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 (via video conference) (items 25/148 to 25/156 only)
Mathew McKie, Non-Executive Director
Randeep Sidhu, Non-Executive Director
Mel Tomlin, Non-Executive Director (via video conference) (items 25/148 to 25/155 only)
Brendan Brown, Chief Operating Officer
Darren Curry, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer
Mark Dibble, Chief People Officer
Andy McKinlay, Chief Finance Officer
Allison Newell, Chief Strategy Officer
In attendance:
Chris Knight, Associate Non-Executive Director (via video conference)
Lucy Horgan, Sector Insights and Commercial Strategy Lead - NHSBSA Sponsorship Team, DHSC (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Stuart Nelson, Chief Commercial Officer (Senior Departmental Sponsor), DHSC (via video conference) (items 25/148 to 25/162 only)
Nigel Zaman, Senior Programme Manager, DHSC (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Alyx Maving, Governance, Risk and Assurance Manager (Secretary to the Board), NHSBSA
Anna Caine, Head of DDaT Governance, NHSBSA (Shadow Board representative) (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Paul Cooper, NHS Pensions Director, NHSBSA (item 25/156 only)
Michael Costello, Director of Finance, NHSBSA (items 25/157 to 25/160 only)
Mark Dobson, Head of Operational Integration and Optimisation, NHSBSA (item 25/162 only)
Nichola Henderson, Head of Business Innovation and Customer Experience, NHSBSA (item 25/163 only)
Mark Lavender, Project Director, Grant Thornton (via video conference) (item 25/156 only)
Jonathan Marron, Chief Transition Officer, NHSBSA (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Barry Moran, Head of Operational Services, NHSBSA (item 25/156 only)
Lisa Moran, Head of DDaT Capability and Operations, NHSBSA (Shadow Board representative) (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Sean Murphy, Commercial Director, NHSBSA (items 25/157 to 25/160 only)
Kirsty Nixon, Performance Lead, NHSBSA (item 25/163 only)
Libby Pink, Chief Portfolio Officer, NHSBSA (via video conference) (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Naomi Simon, Boardroom Apprentice (observer) (items 25/148 to 25/167 only)
Miranda Sykes, Head of Communications and Marketing, NHSBSA (item 25/156 only)
25/148 Apologies for absence and Declarations of Interest register (Register of Interests - formal review)
Apologies were received from David Jukes. There were no declarations of interest declared in relation to the Board meeting agenda.
The Board confirmed that they had read and understood the NHSBSA Conflicts of Interest Policy and Procedure, and any required updates would be added to the Register of Interests in ESR once confirmed and updated on the published register.
Non-Executive Directors
| Name | Interests declared |
| Sue Douthwaite, Chair | Chair (Remuneration Committee member and Nominations Committee chair), Melton Building Society Chair of International Advisory Board, Queens University Belfast Management School Chair, Nexa Finance Ltd (ended 31 August 2025) Director, Apricus Consultancy Ltd (ended 31 October 2025) |
| Kathryn Gillatt, Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee | Non-Executive Director (Audit and Risk Committee chair), Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust Pavegen, shareholder Severn Trent, shareholder Saga, shareholder |
| David Leather | Transformation Director, EE BT Group, shareholder Apple, shareholder Nvidia, shareholder So-Fi Technologies, shareholder |
| Mathew McKie | Head of Data and AI, Assystem Energy and Infrastructure Ltd Trustee, Friends of West Kirby Primary School |
| Randeep Sidhu | Director, Green Field Ideas Ltd Trustee and Steering Committee Member, EPOC Guest Lecturer/Speaker, Kings College London (and other universities on an ad-hoc basis) |
| Mel Tomlin, Chair of Remuneration and Nominations Committee and Senior Independent Director | Director and Consultant, North Star Products and Services Ltd Trustee, Rowland Hill Fund |
Associate Non-Executive Directors
| Name | Interests declared |
| Chris Knight | Chief Risk Officer, Legal and General Group Audit and Risk Committee Member, Samaritans Redgate Software Ltd, shareholder Colours of Dance/Cambridge Dance Studios, spouse is sole proprietor Royal Academy of Dance - Northern Ballet, spouse is trustee |
Executive Directors/Officer members
| Name | Interests declared |
| Michael Brodie, Chief Executive | Chair of Sustainability Forum, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) Chair of Reference Group, Preventative Spend (CIPFA) Trustee, Community Foundation (Tyne and Wear and Northumberland) |
| Brendan Brown, Chief Operating Officer | Nothing declared |
| Darren Curry, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer | Independent Governor/Board member, Corporation Board (Finance and General Purposes Committee member and Remuneration Committee member), Gateshead College |
| Mark Dibble, Chief People Officer | Director, Personal Development Academy Ltd Vice Chair, Blue Cabin |
| Andy McKinlay, Chief Finance Officer | Nothing declared |
| Allison Newell, Chief Strategy Officer | Nothing declared |
The Board reviewed the Register of Interests and NOTED the report.
25/149 Minutes of the Board meeting held on 16 October 2025
The minutes of the previous meeting were AGREED as an accurate record, subject to one minor agreed amendment.
25/150 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.
25/151 Chair's opening remarks
S Douthwaite welcomed S Nelson to the Board meeting. S Douthwaite welcomed A Caine and L Moran to the meeting as Shadow Board representatives.
