Working Together

Working Together

Employability and social enterprise is a key driver behind the reason why IHS partnered with The Rehab Group. We are delighted to have launched our programme for business for 2025 which will work together with our community partner to help integrate individuals back into the workforce.

Chairperson & Interim CEO

Brendan is a former Partner in Grant Thornton Ireland, which currently employs over 3,000 on the island of Ireland. Having established his own practice in 1995, which traded as Foster McAteer, he merged his firm with Grant Thornton in 2008. He has held several senior roles in Grant Thornton including Head of Advisory and Chairman. He retired from Grant Thornton on 30th April 2024 and established his own consultancy firm Ferness Consulting Limited.

His experience spans across several sectors and industries. A fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Ireland (FCCA) he was its Irish President in 2008/09. He holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance. Brendan was President of Dublin Chamber in 2017, and Chamber Council member served as a member of the Audit Committee of Dublin City Council in 2011 and served as Chairman from 2015 to 2019.

In late 2022, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, invited him to chair the Cherry Orchard Implementation Board. Since retiring in April 2024, he has taken up a number of Non-Executive Directorship roles and was appointed Chairperson of the Irish Hospital Supplies Group in May 2024 and is Acting CEO pending the appointment of a new CEO in June 2025 . He is also a director of The Cosgrave Brothers Group and a member of the Residential Tenancies Board.

IHS Sponsor the Rehab Group

For more than 70 years, the Rehab Group has been working to break down the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from living ordinary lives in their communities. Through these decades of work and the dedication and commitment of their employees, many thousands of people have seen their lives transformed; achieving levels of independence, educational attainment, and career progression that may have seemed out of reach.

This was one of the main reasons that the team in Irish Hospital Supplies wanted to partner with the Rehab Group. As it enables more than 12,800 people with disabilities to live lives of their choosing in Ireland, Scotland and Poland. With a purpose to empower those they support to lead more independent lives and play an active and meaningful role in their communities.

What does Article 10a mean for the industry?

Article 10a of the MDR/IVDR came into effect on the 10^th January 2025, but what does this mean for importers and distributors of medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics?

Article 10a rule obliges manufacturers to notify EU authorities and their customers in advance of supply interruptions and product device discontinuations if these could pose a risk of severe harm to patients

The information obligation regarding an anticipated interruption or discontinuation of device supply in Article 10a of the MDR/IVDR is intended to have a cascading effect. The information originating from the manufacturer, should be passed to other economic operators in the downstream supply, until it reaches the relevant health institutions, or healthcare professionals.

Relevant economic operators therefore who have received information from the manufacturer under Article 10a(1) of the MDR/IVDR or another economic operator in the supply chain (e.g. from importers or distributors), are expected to further share this information ‘without undue delay’ with other economic operators, health institutions and healthcare professionals to whom they directly supply the device. It is expected that economic operators do not change, add to or paraphrase the communication received from the manufacturer so as to preserve its integrity.

Ref; Q&A Obligation to inform in case of interruption or discontinuation of supply published on https://health.ec.europa.eu/

IDI Annual Congress 2024

Irish Hospital Supplies were very proud to support and participate in the Irish Decontamination Institute Annual Congress held in Hudson Bay Hotel Athlone on 14^th and 15^th of November 2024.  As always, the congress was very well supported by hospital and industry representatives alike.  The talks were very informative with great guest speakers and the social event on Thursday evening provided a great opportunity for everybody to catch up.  Many thanks to the IDI for their hospitality and we look forward to supporting you again in the future.

During the congress we showcased Humipak which is a moisture retention pouch for post-operative instrument handling, designed to inhibit hydrophobic proteins adhering to surgical instruments by creating a moist environment.

https://www.westmed.co.uk/prod/hospital-sterile-services/humipak-moisture-retention-pouch/humipak/

We also demonstrated Ultra pouches and reels, a packaging concept for medical devices that replaces traditional reusable containers and wrap systems.  The innovative reinforced porous side of Ultra offers much higher resistance to perforation compared to conventional pouches and wraps.

https://www.sterimed.fr/en/products/solutions-for-patient-care-units/ultra-pouches-and-reels-ultra-the-most-versatile-sterile-barrier-system

Irish Hospital Supplies would like to thank Westfield Medical for their support during the conference.

In attendance were Sales Directors Darren Costello and Kieran Healy, Sales Representatives Ken Walsh, Trevor Mulcahy, Andy Leonard, Karl Hogan, Ian Bolt of Irish Hospital Supplies and Hospital Sales Manager Phil Ashcroft of Westfield Medical.