COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY, 28 JUNE 2007
GREAT HALL, MAGEE CAMPUS,
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER

Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Miss Michelle O’Neill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.25pm in open session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairman’s Business

The Chairperson welcomed Members and members of the public to the first meeting of the Committee outside of Parliament Buildings and the first meeting by any of the Committees of the new Assembly outside of Belfast.

The Chairperson informed Members that she had attended an informal meeting with the Minister on Monday 25 June 2007 during which she had outlined the following issues to him :-

• the Committee’s Forward Work Programme;
• details of today’s visit to the Western Health and Social Care Trust;
• the Committee’s continuing consideration of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;
• the planned evidence sessions on suicide next week; and
• the Committee’s Inquiry into Healthcare Associated Infections which will commence after recess.

The Chairperson informed Members that the Minister had agreed to provide details of any major issues likely to come before the Committee in the near future and particularly anything likely to arise over recess. The Minister had also referred to the Ministerial Taskforce on suicides that he will be chairing and indicated that he intended to announce the membership of the Board of Experts on Mental Health and Learning Disability shortly.

The Minister’s announcement about the withdrawal of the smoking provision from the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) was also discussed and the Minister agreed to involve the Committee in any major visits or events relating to health in the future. Two pieces of legislation to be introduced in Westminster that will contain provisions on health relating to Northern Ireland were also discussed.

Members noted a letter dated 27 June 2007 received from the Minister detailing the membership of the Board of Experts on Mental Health and Learning Disability.

Members noted a letter and draft programme received from Autism Northern Ireland inviting the Chairperson to represent the Committee on the forthcoming ‘Celtic Nations Autism Partnership’ delegation to Washington for meetings in September 2007.

Members agreed that the Chairperson should accept this invitation but that this should not be seen as setting a precedent and any similar invitations received in the future should be considered on merit.

The Committee noted that Autism Northern Ireland had requested to meet with the Committee and it was agreed that this should be scheduled for a lunchtime meeting on Thursday, 13 September 2007.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 June 2007

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2007 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Members noted two letters received from the Minister providing information requested during the evidence session with the Chief Medical Officer at the meeting of the Committee on Thursday, 14 June 2007.

5. Committee Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

Evidence session with the Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Mr Raymond Anderson, President, Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland.

Dr Kate McClelland, Council Member, Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) and representative of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU).

Mr Raymond Blaney, Director, Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland.

RECCCCC

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

Evidence session with the Health and Social Services Councils

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Ms Stella Cunningham, Chief Officer, Southern Health and Social Services Council.

Ms Maggie Reilly, Chief Officer, Western Health and Social Services Council.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

6. Evidence Session with Departmental officials on the draft Sexual Violence Strategy

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Mr Leslie Frew, Director of Mental Health

Ms Marian McIlhone, Sexual Violence Unit

Mr Colin McMaster, Sexual Violence Unit

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

7. Health Related Groups

Members noted a paper outlining the key points that had been raised at the lunchtime meeting with the Down Lisburn Carers’ Forum on Thursday, 21 June 2007.

8. Correspondence

Members noted the correspondence received together with Press Cuttings/Releases.

Members noted requests received from the undernoted organisations to meet with the Committee and agreed that these organisations should be invited to lunchtime meetings with the Committee following the Summer Recess.

• the Child Brain Injury Trust;
• the Community Development and Health Network;
• CARERS Northern Ireland;
• the premature baby charity for Northern Ireland (Tiny Life); and
• the Mental Health Services for Older People, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Dementia Services).

Members further agreed that, due to the interest in the lunchtime meetings, it may have to consider combining organisations in the future.

Members agreed that Disability Action should be invited to attend the lunchtime meeting on Thursday, 6 September 2007.

Members noted a briefing note from UNISON commenting on key statements made by Departmental officials on PFI/PPP during their evidence session to the Committee on Thursday, 14 June 2007.

Members noted a letter dated 22 June 2007 received from the Chairperson, Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on emerging priorities for the Executive’s Programme for Government 2008-11.

10. Any other business

Members agreed to write to the Minister regarding the proposal to move graves close to the site of the new Omagh Hospital to allow building work to get under way.

The Committee also agreed to write to the Minister regarding the deficit of £3.3m from the former Sperrin Lakeland Trust which the Western Health and Social Care Trust has inherited. The Western Health and Social Care Trust is the only one of the five new Trusts starting off with a deficit thus resulting in them having to find the money to fill the gap.

The Committee also noted a letter received by the Committee from the ‘Hospital Campaign for the Rural West’ Steering Group requesting an urgent meeting with the Committee to discuss the Acute Hospital Services in Omagh. Members agreed that a meeting should be arranged as soon as possible to allow the group to make a presentation to the Committee.

The Chairperson expressed the Committee’s sincere condolences to Mr Tommy Gallagher on the recent sudden death of his brother.

11. Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 July 2007 at 2.30pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.32pm.

Signed: __________________________

Chairperson

Date: _________________________

21 June 2007 / MENU