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COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 24 September 2009
Room 135, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA

In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The chairperson informed members that a press release had been issued by the Minister regarding Northern Health & Social Care Trust efficiency saving proposals. The chairperson expressed concern that the Committee was not informed of the Ministers decision before this was made public. Members agreed to write to the Minister about this matter, to invite each of the Health & Social care Trusts to brief the Committee on their plans for efficiency savings under the Comprehensive Spending Review and to invite the Permanent Secretary of the Department to brief the members on efficiency savings under the Comprehensive Spending Review.

2.03 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
2.06 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.12 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson joined the meeting.

The chairperson informed the Committee that members had confirmed that the attendance report for 2008/ 2009 was correct. The chairperson noted that Mrs Iris Robinson’s attendance had been affected by serious illness.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 17 September 2009

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a departmental press release regarding a report ‘A Flourishing Society – Aspiration for Emotional Health & Wellbeing in NI’ produced by the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health. Members agreed that the Committee would be briefed on the report at a joint committee meeting with the Committee for Education on Wednesday 21 October 2009.

The Committee noted a letter from University of Ulster & Queens University thanking the Committee for its support with a study on the experiences of suicidal men.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Committee on a consultation document ‘Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2009’ and agreed that a response should be prepared commenting on health indicators.

The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The report drew the Committees attention to defects in the drafting of Statutory Rule2009/263: the General Dental Services (amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 but the Examiner was content that this does not affect the validity of the regulations.

5. Evidence session on the Supplement for Undergraduate Medical & Dental Education with the British Medial Association (NI)

Members took evidence from:

Damian Fogarty Chair of the NI Medical Academic Staff Committee, BMA (NI)
Neil Cunningham Member of the NI Medical Students Committee, BMA (NI)
Nigel Gould Northern Ireland Deputy Secretary, BMA (NI)
Drew Gilliland BMA (NI)
Gráinne Magee Assembly and Research Officer, BMA (NI)

A question and answer session ensued. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask why the BMA (NI) is not involved in the Medical Student Management Group.

2.24 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
2.52 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
3.08 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
3.13 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.

6. Departmental briefing on the End- Year Delivery Report for the Programme for Government

Members took evidence from:

Dean Sullivan Assistant Secretary, Director of Planning and Performance Management Directorate
Andrew Elliott Assistant Secretary, Director of Population Health Directorate
Fergal Bradley Senior Principal, Child Care Policy Directorate
Naresh Chada Senior Medical Officer

A question and answer session ensued. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with guide explaining the targets.

3.55 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.

4.06 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.12 p.m. Meeting resumed.

7. Statutory Rule: 2009/266 the Working Time (Doctors in Training) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Members took evidence from:

Paddy Woods Senior Medical Officer, DHSSPS
John Nesbitt Human Resources Directorate, DHSSPS

The Committee considered SR 2009/266 the Working Time (Doctors in Training) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

8. Statutory Rule: 2009/320 the Pharmaceutical Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009/320 the Pharmaceutical Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

9. Proposed Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on the proposal to make the

The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No.3) Regulations (NI) 2009 by:

Ernie Swain, Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS

The chairperson thanked the witness for attending. Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare these Statutory Rules.

The Committee agreed that it would no longer automatically receive briefings on proposed statutory rules and would only invite witnesses were legislation covered important policy issues or were members raised concerns.

4.26 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
4.28 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.29 p.m.Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

10. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr G Bond regarding hygiene and infection control at the Royal Victoria Hospital and agreed to invite Mr Bond to brief the Committee. Members also agreed to invite the RQIA to brief the Committee on hospital hygiene.

Mr Jim Wells made a declaration of interest that he knew Mr Bond.

Mrs Iris Robinson made a declaration of interest that she knew Mr Bond.

The Committee noted a letter from Diabetes UK seeking a meeting with the Committee about their campaign for a Diabetes Service Framework and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee.

The Committee noted a report from the Northern Ireland Audit Office, ‘General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland – 2008.’ and agreed to invite theNorthern Ireland Audit office to brief the Committee on the findings of the report.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the progress of the implementation of departmental efficiency plans from April – September 2008.

The Committee noted a consultation document produced by the Department of Education and the Department of Health, ‘Food in Schools Policy.’ Members agreed to forward this to the Committee for Education.

The Committee noted information about a seminar organised by The Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates Association (UK), ‘International Developments in Family Law.’ for member’s information.

9. Any other business

The Committee noted that members had received correspondence from Ms Jeanette Marley regarding the recent closure of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinic in Belfast City Hospital. Members agreed that they would send as individual members’ priority written questions to the Department on this matter and respond to Ms Marley’s correspondence.

The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from Mr James Hallam to the Department for a response.

The Committee discussed the treatment of Billy Caldwell.

The Committee discussed preparations for pandemic flu.

The Committee discussed the provision of Social Services and agreed to discuss this at the Committee meeting on Thursday 8 October 2009.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 1 September 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber , Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.02 p.m.

17 September 09 / Menu