The Board NOTED the update.
25/152 Confirmed minutes from the Audit and Risk Management Committee (ARC) meeting held on 2 October 2025
The Board NOTED the minutes.
25/153 Update from the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 13 November 2025 - Alert, Advise, Assure (AAA) report
K Gillatt gave an update on the work of the ARC and noted that the ARC meeting had been separated into two distinct parts, enabling a greater focus on NHS Pensions. As a result, two AAA reports had been issued from the 13 November 2025 ARC meeting.
The Board NOTED the update – and the alerts, advice and assurance provided.
25/154 Update from the Audit and Risk Management Committee (NHS Pensions) meeting held on 13 November 2025) - AAA report
K Gillatt gave an update on the work of the ARC (Pensions).
The Board NOTED the update – and the alerts, advice and assurance provided.
25/155 Chief Executive's Business Update report
M Brodie introduced the item, highlighting key points including in relation to:
- Business performance, including operational KPI delivery; progress on delivering against NHSBSA strategic goals; change portfolio delivery and benefits; DDaT/People KPIs; and the Corporate Risk Register.
- NHSBSA Arm's Length Body Assurance Review update
- Workforce efficiency and transformation plan
- Colleague performance management approach.
The Board NOTED the report.
(M Tomlin left the meeting)
(P Cooper, M Lavender, B Moran and M Sykes joined the meeting)
25/156 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.
(D Leather, P Cooper, M Lavender, B Moran and M Sykes left the meeting)
(M Costello and S Murphy joined the meeting)
25/157 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) MOU and POSA
D Curry provided an overview of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Provision of Services Agreement (POSA) with DHSC for the work to provide DDaT services for NIHR.
The Board APPROVED the MOU and POSA, and subsequent Work Packages with DHSC for the provision of DDaT services for NIHR. The Board delegated authority to the Chief Executive to execute the MOU and POSA.
(C Knight left the meeting)
25/158 Finance and Commercial report
A McKinlay, supported by M Costello and S Murphy, provided an overview of the financial position and commercial update.
The Board NOTED the report.
(C Knight rejoined the meeting)
25/159 NHS Prescriptions, Cards and Print Framework CCN
S Murphy provided an overview of the Contract Change Note (CCN).
Following discussion, the Board APPROVED the CCN with Xerox UK Ltd under the NHS Prescriptions, Cards and Print Framework Agreement. The CCN would increase the overall value of the contract by £14.5m to £159.9m. The Board granted delegated authority to the Chief Executive to execute the CCN.
25/160 Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) medical assessments contract
The Board RATIFIED the APPROVAL that had been given between Board meetings for the NHSBSA to enter into a contract for the provision of Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) Medical Assessments with Maximus UK Services Limited. The value of the contract was estimated to be £22,562,500 (ex VAT) for an initial three-year term and included two possible 12-month extensions. The proposed start date was no later than January 2026 for the Implementation Period, followed by the initial three-year period with two possible extensions of 12 months each. The Board granted delegated authority to the Chief Executive to execute the contract.
(M Costello and S Murphy left the meeting)
25/161 Boardroom Apprentice presentation
N Simon presented on her experience as a Boardroom Apprentice with the NHSBSA and reflected on her learning and development journey. N Simon thanked S Douthwaite, M Brodie, M Tomlin and R Sidhu for their time and support during her placement.
S Douthwaite highlighted that this would be the last meeting attended by N Simon as the 2025 Boardroom Apprentice. The Board thanked N Simon for her positive contribution during her time with the NHSBSA.
The Board NOTED the presentation.
(M Dobson joined the meeting)
25/162 Welsh service provision - spotlight
B Brown introduced the report which provided a summary of the current governance arrangements for services provided by the NHSBSA in Wales and an update on work with the Welsh Language Commissioner. The report also included an update on the Welsh Baby Loss Certification Scheme.
The Board NOTED the report and ENDORSED approach proposed and the way the NHSBSA would work with Welsh Policy teams and the Welsh Language Commissioner going forward.
(M Dobson and S Nelson left the meeting)
(N Henderson and K Nixon joined the meeting)
25/163 Customer Experience (CX) - spotlight
A Newell provided an overview of the report.
The Board NOTED the report.
(N Henderson and K Nixon left the meeting)
25/164 Any other business
There were no items of any other business.
25/165 Communications from the meeting
The Board wished to thank N Simon for her positive contribution as the 2025 Boardroom Apprentice during her time with the NHSBSA.
25/166 Forward agenda and training plan
The Board NOTED the Forward Agenda and Training Plan. The Board AGREED to hold an extraordinary meeting on 15 January 2026.
25/167 Date and venue of the next meeting
As agreed, the next Board meeting would be an extraordinary meeting on 15 January 2026.
(B Brown, A Caine, D Curry, L Horgan, J Marron, A McKinlay, L Moran, A Newell, L Pink, N Simon and N Zaman left the meeting)
25/168 Succession planning and contingency planning
M Dibble presented the updated version of the Succession Plan and Contingency Plan. The Board NOTED the Succession Planning and Contingency Planning paper.
25/169 Confirmed minutes from the Remuneration and Nominations Committee meeting held on 15 October 2025
The Board NOTED the minutes.
25/170 Update from the Remuneration and Nominations Committee meeting held on 28 November 2025 - AAA report
R Sidhu 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 advice and assure updates provided.