COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 6 March 2008
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
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
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
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.40 p.m. in closed session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above
2. The Committee discussed Committee procedures.
The meeting moved to Public Session at 3.07p.m.
3. Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Minister was accompanied by:
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary
Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Dr Miriam McCarthy Deputy Secretary Health Care Policy
Bernard Mitchell Modernisation Directorate
David Bingham Director Human Resources
The Minister briefed the Committee on proposals for Health and Social care reform then took questions from Members. The Minister then addressed other issues raised by Members. The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials’ for attending.
4.17 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4 Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Trade Union representatives about regulations relating to the introduction of a new Health Service Superannuation Scheme and about the decision by the Minister to extend the deadline for Agenda for Change to 30 June 2008. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with representatives of Beechgrove Glencregagh Residents’ Association. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
5 Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 28 February 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2008were agreed.
4.32 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.33 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.37 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
6 Matters arising
Members noted an e mail from Dr Dermot O’Reilly and agreed that this should be added to his evidence of 28 February 2008.
The Committee noted a response to issues raised with the Committee by the Allied Health Professions. Members agreed to forward the response to representatives of the Allied Health Professions.
Members noted a response from the Minister about the provision of Health Service dentists.
Members noted a copy of a response from the Minister to Mr Roy Thompson about Inver House, Larne.
Members noted responses from the Chief Executives of the five Health and Social Care Trusts on C Difficile and agreed that these should be added to record of their evidence to the Committee on 14 February 2008.
7. Consideration of Proposed Statutory Rules deferred 28 February 2008.
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules that had been deferred from the Committee meeting on 28 February 2008.
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
At an earlier informal meeting Members had confirmed that representatives of Healthcare trade unions were content with the proposals. Members agreed they were content that the Department proceeds to prepare the relevant Statutory Rules.
Members were briefed on the Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and the position of the Fire and Rescue Service on recovering the cost of attendance at accidents from any subsequent compensation by:
Joyce Bill Finance Policy and Accounting Unit
Stephen Popplestone Finance Policy and Accounting Unit
Heather Robinson Public Safety Unit
Officials agreed to provide the Committee with details of a review on recovering the cost of attendance at accidents by the Fire and Rescue Service in due course. Members agreed they were content that the Department proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.
8. Proposals for Statutory Rules.
The Committee were briefed on a proposal for a Statutory Rule: the Health and Personal Social Services (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 by:
Ray Martin Department of Health, Social Services & Public safety
Dean Looney Department of Health, Social Services & Public safety
Members agreed they were content that the Department proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule. The Committee agreed that it should consider the issue of free personal care for the elderly at a later date.
9. Statutory Rule SR2008/42 the Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee considered the content of SR2008/42 the Condensed Milk and Dried Milk (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule.
Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest, stating for the record that he was a shareholder in a dairy company.
4.53 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
10. Statutory Rule SR 2008/41 the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/41 the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule.
11 Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases
Members noted a a copy of Westminster Defence Committee’s recent report into Medical Care for the Armed Forces
The Committee noted a letter from Brendan McKeever from the Family Information Group about funding.
Members noted a letter from Business in the Community and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a letter from the Mental Health and Learning Disability Alliance and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from CINI to the Minister.
The Committee noted a letter from the Prosthetic Forum about the staffing of Physiotherapy Services, RDS, Musgrave Park Hospital.
Members noted a letter from Peter Robinson MLA about the treatment received by a constituent at Musgrave Park Hospital. Members agreed to forward this to the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust for a response.
Members noted a letter from Ian Paisley Jr MLA about the treatment received by a constituent at Antrim Area Hospital. Members agreed to forward this to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust for a response.
The Committee noted a letter from the Climate Change Coalition and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a letter from the Participation Network and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
The Committee noted a letter from Strabane District Council about the implementation of an Autism Strategy and Action Plan.
Members noted a letter from Autism Northern Ireland about the work of Congressman Chris Smith in relation to autism.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about concerns raised by a briefing note from Unison about South West Hospitals PFI Project.
Members noted the updated Forward Work Programme for the Public Accounts Committee.
The Committee noted a press release from the BMA.
Members noted an e mail and correspondence from a number of Southern Trust Staff and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.
12 Any other business
Member agreed to host a reception for health related groups in the Long Gallery on Monday 21 April 2008.
Members agreed to meet to discuss the Committees Forward Work Programme on Thursday 3 April 2008 at 1.15p.m in the Members Private Dining Room.
The Committee agreed ask to the Minister for a written response to issues that there had not been time to discuss at the meeting.
Members agreed to write to the Department about recent reports on the effectiveness of anti depressant drugs.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 13 March 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.05 p.m.
Signed:
Chairperson
Date: