professional Officer would retire on 31
March 2015. The Board expressed its gratitude to Andrew
for his hard work and commitment on behalf of the College.
The Board was informed that the post had been reviewed
and would be filled as soon as possible. The Board was
reminded that it is a requirement in Wales for Senior
Professional Officers to be a registered nurse.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS)
REPORT
A report had been circulated and was noted.
WB.15.22
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
22.1 Associate Director (Professional Practice) Report
A report had been circulated and was noted.
22.2 RCN Welsh Board Sub-committee for Education,
Lifelong Learning and Practice Development
A report had been circulated and was noted.
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22.3 Emergency Care Update
The Board had received a verbal update from the Director within
the Private Session of Board.
WB.15.23
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC, POLITICAL AND HEALTH
23.1
Policy & Public Affairs Report
A report had been circulated and was noted. The Board
approved the consultation protocol as outlined in Appendix 1.
The Policy & Public Affairs Adviser gave a verbal update as
follows:
The RCN has launched its General Election campaign and
copies of the RCN manifesto are available in English and Welsh.
The Board noted that the RCN in Wales would be happy to
support local hustings events on request.
Board members were asked to contribute to the Welsh
Government consultation, “Talk 2 Me 2” regarding suicide and
self-harm and noted the closing date for comments as 19
February 2015.
Safe Nurse Staffing Private members Bill
The Board noted that the Bill was under discussion in the
Committee process.
The Board noted that the Director had given evidence on the
Safe Nurse Staffing Bill to the Welsh Government’s Health
Committee on 29 January 2015. The Board expressed its
thanks to those members and activists who attended this
session in support of the Bill. However, it had been reported
that some members had had difficulty in hearing the session in
the Chamber as the audio equipment in the public gallery was
faulty. The Board was informed that a formal complaint had
been submitted, which had been responded to with an apology
and an update on an extensive range of actions that would be
implemented to improve the experience for future visitors.
The Board noted that the public consultation on the Bill was now
closed.
Board members were urged to encourage members to sign the
petition.
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Board members were also asked to email the Policy & Public
Affairs Adviser if they would be willing to speak at the Cross
Party Group on Nursing on the subject of Safe Staffing on 17
March 2015.
23.2
RCN Congress 21 – 25 June 2015
The Board received a verbal update from the Associate Director
(Employment Relations) as follows:

RCN Congress 2015 would be held in the Bournemouth
International Centre (BIC) and will run from Sunday 21 June
to Thursday 25 June 2015.

Celtic Night would be held on Monday 22 June 2015.

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales fringe event would be held
during lunch on Tuesday 23 June 2015.

All accommodation and travel must be approved prior to
booking and must comply with the RCN Expenses Policy and
be booked through RCN offices via NYS.

A block booking for accommodation has been made for
funded voting members at the Hallmark Hotel, Bournemouth.

Branch information packs will be sent out in the week
commencing 9th February 2015 and returns must be
submitted by 1st April 2015.

Discussions are being held regarding student attendance on
Students Day and confirmation awaited with regards to
funding of student travel.
The Board will receive a further update at the May Board.
Action: The Board will receive a further update at the May
Board.
23.3
International Nurses Day Coffee Morning – 7 May
2015
The Board was informed that the Director had met with Anne
Pegington, Ex Board Secretary, and she had expressed concern
that the Welsh Board was not doing enough to recognise retired
nurses and enable them to participate in International Nurses
day. The Director reminded the Board that in 2013, a group of
retired nurses from Swansea had agreed to attend the
International Nurses day coffee morning in Ty Maeth and also to
attend the Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service in
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Westminster Abbey but had cancelled at the last minute. The
Board was also reminded that the Florence Nightingale
Foundation had been displeased that the tickets had not been
used and the RCN had incurred the unnecessary cost of hiring a
coach.
However, the Director suggested that it would be appropriate
during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Ty Maeth to once
again invite retired nurses to attend the International Nurses Day
coffee morning and proposed that Anne Pegington be asked to
liaise with retired nurses and confirm attendees. The Board
agreed with this suggestion.
Betsi Cadwaladr Revised Autobiography Launch
The Board was informed that Honno Welsh Women’s Press had
approached the RCN to ask if it would like to be involved in the
launch of their latest, revised edition of the autobiography of
Elizabeth Davis (Betsy Cadwaladyr) due out in January 2015.
The Board agreed to this launch taking place at the International
Nurses Day coffee morning.
Action:

