COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2008
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.39 p.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies as above
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Chairperson’s Business
The chairperson told Members that she had written to the Minister about the treatment of Ryan McCauley. Members agreed to forward a further e mail from Ryan’s parents to the Minister.
Members noted that a report of the Committee’s visit to the Republic of Ireland was being prepared and would be circulated in due course.
The Committee noted that the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill received Royal Assent on Monday 25 th February 2008 and has now become the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.
Members agreed to support a petition raised by the family of Maureen McGinley and to forward this to the Minister.
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Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 14 February 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2008were agreed.
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Matters arising
Members noted a response from the Minister and the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust about the treatment of Billy Caldwell. The Committee expressed disappointment with the Ministers reply and agreed write to the Minister and to forward the response to Charlotte Caldwell.
The Committee noted an e mail from Yvonne Cameron.
Members noted receipt of a copy of the review of admissions policy at Musgrave Park Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit.
The Chairperson reminded Members that the debate on the Committee motion on hospital acquired infections has been scheduled for Tuesday 4 th March 2008.
The Committee noted an interim response from NIPSA about a dispute at Altnagelvin Hospital.
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about resourcing and delivering children and young people’s priorities. Members agreed to invite the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to brief the Committee on their priorities for children and young people.
The Committee noted copies of a presentation made by Kevin Day during the Committee visit to Dublin.
Member noted a letter from the Minister extending the deadline for staff to receive Agenda for Change rates of pay. The Committee agreed to raise this matter with the Minister at the next Committee meeting and to arrange a meeting to obtain the views of Trade Union Representatives on the issue.
Members noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Committee about the discharge of patients with learning disabilities from Muckamore Abbey Hospital. The Committee agreed to raise this matter with the Minister at the next Committee meeting.
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Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm
Evidence session with Local Suicide Coordinators
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Brendan Bonner Western Health & Social Services Board
Melanie McClements Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Pat McGreevy South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
Gabrielle Nellis Northern Health & Social Services BoardA questions and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.20 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.33 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.53 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.15 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
4.15 p.m. Ms Michelle O’Neill took the Chair
4.15 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.22 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting
4.26 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting.
4.29 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting
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Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm Evidence session with Dr Dermot O’Reilly, Queens University
Members took evidence from Dr Dermot O’Reilly, Queens University.
A questions and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked Dr O’Reilly for attending.
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Proposals for Statutory Rules.
The Committee were briefed on proposals for Statutory Rules by:
Moira McCarthy Department of Health, Social Services & Public safety
David Bingham Department of Health, Social Services & Public safety
Phil McCusker Department of Health, Social Services & Public safetyMembers agreed to defer consideration of proposed Statutory Rules for the following until they had met with representatives of the Trade Unions:
Health and Social Care (Pension) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Injury Benefits and Additional Voluntary Contributions and Compensation for Premature Retirement) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Health and Personal Social Services (superannuation) (Additional Voluntary Contributions and Injury Benefits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee were briefed on a proposal for a Statutory Rule: the Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by:
Stephen Popplestone Department of Health, Social Services & Public safety
Ryan Wilson Department of Health, Social Services & Public safetyThe Committee asked Officials to provide information on recovery of charges by the Fire Service and agreed to defer consideration of the proposal until this was received.
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Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases
Members noted a letter from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about the funding for Cloona Children’s Contact Centre. Member noted that the Committee had written to the Minister about this issue.
The Committee noted a letter from Belfast City Council Youth Forum and agreed that they should be invited to a meeting with the Committee.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Love for Life to Mrs Patricia Lewsley the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.
Members noted a letter from Enable NI and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members agreed to forward a letter from Mrs Iris McCann to the Western Health & Social Services Board for a response and to copy to the Minister.
Members agreed to forward a letter from Mrs Maureen Morgan to the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Trust for a response and to copy to the Minister.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter about funding for a University Course to the Department for Employment & Learning for a response.
Members noted a letter from Citizens Advice and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a letter from BioBusiness Northern Ireland and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a letter from Shankill Stress and Trauma Group raising concerns about funding. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about this and that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Geraldine Glover to the Minister.
Members noted a letter from Independent Health and Care Providers Northern Ireland and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
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Any other business
The Committee discussed the proposed visit the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and agreed to visit Lagan Valley Hospital.
Members noted an invitation from the Parents/ Cares Council on Disability to the Wraparound Stakeholder Forum on Friday 7 March 2008.
The Committee noted an invitation for Members to speak at a Seminar being organised by Chest Heart & Stroke and Speechmatters on Wednesday 5 March. Members agreed that this was a very important issue but regretted that no Member would be available to attend.
Members noted that the Minister would attend the next Committee meeting and agreed to raise the following concerns: Agenda for Change, the discharge of patients from Muckamore Abbey Hospital, the cost of medical negligence claims, Investing For Health, the drug Vioxx, Unannounced access by Committee members to healthcare facilities and the provision of Health Service Dentists.
The Committee agreed to meet with representatives of Local Commissioning groups before the summer.
Members agreed to invite representatives of the firefighters union to address the Committee about changes to the firefighters pension scheme.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about funding and timetable for a new regional women’s and children’s hospital.
- Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 6 March 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.07 p.m.
Chairperson
Date: