COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 23 October 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
Mr Sam Gardiner, MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs 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)
Mr Rodney Aiken (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.03 pm in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
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Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson reported that informal lunchtime meetings had taken place earlier today with consultants from Erne and Tyrone County Hospitals and with representatives of the Western Innovations Network. A note of the meetings will be circulated in due course.
Members noted the Minister’s statement on Tuesday announcing the outcome of the Independent Review of the C Difficile outbreak in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and his intention to hold a public inquiry. Members agreed to invite the RQIA to brief the Committee at next weeks meeting.
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Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 9 October 2008
The minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Committee noted the key points of meetings held with health related Groups on 30 September and agreed to follow up issues raised. Members expressed thanks to all those who had attended.
The Committee noted a summary of the keys points from a meeting with the College of Speech and Language Therapists and agreed to follow up the issues raised with the Minister.
Members noted a press release from the Department regarding NICE guidelines on antenatal & postnatal mental health services.
The Committee expressed concerns about possible frontline job losses in the Health Service as a result of the efficiency savings proposals and agreed to invite the main healthcare unions to brief Members.
2.12 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.13 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
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Hospital Car Parking Charges
The Committee discussed hospital car parking charges and agreed to prepare a motion calling for the introduction of free hospital car parking.
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Proposed Statutory Rule
Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Optical Charges & Payments (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by:
Mr Ernie Swain General Dental and Ophthalmic Services Branch
Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.
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Clause by Clause consideration of the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill
The following witnesses attended:
Bernard Mitchell Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Ivan McMaster Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Craig Allen Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Michael McBride Chief Medical OfficerThe Chief Medical Officer provided the Committee with an update on screening for breast cancer.
The Chairperson referred Members to the legislation & copy of responses received from relevant bodies. The committee commenced clause by clause consideration of the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill at Clause 12.
2.28 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
2.35 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
Clause 12 (The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being)
Clause 12 deferred. TheDepartment is to provide further information.
Schedule 2 (The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being)
Schedule 2 deferred.
Clause 13 (Functions of RAPHSW)
Clause 13 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
3.09 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.14 p.m. Dr Michael McBride left the meeting.
3.14 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
Clause 14 (The Regional Support Services Organisation)
Clause 14 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
3.15 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
3.15 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey took the Chair.
Schedule 3 (The Regional Support Services Organisation)
Schedule 3 deferred.
Clause 15 (Functions of RSSO)
Clause 15 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
3.20 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson rejoined the meeting & resumed the chair.
Clause 16 (The Patient and Client Council)
Clause 16 deferred
3.26 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
Schedule 4 (The Patient and Client Council)
Schedule 4 deferred
Clause 17 (Functions of the Patient and Client Council)
Clause 17 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
Clause 18 (Duty to co-operate with the Patient and Client Council)
Clause 18 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
3.32 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
Clause 19 (Public involvement and consultation)
Clause 19 deferred
3.39 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
Clause 20 (Public involvement: consultation schemes)
Clause 20 deferred
Clause 21 (Duty on HSC trusts in relation to improvement of health and social well-being)
Clause 21 deferred
Clause 22 (Public-private partnerships)
Clause 22 deferred
Clause 23 (Schemes for transfer of assets and liabilities)
Clause 23 deferred
Clause 24 (Transfer of functions of Health and Social Services Boards)
Clause 24 deferred
Clause 25 (Transfer of functions of the Mental Health Commission)
Clause 25 deferred
Clause 26 (Transfer of functions of Central Services Agency)
Clause 26 deferred
Clause 27 (Amendment of statutory and other references to dissolved bodies, etc)
Clause 27 deferred
Clause 28 (Dissolution of special agencies)
Clause 28 deferred
Clause 29 (Orders, regulations, guidance and directions)
Clause 29 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
Clause 30 (Further provision)
Clause 30 deferred
Clause 31 (Interpretation)
Clause 31 deferred
Clause 32 (Minor and consequential amendments)
Clause 32 deferred
Clause 33 (Repeals)
Clause 33 deferred
Clause 34 (Commencement)
Clause 34 deferred
Clause 35 (Short title)
Clause 35 deferred
Schedule 5 (Transfer of assets, etc)
Schedule 5 deferred
Schedule 6 (Minor and consequential amendments)
Schedule 6 deferred
Schedule 7 (Repeals)
Schedule 7 deferred
The Committee agreed to continue formal consideration of Bill at its next meeting. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Members agreed a motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill to 5 December 2007.
3.42 p.m. Committee meeting adjourned.
3.42 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left meeting.
3.42 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.58 p.m. Committee meeting resumed.
3.58 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
4.07 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
4.24 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
4.25 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
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Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee discussed The National Autistic Society in Northern Ireland’s 'I Exist' campaign and agreed that a letter regarding autism should be forwarded to the Minister and that the Committee should arrange a visit to a project for autistic adults.
The Committee noted a letter from the Construction Industry Group requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a letter from Optometry NI providing an update on the role of Optometry in a primary care setting.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from Claire O’Neill about screening of newborn children for medical conditions to the Minister for a response.
Members noted an e mail from Davis Gilmore about recently announced cuts to nursing staff.
The Committee noted a letter from the General Medical Council about the latest issue of GMC today.
Members noted a letter from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf about their Impact Report 2008.
The Committee noted an invitation to Advice NI’s annual meeting.
Members noted an invitation from the General Medical Council to a seminar.
The committee noted a letter from Northern Ireland Opposing Masts (NIOM) requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting with the Committee.
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Any other business
The Committee discussed the provision of sign language interpreters for students and agreed to pursue the issue through the Committee for Employment and Learning.
Members agreed to invite Help the Aged to the Committee’s next informal meeting.
The Committee noted a programme for the Committee visit to The Royal Children’s Hospital and Maternity Hospital on 23 October 2008.
The Committee agreed to invite the Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service to brief them on the provision of ambulance services in the Omagh Area.
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Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Friday, 17 October 2008 at 10.30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.37 pm.
Signed: ______________________________
Chairperson
Date: ________________________________