Meeting held at 9:00am in Stella House, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Present:
Sue Douthwaite, Chair
Michael Brodie, Chief Executive
Kathy Gillatt, Non-Executive Director
David Leather, Non-Executive Director
Mathew McKie, Non-Executive Director
Randeep Sidhu, Non-Executive Director
Mel Tomlin, Non-Executive Director (via video conference)
Brendan Brown, Chief Operating Officer
Darren Curry, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer
Andy McKinlay, Chief Finance Officer
Allison Newell, Chief Strategy Officer
In attendance:
Chris Knight, Associate Non-Executive Director
Jo Hindmarsh, Programme Manager - NHSBSA Sponsorship Team, DHSC (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
Fiona Walker, Deputy Director of Pensions, DHSC (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
Nigel Zaman, Senior Programme Manager, DHSC (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
David Jukes, Head of Governance and Corporate Secretary (Secretary to the Board), NHSBSA
Paul Cooper, NHS Pensions Director, NHSBSA (items 25/133 to 25/135 only)
Chris Lauder, Governance, Risk and Assurance Lead, NHSBSA (item 25/139 only)
Mark Lavender, Project Director, Grant Thornton (items 25/133 to 25/135 only) (via video conference)
Ellen Lynch, DDaT Strategy Lead, NHSBSA (Shadow Board Representative) (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
Jonathan Marron, Chief Transition Officer, NHSBSA (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
Jane Miller, Head of Colleague Experience and Social Impact, NHSBSA (item 25/140 only)
Barry Moran, Head of Operational Services, NHSBSA (items 25/133 to 25/135 only)
Sean Murphy, Commercial Director, NHSBSA (items 25/134 to 25/136 only)
Alison O'Brien, Operations Director, NHSBSA (items 25/133 and 25/135 only)
Neil Pragnell, Head of Portfolio Delivery, NHSBSA (Shadow Board Representative) (items 25/126 to 25/145 only)
Libby Pink, Chief Portfolio Officer, NHSBSA (items 25/130 to 25/135 and 25/141 only)
Chris Price, Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation Programme Director, NHSBSA (item 25/141 only) (via video conference)
Victoria Usher, Inclusion, Accessibility and Social Impact Lead, NHSBSA (item 25/140 only)
25/126 Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest
Apologies were received from Mark Dibble and Naomi Simon. There were no declarations of interest declared in relation to Board meeting agenda.
25/127 Minutes of the the Board Meeting held on 18 September 2025
The minutes of the previous meetings were AGREED as an accurate record.
25/128 Matters Arising and Outstanding Actions from Previous Meetings
The Board discussed the actions. All actions were either complete, addressed as part of the meeting agenda or not yet due.
The Board NOTED completed actions.
25/129 Chair's Opening Remarks
S Douthwaite welcomed F Walker to the Board meeting. F Walker had been invited to the meeting as an observer and in her capacity as Deputy Director of Pensions, DHSC. F Walker thanked S Douthwaite for inviting her to attend and observe the Board meeting and provided an overview of her role.
S Douthwaite welcomed E Lynch and N Pragnell to the meeting as Shadow Board representatives.
Members reflected on the Board Strategy Day held on 15 October 2025 and the insight provided. Members discussed themes of the day. The Board reflected on the insight provided on the new NHSBSA Operating Model.
The Executive team thanked the Non-Executive Directors for facilitating sessions on their areas of expertise and reflected on the valuable insight provided.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Libby Pink joined the meeting)
25/130 Confirmed minutes from the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 9 July 2025
The Board NOTED the minutes.
25/131 Update from the Audit and Risk Management Committee Meeting held on 2 October 2025 – Alert, Advise, Assure (AAA) Report
K Gillatt gave an update on the work of the Audit and Risk Management Committee – this was summarised in an Alert / Advise / Assurance Report issued to the Board.
The Board NOTED the update – and the alerts, advice and assurance provided.
25/132 Chief Executive’s Business Update Report
M Brodie, supported by the Executive Team, highlighted key points from the report, including in relation to:
Business performance including operational service KPI delivery; progress on delivering against NHSBSA Strategic Goals; change portfolio delivery and benefits; DDaT/ People KPIs and the Corporate Risk Register.
Relevant senior changes and appointments in DHSC and NHS England.
ALB CEO and Chairs Meeting.
Engagement with the Welsh Government on service delivery.
England Infected Blood Support System (EIBSS) service update.
NHSBSA signing the Miscarriage Association Public Pledge ahead of Baby Loss Awareness Week in October 2025. The Board members expressed their wholehearted support.
NHSBSA being awarded the Gold TIDE (Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation) Award by enei (Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion). The Board wished to congratulate all colleagues involved in this achievement and for continuing to champion an inclusive culture across the business.
Events taking place across the NHSBSA during October in support of Black History Month 2025. The Board wished to thank all colleagues involved in organising and attending these events.
NHSBSA We CARE Awards 2025.
Government Spending Review (SR) update.
Launch of the new Integrated Single Finance Environment (IFSE2) platform by NHS SBS.
Recent publication by the business of the latest data (April to June 2025) on the prescribing of medicines used to improve mental health in England that are subsequently dispensed in the community and the insight provided.
