Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

LEGACY REPORT

Remit, powers and membership of the committee

TheCommittee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is a Statutory Departmental Committee established in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Belfast Agreement, section 29 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and under Standing Order 48.

The Committee has power to:

• Consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
• Consider relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee stage of primary legislation;
• Call for persons and papers;
• Initiate inquiries and make reports; and
• Consider and advise on any matters brought to the Committee by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

The current membership of the Committee is:

Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Pól Callaghan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr Paul Girvan MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

Key outputs and achievements of the Committee

Scrutiny of Bills

Safeguarding Board Bill NIA 25/09 – As a result of Committee scrutiny, the Department agreed to make some key amendments to the Bill such as requiring the Safeguarding Board to consult with children and young people and ensuring that the Safeguarding Board is not subject to any vetoes in terms of producing reports. In addition, the Committee persuaded the Minister to significantly increase the salary for the Chair of the Safeguarding Board, hence improving the chances of attracting a person of suitable calibre and experience to this essential role.

Sunbeds Bill NIA 18/09 – As a result of Committee scrutiny, the Department agreed to make amendments to ensure better enforcement of the legislation in terms of preventing under 18s using sunbeds, more detailed information being provided on the health risks of sunbeds for users, and increased fines for those who contravene the legislation.

Autism Bill NIA 2/10 – As a result of Committee scrutiny, the Sponsor of the Bill agreed to make amendments to ensure that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 remains all-encompassing and to enable better targeted provision of autism awareness training.

Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 21/07 – This Bill provided the legislative framework for the establishment of the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency. As a result of Committee scrutiny, the Department agreed to make a range of amendments to strengthen consultation arrangements.

Public Health (Amendment) Bill NIA Bill 8/07 – This Bill had only two clauses and its purpose was to revise Ships and Aircraft Regulations in Northern Ireland to improve and modernise the way checks are performed on ships in ports.

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill NIA 2/07 – This Bill dealt with the regulation of family practitioner services and set out the basis for a new dental contract. It also proposed to amend existing legislation to permit smoking by performers taking part in performances if artistic integrity so requires. The Committee opposed this idea and successfully persuaded the Minister to withdraw the relevant clause from the Bill.

Committee inquiries

The Committee’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm identified a number of areas where it believed the ‘Protect life: a shared vision’ suicide prevention strategy could be enhanced and made 26 recommendations in its report, all of which were broadly accepted by the Department.

The Committee’s Inquiry into Obesity contained 24 recommendations on both the health and education aspects of obesity and weight management. Twenty two of the recommendations were accepted by the relevant departments.

Key evidence sessions

The Committee held two concurrent meetings with the Committee for Justice regarding the McDermott abuse case. Following the Joint Committee’s scrutiny of the issue, the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety agreed to ask the Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to undertake a review of the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s duties and responsibilities in relation to the case. The RQIA review made seven recommendations, all of which were accepted by the Department

Budget scrutiny

The Committee monitored the Department’s spending over the four years of the mandate, particularly in terms of meeting the goals set out in the Programme for Government and Priorities for Action. The Committee strongly encouraged the Department to attempt to make savings through reducing spend on areas such as management costs, consultants’ bonuses, and purchasing/prescription of drugs.

Committee’s approach to its work

Since the inception of the Health Committee on the 17th May 2007, there have been 136 formal committee meetings involving evidence/briefing sessions from a range of organisations. Ten of the evidence sessions have been with the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey.

The Committee has also sought to find innovative ways of taking evidence from stakeholders on important issues:

• As part of the inquiry into obesity the Committee organised a round table research event bringing together experts from across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to discuss the issues and possible solutions.
• As part of its evidence taking on the draft Budget 2011 – 2015 the Committee invited two academic experts in the field of health economics to assist it in identifying potential efficiency savings for the Department. This proved a cost effective method of obtaining specialist advice.
• Through joint concurrent meetings with other Committees – for example a joint meeting was held with the Committee for Education to take evidence from the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health.

As well as holding formal meetings, the Committee has sought to find ways to allow more groups, who would otherwise not get the opportunity to meet the Committee. In doing so it has:

• Held 70 informal lunchtime meetings with various organisations
• Held ten functions in the Long Gallery thereby providing the opportunity for 127 groups to meet with Members of the Committee

In terms of wider stakeholder engagement, the Committee arranged an event at Parliament Buildings to highlight attacks on the Emergency Services. This allowed schoolchildren from across Northern Ireland to participate in demonstrations of the work done by the Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service.

Issues for consideration by incoming committee

1. The implementation of Budget 2011 - 2015 by DHSSPS including:

• The recommendations contained in the McKinsey report
• The outcome of the PEDU report
• The update of the Appleby report
• The percentage of health funding being directed at preventative health measures (currently 1.6%)

2. Independent inquiry into recall of dentistry patients – final report expected 31 May 2011

3. RQIA review of reporting arrangements for radiological investigations – initial report expected by end of March 2011

4. Decisions on satellite radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin Hospital and the Fire and Rescue Service training centre at Desertcreat.

5. Progress of proposed suborindate legislation on tobacco displays and advertising – first set of Regulations expected to come into operation on 1 July 2011.

6. Outcome of UK review into bonus payments for consultants – report expected July 2011.

7. The role of the Safeguarding Board NI and the child protection agenda.

8. Changes to the regional neurology service in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Appendix One

Committee for Health, Social Services & Public Safety

Membership (11)

With effect from 20 May 2008 Mrs Claire McGill replaced Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.
With effect from 15 September 2008 Mr Sam Gardiner replaced Rev Dr Robert Coulter.
With effect from 29 June 2009 Mrs Dolores Kelly replaced Mr Tommy Gallagher.
With effect from 4 July 2009 Mr Jim Wells replaced Mrs Iris Robinson.
With effect from 14 September 2009 Mrs Iris Robinson replaced Mr Thomas Buchanan.
With effect from 12 January 2010 Mrs Iris Robinson resigned as an MLA.
With effect from 15 January 2010 Mrs Carmel Hanna resigned as an MLA.
With effect from 26 January 2010 Mr Conall McDevitt replaced Mrs Carmel Hanna.
With effect from 1 February 2010 Mr Thomas Buchanan replaced Mrs Iris Robinson.
With effect from Monday 24 May 2010 Mr Tommy Gallagher replaced Mr Conall McDevitt.
With effect from Monday 24 May 2010 Mrs Mary Bradley replaced Mrs Dolores Kelly.
With effect from Monday 13 September 2010 Mr Mickey Brady replaced Mrs Claire McGill.
With effect from Monday 13 September 2010 Mr Paul Girvan replaced Mr Thomas Buchanan.
With effect from Monday 23 November 2010 Mr Pól Callaghan replaced Mrs Mary Bradley.

Appendix two

Committee for Health, Social Services & Public Safety

Committee meetings & visits

Bills

Statutory Rules

Committee Inquiries

Committee Reports (excluding Bill and Inquiry reports)

Budget Scrutiny

Primary Legislation Scrutiny