COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Claire McGill MLA
Mrs 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 Supervisor)
Apologies: Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.34 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
On behalf of the Committee the Chairperson congratulated Alex Easton on his recent marriage.
Members agreed to move the start time for future Committee meetings from 2.30 pm to 2.00 pm and that informal meetings would start at 12.45pm.
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Royal Jubilee Liaison Committee. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
The Chairperson briefed Members on her visit to the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital Paediatric Epilepsy Centre in Chicago to visit Billy Caldwell. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister urging him to provide financial support to families who have brought their children to the hospital for treatment.
2.54 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the Meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 3 July 2008
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a breakdown of the cost for the Omagh Hospital Complex and agreed to write to the Minister regarding the cost of the project compared with that of the Downe Hospital.
Members noted a report prepared by the Hospital Campaign for the Rural West.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the MRI scanner at Great Ormond Street Hospital and agreed to write to the Minister regarding this and arrange a Committee visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Members noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Mr Roy Bailie about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and agreed to copy the response to Mr Bailie.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about epilepsy services in Northern Ireland and agreed to copy the response to the Joint Epilepsy Council.
Members noted correspondence from the Beechgrove Glencregagh Residents Association and the Minister about the proposed adolescent inpatient unit at Forster Green Hospital.
The Committee noted a summary of the concerns expressed by the Independent Review Team about Middletown Centre for Autism.
Members noted a response from the Minister about the resignation of three consultants at Altnagelvin Hospital and agreed to write to Minister asking what provision has been made to maintain services to patients.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the investigation into the Listeriosis outbreak in the Belfast Trust area.
Members noted a response from the Minister about maternity services at Antrim Area Hospital in the aftermath of the tragic death of baby Paul O’Neill.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the use of penalty clauses in PFI/ PPP contracts.
Members noted a letter from the Minister about proposals to amend section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) in relation to aiding and abetting suicide.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the proposed Regional Children & Women’s Hospital. Members agreed to invite officials from the Department and the Belfast Trust to brief them on the progress of the plans and to visit the maternity and children’s hospitals. The committee also agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of the Health and Safety report. The Committee agreed to consider tabling a committee motion on the issue.
Members noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Councillor Diane Dodds about the treatment of Scott Campbell and agreed to copy the response to Councillor Dodds.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister thanking the Committee for its response to the draft Sexual Health Promotion Strategy.
Members noted a response from the Minister about the Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Committee request to make unannounced hospital visits and agreed to raise the issue again with the Minister. Members also agreed to discuss the matter when they meet with the RQIA. Members agreed to defer putting down a committee motion on the issue.
Members noted a copy of the Minister’s response to a letter from Bumblebee Nursery.
The Committee noted a copy of the Minister’s response to a letter from the Committee for Employment & Learning about cross cutting disability issues.
Members noted a letter from the Minister about plans to close St Johns House residential home in Downpatrick.
The Committee noted a response has been received from the Minister to issues raised by Peter Robinson MP concerning Ms E Davidson and agreed to copy the letter to Mr Robinson.
Members noted a response from the Minister about neighbourhood renewal strategy - people and places and agreed to forward this to the Social Development Committee.
The Committee noted a letter has been received from the Department to inform Members of an error in the evidence given to the Committee during a briefing about the Travelling Expenses & Remission of Charges (Amendment No.2) Regs (NI) 2008.
Members noted a report on the Committee visit to Perinatal Psychiatry unit, Glasgow and agreed to press the Department to provide this facility. The Committee agreed to include the issue in any committee motion on the proposed Regional Women & Children’s Hospital.
The Committee noted a booklet ‘Improving Stroke Services in Northern Ireland’.
Members noted a copy of a response from the Northern Trust to issues raised by Mr John Bradley.
5. Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
Briefing on the provisions of the Bill
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Bernard Mitchell Modernisation Unit, DHSSPS
Ivan McMaster Modernisation Unit, DHSSPS
Craig Allen Modernisation Unit, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.27 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.44 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.07 p.m. meeting adjourned
4.22 p.m. meeting resumed.