The Board NOTED the report.
(Paul Cooper, Mark Lavender, Barry Moran and Alison O’Brien joined the meeting)
25/133 NHS Pensions Service – Key Priorities Update
B Brown introduced the team and provided an overview of the report, covering key priorities and challenges within the NHS Pensions Service.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Sean Murphy joined the meeting)
25/134 Pensions Administration Services – McCloud Support Contract
S Murphy presented the paper, highlighting the rationale for the call off contract and offline approval.
The Board RATIFIED APPROVAL of the call off contract for the provision of Pensions Administration Services with EQ/Paymaster under the LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) Framework following completion of a procurement exercise, from 9 October 2025 to 31 March 2026, at a value of £6,245,000 (ex. VAT).
25/135 Pensions Administration Services – McCloud Support Contracts
S Murphy presented the paper, giving an overview of the requirements and options for review and approval of the Contract Award Report to align with project timelines.
The Board AGREED to convene a session, at an appropriate time, between Board meetings to review and approve the final Contract Award Report.
(Paul Cooper, Mark Lavender, Barry Moran, Alison O’Brien and Libby Pink left the meeting)
25/136 Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) Medical Assessments Contract
S Murphy presented the paper, giving an overview of the requirements and options for review and approval of the Contract Award Report to align with project timelines.
The Board AGREED that the final Contract Award Report should be circulated to members between Board meetings for review and approval, with any questions or clarifications being addressed with members via S Murphy.
(Sean Murphy left the meeting)
25/137 Finance Report
A McKinlay provided an overview of the Finance Report.
The Board NOTED the report.
25/138 Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Update
D Jukes presented the report in his role as FTSU Guardian. M Tomlin updated the Board, as FTSU Non-Executive Champion, that she had met with D Jukes and been provided with assurance on arrangements and case handling and highlighted the activities taking place during October as part of Speak Up week.
The Board fully supported the work to ensure the NHSBSA had an open and honest culture and wished to thank all colleagues involved including FTSU Champions and colleagues who had come forward and spoken up.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Chris Lauder joined the meeting)
25/139 NHSBSA Risk Appetite Statement Review and Enterprise Risk Management Update
D Jukes introduced the item. C Lauder presented the paper highlighting key points.
The Board REVIEWED the current Corporate Risk/ Issue Register, recognising that the report continued to evolve aligned to the Risk Development Roadmap.
The Board REVIEWED the current Risk Appetite Statement. The Board AGREED the NHSBSA Risk Appetite Statement. The Board AGREED the proposed approach to Risk Appetite monitoring and reporting.
The Board AGREED the proposed Emerging Risk process. The Board NOTED the contents of the report and arrangements in place to manage risk, including the Risk Development Roadmap.
(Chris Lauder left the meeting)
(Jane Miller and Victoria Usher joined the meeting)
25/140 Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility Update (including: Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility Annual Report 2024/25; Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility Strategy 2025-30; and Gender Pay Gap Report 2025)
M Brodie introduced the item, underlining the importance of the agenda to the business and value for wider society and service users. J Miller and V Usher highlighted key points.
The Board NOTED and APPROVED the Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility Annual Report 2024/25; the Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility Strategy 2025-30; and the Gender Pay Gap Report 2025.
(Jane Miller and Victoria Usher left the meeting)
(Libby Pink and Chris Price joined the meeting)
25/141 Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation Programme -Spotlight
C Price provided the Board with an update on the programme.
The Board NOTED the update.
(Libby Pink and Chris Price left the meeting)
25/142 Any Other Business
There were no items of any other business.
25/143 Communications from the Meeting
The Board wished to congratulate all colleagues involved in achieving the enei Gold TIDE (Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation) Award for the fifth consecutive year and for continuing to champion an inclusive culture across the business
The Board wished to thank all colleagues involved in organising and attending events in support of Black History Month 2025.
The Board fully supported the work to ensure the NHSBSA had an open and honest culture and wished to thank all colleagues involved in the FTSU agenda, including FTSU Champions and colleagues who had come forward and spoken up.
The Board congratulated all colleagues involved in achieving being placed 30th in the Social Mobility Employer Index and recognised the value and strategic importance of being an organisation where talent from all socio-economic backgrounds was nurtured, harnessed and rewarded.
The Board wished to thank the Future NHS Workforce Solution Transformation Programme team for successfully achieving a key programme milestone.
25/144 Forward Agenda and Training Plan
The Board NOTED the forward agenda and Training Plan.
25/145 Date and Venue of the Next Meeting
The next Board meeting was planned for 11 December 2025.
(Brendan Brown, Darren Curry, Jo Hindmarsh, Ellen Lynch, Jonathan Marron, Andy McKinlay, Allison Newell, Neil Pragnell, Fiona Walker and Nigel Zaman left the meeting)
25/146 Confirmed minutes from the Remuneration and Nominations Committee meetings held on 2 July 2025
The Board NOTED the minutes.
25/147 Update from the Remuneration and Nominations Committee Meeting held on 15 October 2025 – Alert, Advise, Assure (AAA) Report
M Tomlin gave an update on the work of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee – this was summarised in an Alert / Advise / Assure Report issued to the Board. The Board NOTED the update – and the advise and assure updates provided.