COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 3 December 2009
Seminar Room, Somerton House
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
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:
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.24 pm in public session .
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson thanked the Hospice on behalf of the Committee for the use of their facilities to hold the Committee meeting.
The Committee agreed a media operational note about the Committees all day meeting to consider the RQIA’s child protection review report on Thursday 10 th December 2009.
The Committee noted the timescale for plans to employ research staff with experience of economic matters and agreed not to move forward with a specialist adviser.
The Committee agreed to arrange a visit to a local hospital regarding hospital hygiene.
The Chairperson informed members that he would be meeting with the Patient Client Council the next day as part of a series of informal meetings with health related groups. The Chairperson invited other members to attend these meetings.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 26 November 2009
The amended minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a copy of a motion on hospital hygiene agreed by the Committee at the meeting last week.
The Committee agreed a rota for member’s attendance at informal lunchtime meetings.
The Committee noted additional information regarding the Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009.
The Committee noted a response from Western Health and Social Care Trust about their contingency plan and projected deficit for 2009/10 of around £3.5m and agreed to write to the Trust about the impact of this on front line services.
The Committee noted additional information received from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust following the Committee’s evidence session on 5 th November 2009 and agreed to write to the Trust for a breakdown of the amount spent by the Trust on taxis. The Committee also agreed to write to each Trust again regarding contingency plans.
The Committee noted a report on the informal lunchtime meeting with the Royal College of Nursing.
The Committee noted a letter from Mr G Bond thanking the Committee for taking evidence on hospital hygiene and commenting on the evidence given by the RQIA and the Belfast Trust.
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules was content with statutory rule 2009/362 The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations (NI) 2009
5. Departmental briefing on swine flu
The Committee took evidence from
Dr Liz Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Dr Liz Reaney Senior Medical Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.27 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting.
6. Committee discussion on patient nutrition
The Committee discussed a briefing paper from Assembly Research on Patient nutrition and agreed to write to the Minister regarding the implementation of NICE guidelines on Nutrition Support for Adults and requesting an update on the HSC Catering Services Strategy.
The Committee agreed to write to each Health and Social Care Trust regarding patient nutrition.
The Committee agreed to write to the RQIA regarding the monitoring of patient nutrition in private care homes.
3.57 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4.14 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.18 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4.23 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.45 p.m. Mrs Claire McGillleft the meeting.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted correspondence from Lisburn City Council regarding Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation and agreed to send a transcript of evidence taken on this matter on 12 th November to the Council for information.
The Committee noted a record of a telephone call from Ms B Montague regarding her concerns over a meeting between the Department and representatives of ME/CFC suffers.
The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Anne-Marie McCullough giving her views on evidence taken by the Committee on proposed autism legislation and agreed to write a letter of acknowledgement to Ms McCullough.
The Committee noted a draft consultation document from the Department on a Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for Northern Ireland and agreed to ask the Department to report back to the Committee with the results of the consultation. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department asking for information on end of life care beds across Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a draft consultation document from the Department on the role of Responsible Officers: Closing the Gap in Medical Regulation.
8. Any other business
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the effect of uncertainty over the budget on waiting lists.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of the report on the listeriosis outbreak in the Belfast Trust.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information on monitoring of hospital performance.
The Committee agreed to write to the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust about the merger of wards at Knockbracken.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding its efficiency plan.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department about maternity services.
9. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 10th December 2009 at 9.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.52 p.m.