COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Room 135, 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
Mr Sam Gardiner, MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.05 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Sam Gardiner to his first Committee meeting and invited him to declare any relevant interests. Mr Gardiner declared he had no relevant interests. The Chairperson recorded her thanks to Dr Robert Coulter who has left the Committee.
The Chairperson reported that informal lunchtime meetings had taken place earlier today with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and with the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee. A note of the meetings will be circulated in due course. Members agreed to write to the Minister about the impasse on the minor ailments scheme.
Members noted a letter from the Minister agreeing an extension to the consultation on the Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy and agreed to postpone an additional meeting to consider the Guidance until Friday 17 October 08 to allow Departmental officials to attend.
Members noted that the Select Committee on Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland plan to visit Belfast in the New Year and agreed that a joint meeting should be arranged.
2.08 p.m. Ms Claire McGill left the meeting
2.11 p.m. Ms Claire McGill rejoined the meeting
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 September 2008
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2008were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a summary of the key points arising out of the informal meeting with the Royal Jubilee Liaison Committee.
The Committee noted a copy of a presentation on the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
The Committee noted a copy of the Minutes of the Western Health & Social Services Council meeting on 6 June 08.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister giving details of organisational changes in the Department.
The Committee noted the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules on seven proposed Statutory Rules which had been considered by the Committee at the two previous meetings. Members agreed that they had no objection to the Statutory Rules.
5. Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
Evidence session with the Central Services Agency
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Stephen Hodkinson Chief Executive, Central Services Agency.
Jacqueline Kennedy Director of Human Resources and Corporate Services
Paula Sheils Director of Family Practitioner Services
A question and answer session ensued. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.12 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
2.26 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.
2.30 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.32 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.49 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
6. Evidence session with the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding the Ombudsman’s report on a Complaint against Belfast City Hospital
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
William McKee Chief Executive, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Tony Stevens Medical Director, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.00 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
3.04 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
3.33 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
7. SR 2008/346: The Establishment and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Ronnie Armour Northern Ireland Office
Tom Clarke General Manager, AccessNI
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/346: The Establishment and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule.
4.13 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.15 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4.17 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.19 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
8. SR 2008/377: The Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
John McCord Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS
John Farrell Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/377: The Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) 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. Proposed Statutory Rule
Members were briefed on the proposal to make The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Mervyn Briggs Local Authority Unit, Food Standards Agency
Members agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
10. Consultations
The Committee noted a consultation on Responsible Officers and agreed toask the Department to report back to the Committee with the results of the consultation.
11. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a letter from Silent No More Awareness about Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland.
Members noted a copy of a letter from consultants in the Belfast Trust to the Minister about the decision to implement an immunisation programme against the Human Papilloma Virus. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about the choice of vaccine to be used.
The Committee noted a letter from Karly Greene about concerns over mental health issues and agreed to refer her to the Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm.
Members noted documents received from the General Medical Council.
The Committee noted a report from the Health Foundation.
Members noted the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s Annual Report and Statements of Accounts 2007/2008.
The Committee noted a letter from BAAF requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the committee.
12. Any other business
Members noted that there will be a Committee reception for eighteen health related groups on Tuesday next 30 September 2008 from 4.00 to 6.30 pm.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 25 September 2008 at 2.00pm in the Seminar Room, Muckamore Abbey Hospital.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.40 pm.
Signed:
Chairperson
Date