COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner 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)
Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson provided the Committee with an update on her visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital to examine the level of care available for children with intractable epilepsy. A report of the visit will be circulated.
The Committee agreed that in the absence of the Chairperson Mr Alex Easton would accompany the Deputy Chairperson on a fact finding visit to Chicago to examine treatment available for children with intractable epilepsy.
The Committee agreed to cancel the Committee meeting on Thursday 19 March as the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would not be available on that date.
2.02 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 26 February 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister providing information on the implications of the Baby P case for Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) and agreed to forward the letter to the Council.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Social Development providing more detail on tree planting schemes for 2008/09 & 2009/10.
The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust providing a copy of their updated policy for ‘Self Discharge contrary to Medical Advice’.
The Committee noted a letter from Nursing Staff at Lagan Valley Hospital expressing concerns about the removal of services at the hospital.
The Committee noted a response from Action Mental Health about mental health services in Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a report from the examiner of Statutory Rules highlighting defects with the drafting of the Establishments and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and that the Department has agreed to introduce further legislation to correct the defect.
5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity
Evidence session with Departmental officials
Members took evidence from:
Andrew Elliott Director of Population Health
Naresh Chada Senior Medical Officer
Rob Phipps Health Development Branch
David Galloway Acting Director of Secondary Care
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.08 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
2.12 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting .
2.30 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
2.40 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
2.57 p.m. Ms Sue Ramseyleft the meeting.
3.05 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
Evidence session with Action Cancer
Members took evidence from:
Geraldine Kerr Acting Chief Executive, Action Cancer
Caroline Hughes Research & Evaluation Officer, Action Cancer
Treasa Rice Health Promotion Manager, Action Cancer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.06 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
3.14 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.20 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
3.43 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
3.53 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
6. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/56: The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee considered the content SR 2009/56: The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule.
9. Proposals for Statutory Rules
Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Janet Moore DHSSPS
The witness agreed to provide the Committee with additional information on the Statutory Rule. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witness for attending. Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
10. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a Press Release from the Faculty of Homeopathy on the integration of complementary medicine into NHS primary care.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the NI Association of Homeopaths to the Minister regarding the Integrated Medicine Pilot Programme 2007 – 2008.
The Committee noted a letter from John Brennan regarding the closure of Greenfield home in Strabane and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response to the issues raised.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Participation Network about courses they are organising on ‘Including children and young people in public decision making’.
The Committee noted an invitation from Early Years, Barnardos and Autism NI to an event on autism taking place in the Long Gallery on Wednesday 11 March.
The Committee noted a letter from Armagh City & District Council about their intention to deliver a petition about proposed hospital closures in the Southern Trust on Tuesday 10 March. The Committee agreed that the Deputy Chairperson would accept this petition and a petition about Greenfield Home in Strabane on behalf of the Committee.
3.50 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagherleft the meeting.
11. Any other business
The Deputy Chairperson reminded Members that a Committee reception for healthcare related groups would be held on Tuesday 10 March.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about services at Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh before considering whether to invite the Trust to the Committee.
3.55 p.m. Mr Sam Gardinerleft the meeting.
3.55 p.m. Mrs Claire McGillleft the meeting.
3.55 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
11. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 12 March 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.05 p.m.