COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 18 June 2009
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.02 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson thanked Committee Members for their messages of support during her illness and the Deputy Chairperson for chairing the Committee in her absence.
The Chairperson made a statement about the treatment of children with intractable epilepsy.
The Chairperson reported that the planned visit to the Food Standards Agency had to be cancelled at short notice and offered her apologies to the Food Standards Agency on behalf of the Committee.
The Committee noted that the Select Committee on Health and Children in the Dail would be visiting Belfast on the following Thursday and agreed to host a dinner for them on Thursday night .
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 June 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Buddy Bear Trust and agreed to forward this to the Trust.
The Committee noted an interim response from the Minister about Loughview Surgery, Kirkubbin.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Environment Committee and agreed to forward the response to the Environment Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Western Health & Social Care Trust about the retraining of two surgeons at the Erne Hospital.
The Committee noted a letter from the Department about the implementation of recommendations from the Committee report on the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm.
The Committee noted a letter from Forum for Action on Suicide Awareness.
The Committee noted a written submission to the inquiry into obesity from the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a press release from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland reporting on a European Summit on pharmacy’s role in tackling obesity and a BBC News article on obesity.
The Committee noted a summary of the key points from an informal briefing with Early Years.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Nechema project and agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister.
The Committee noted a letter has been received from the Faculty of Homeopathy about NHS funding for homeopathy services in Northern Ireland and agreed to ask the Minister to copy his response to the Committee.
2.43 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
2.59 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
2.59 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting
5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity
Evidence session with the Department of Health, London
Members took evidence from:
Clara Swinson Deputy Director, Cross Government Obesity Unit
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
3.02 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
3.15 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
Evidence session with officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Members took evidence from:
Rob Phipps DHSSPS
Christine Jendoubi DHSSPS
Dr Naresh Chada. DHSSPS
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a member of a local Commissioning Group.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
6. Review of the Investing for Health Strategy
Members noted the Department’s plans to review the Investing for Health Strategy, Rob Phipps advised that the Minister would be writing to the Committee shortly.
3.30 p.m. Meeting adjourned
3.30 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
3.30 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Meeting resumed
3.37 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
7. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/225: The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee considered SR 2009/225: The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule.
8. Commencement order
The Committee noted details of a proposed commencement order to allow the Department to consult on guidance dealing with nuisance or disturbance in Health Service premises.
9. Proposed Statutory Rule
Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Working Time (Doctors in Training) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Diane Taylor DHSSPS
John Nesbitt DHSSPS
Paddy Woods DHSSPS
The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information on the timetable for equality screening. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
3.51 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
10. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Press Releases.
The Committee noted an invitation from the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister to a lunchtime seminar on Monday 22 June 2009 in relation to a policy for children and young people.
The Committee noted correspondence from the University of Ulster Sports Academy and agreed to sponsor an event to promote health & wellbeing at Parliament Buildings.
The Committee noted an invitation from Inter Church Addictions Project to the launch of its first strategic plan on 24 th June 2009 .
The Committee noted a copy of the General Medical Council Annual Report and Accounts for 2008.
The Committee noted a publication by the Northern Ireland Environment link, ‘A Future for Northern Ireland’s Built Heritage.
The Committee noted the June edition of ‘NIIRTA News.
The Committee noted a letter from Helping Hand Tutoring seeking a meeting with the Committee about its weight management programmes aimed at obese children. Members agreed to invite them to make a written submission to the Committee Inquiry into obesity and also agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee.
11. Any other business
Committee Members discussed recent reports about the funding for the Ireland Air Ambulance Charity and agreed to write to the Charity Commission regarding this matter.
The Committee agreed to request an oral update on the guidance in relation to primary care for dealing with Swine Flu at the next Committee meeting.
The Committee noted that the unions had declined an offer of an informal meeting next week. Because of the Committee work programme over the next two weeks it will not be possible to meet the unions formally until after recess.
12. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 25 June 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.04 p.m.