Chief Executive / Medical Director's Report
	Chairman's Report

The NIBTS is a unique provider in the NHS

During the past year the service has met all its requirements for blood and blood products along with the associated services. For this we owe special thanks to our donors and the Board would like to thank and congratulate each one for this selfless and generous gesture for the good of others.

Each year the regulations surrounding the service become more rigorous and demanding. The service is regularly inspected and is endeavouring to keep in step or slightly ahead of these changing demands. The safety of blood and blood products is paramount and is constantly under review. The Human Tissue Authority inspected the service in May 2008 and was satisfied that it is suitable to be licensed to provide services. NIBTS was also inspected by the MHRA in April 2008 and as a result of this initiated a major programme of corrective action which was satisfactorily concluded in November and will be followed by a further inspection in 2009/10. This programme has involved significant change for the Service and will have resource implications both immediate and for the longer term. We have also been working with colleagues in the Department of Health and Public Safety reviewing the organisational form and accountability arrangements for the Agency and I look forward to the publication of the Ministers final recommendations on these important matters.

We are as ever wholly dependent on all the members of our staff in meeting the standards of excellence which we have to achieve. Their professionalism and commitment set a great example and the Board gives them a profound vote of thanks for all that they have achieved in the past year. I am also grateful for the work and support of my colleagues on the Board over the past year.

I look forward to working with Board colleagues, with the staff and with our donors over the next year to meet the needs of the Health Service and the people of Northern Ireland.


Mr Jim Lennon
Chairman