6. SR 2008/256: Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/256: Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
7. SR 2008/260: The Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/260: The Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
8. SR 2008/292: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No2) Regulations (NI) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/292: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No2) Regulations (NI) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
9. SR 2008/333: The Public Health (Ships) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/333: The Public Health (Ships) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
10. SR 2008/350: Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Additional Voluntary Contributions, Injury Benefits and Compensation for Premature Retirement)
(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/350: Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Additional Voluntary Contributions, Injury Benefits and Compensation for Premature Retirement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
11. SR 2008/346: The Establishments and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Members were briefed on SR 2008/ 346 by:
Eilish McDaniel DHSSPS
Sean Holland DHSSPS
Fergal Bradley DHSSPS
Members expressed serious concerns about the unacceptable risk to children and vulnerable adults presented by the introduction of the legislation. The Committee deferred consideration of the Statutory Rule and agreed to invite witnesses from the Northern Ireland Office in relation to the work of Access NI.
12. Proposed Statutory Instrument
Members noted that the Secretary of State intends to make a Statutory Instrument, the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 2008. These Regulations will allow, subject to certain conditions, prescriptions written by doctors or dentists in other EEA states, other than Switzerland, to be dispensed in the UK.
Members were briefed on the Responsible Pharmacist Regulations by
Tom Robinson DHSSPS
Shona Coy DHSSPS
Christine Jendoubi DHSSPS
The committee noted the statutory instrument but expressed concerns about provisions that allow Pharmacists to leave pharmacy without cover.
Members agreed to write to the Minister noting that the power existed to make local regulations and inquire why these hadn’t been used.
5.15 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
5.20 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
5.24 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
13. Proposal for Statutory Rules
Members were briefed on the proposal to make The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. and The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 by:
Mervyn Briggs Local Authority Unit, Food Standards Agency
Members agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare these Statutory Rules.
Members were briefed on The General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No 3) Regulations (NI) 2008 by:
Ernie Swain DHSSPS
Christine Jendoubi DHSSPS
Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare these Statutory Rules.
Members were briefed on The Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 by:
Robert Kirkwood DHSSPS
Christine Jendoubi DHSSPS
Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.
14. Consultations
The Committee noted consultations for Children and young people with complex physical healthcare needs, Improving governance of controlled drugs and the Service framework for cardiovascular health & wellbeing and agreed to ask the Department to report back to the Committee with the results of the consultations.
The Committee agreed to ask the Department to extend the deadline for consultation on the Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland and agreed to arrange an additional meeting to consider this issue.
15. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a letter from Evan Bates about a report he completed for the Belfast Trust on patterns & trends in the use of hospital services in Northern Ireland between 1998 & 2007.
Members noted an anonymous letter about the behaviour of NHS consultants and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Disability Action to the Minister regarding free car-parking for patients & visitors across hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Members noted a letter from Queens University, Belfast about research into patient’s choice agenda in Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a letter from Rethink about Changes to the organisation.
Members agreed to forward a letter from Grace Digney to The Southern Health & Social Care Trust for a response.
The Committee noted a letter from the Ulster Cancer Foundation.
Members noted an invitation from Inside Government to an Alcohol & Young People event.
The Committee noted a letter from the Derry Detox Support Group seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from the Northern Ireland M.E Association requesting a meeting and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from the Belfast Health Initiative requesting a meeting and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from Rethink requesting a meeting and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting.
Members noted the Public Accounts Committee Forward Work Programme.
Members noted an invitation from Lifelong Learning.
Members noted an invitation from Ambulance Service to their Annual General Meeting.
The Committee noted the minutes of the Eastern Health & Social Services Board meeting held on 14th August 2008.
Members noted documents received from the General Medical Council.
The Committee noted a report from Northern Ireland Cancer Registry
Members noted the Drinking Water Quality Report 2007 from Northern Ireland Water.
16. Any other business
The Committee discussed the Committee for Finance & Personnel Inquiry into the Role of the NI Assembly in scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure and agreed that the Committee Clerk should prepare a draft response for consideration at a future meeting.
The Committee noted the Department’s position on the September Monitoring round.
Members noted that the briefing on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome scheduled for the next meeting had been postponed because the main witness was unable to attend.
The Committee agreed to visit Muckamore Abbey Hospital on Thursday 25 September 2008.
Members agreed to invite the Faculty of Homeopathy to brief the Committee.
Members agreed to invite the National Osteoporosis Society to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted the ongoing dispute regarding the Minor Ailments Scheme and agreed to ask the Department to provide an update on negotiations and to invite the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee to brief the Committee.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about the provision of out of hours mental health care in Strabane.
Members agreed to write to the Minister about inconsistencies in the banding under Agenda for Change.
17. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 18 September 2008 at 2.00pm in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.02 pm.
03 July 08 / Menu