Anne Pegington to be approached to confirm the names
of retired nurses who would like to attend the
International Nurses Day coffee morning.

The revised autobiography of Elizabeth Davis (Betsy
Cadwaladyr) to be launched at the International Nurses
Day coffee morning.
23.4
Annual Florence Nightingale Commemoration
Service, Westminster Abbey – 6 May 2015
The Board was informed that a Welsh School of Nursing would
be carrying the lamp at the Florence Nightingale
Commemoration Service in Westminster Abby on 6 May 2015
and that the event would have a Welsh theme.
The Board Chair stressed that members who put their names
forward to travel to the service should make every effort to
attend.
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WB.15.24
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
24.1 Improving Continence Services in Wales: A call to
action – round table discussion – 3 March 2015
The Board was informed that Shine Cymru, along with other
charities in Wales, had published a report, “Improving
Continence Services in Wales: A call to action” and that a
roundtable discussion would be held on 3 March 2015 in the
Welsh Assembly.
24.2
30th Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, Onllwyn Hall –
14 March 2015
This had been discussed in Closed session under
WB.15.15.2.
The Board Chair thanked the Board for its cooperation in dealing
with the many items of business and several presentations that
had impacted on the timings for the meeting.
There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at
16:50pm.
The Board noted the dates of the next seminar and Board meeting as follows:
Board Development
Session/Induction
Venue:
14 May 2015
Welsh Board headquarters, Ty Maeth, Cardiff
Board Meeting:
Venue:
15 May 2015
Welsh Board headquarters, Ty Maeth, Cardiff
ET: Tina Donnelly, Director, RCN Wales
Email: tina.donnelly@rcn.org.uk
WB.15.42.1
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WB.15.42.1
OPEN SESSION ACTION LIST
Agenda No
Action
WB.15.92
Welsh Board Elections
The Board Chair to raise the
Board’s concerns with regards
to electronic voting at Council.
WB.15.94.5
Deadline
Update on Actions
Status
GJ
15 May
The Board Chair apologised for not
having completed this action, which
was deferred to the May meeting.
To receive a
verbal
update.
TD
6 Feb 15
The Director informed the Board
Completed
that when the CNO had visited
Camp Bastion, she had suggested
that meetings be held to discuss
how emergency care in NHS Wales
could benefit and learn from the
team approach to healthcare
delivery that is exemplified by the
military. The Board noted that the
RCN in Wales had agreed to host
the first meeting which was attended
by the CMO, CNO and two
Brigadiers. The Board noted that
this work has not been facilitated or
funded by the RCN. The next
meeting will be held in Swansea
University on 25 March 2015.
Emergency Care Report
Board to be updated as to the
work of the Pan Government
Clinical Mission Exploitation
meeting held on 18 November
20.15.
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Designated
people
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WB.15.42.1
WB.15.23.2
Congress
The Board will receive an
update at the May Board.
WB.15.23.3
WB.15.42.1
DW
15 May
On agenda
Anne Pegington to be
approached to confirm the
names of retired nurses who
would like to attend the
International Nurses Day coffee
morning.
KB
7 May
Completed
The revised autobiography of
Elizabeth Davis (Betsy
Cadwaladyr) to be launched at
the International Nurses Day
coffee morning.
KB
7 May
Completed
International Nurses Day – 7
May
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