COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 30 April 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Render (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.03pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson informed the Committee that the evidence session with the Public Health Agency had been postponed until a future date because of the agency’s involvement in the Swine Flu alert.
3. Committee Inquiry into Obesity, Evidence session with Sport NI
Members took evidence from:
Eamonn McCartan Chief Executive, Sport NI
John News Participation Manager, Sport NI
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.00 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.07 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4. Proposals for Statutory Rules
Members were briefed on proposals to update the Legislative Framework for the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and on the Responsible Officer Regulations by:
Norman Morrow Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS
Joyce Cairns Workforce Planning, DHSSPS
Paddy Woods Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Members noted that proposals on the legislative framework were being developed in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and that public consultation would follow. Members agreed that the Department could proceed to the next stage of the proposals. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
Members were briefed on the Pharmaceutical Services and Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Tom Robinson Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS
Edmund McCosh Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS
Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare these Regulations. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
3.22 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
3.22 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
3.22 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
3.38 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Mr John McCallisterjoined the meeting.
5. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 23 April 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2009 were agreed.
6. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Northern Trust regarding procedures for serious adverse incidents and agreed to forward a copy of the procedures to the Royal College of Midwives.
The Committee noted a response from the Western Trust about hospital menus and agreed to include this information in the Committee report on obesity.
The Committee noted an interim response from the South Eastern Trust about hospital menus .
The Committee noted a consultation paper from the Department on the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
The Committee noted a report on the Committee visit to Queens University and agreed to organise an evidence session following the end of the Department’s consultation on the Supplement for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the use of Life Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming in the treatment of people with mental illness and agreed to forward a copy to Mrs Gillian Killen who raised the issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the effect on members of the Psychological Society of Ireland resulting from changes to the statutory regulation of psychologists in the UK and agreed to copy this to Dr Gallagher who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Mr Kevin Taylor and agreed to copy this to Mr Taylor.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about ambulance services in the Western Trust area.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chief Fire Officer regarding circumstances following the death of Firefighter Paul O’Brien and agreed to invite the Chief Fire Officer to brief the Committee in closed session.
The Committee agreed to invite Dr Una Lynch from Queens University Belfast to brief the Committee as part of its inquiry into obesity.
3.52 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
7. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases
The Committee noted a submission from the Foods Standards Agency Northern Ireland to the Committee Inquiry into obesity.
The Committee noted a letter from Brendan McConville seeking a meeting with the Committee about the Buddy Bear School for children with special educational needs and agreed to invite the group to the next Committee reception for health related groups. Members also agreed to write to the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety, the Minister for Education and to copy correspondence to the First Minister & deputy First Minister.
The Committee noted an e-mail from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) regarding their draft guidance on working with parents with mental health problems and their children.
The Committee noted an e-mail from Barry Turley on behalf of Early Years seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to arrange a joint briefing with the Committee for Education.
The Committee noted a letter from the Nechama project seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next Committee reception for health related groups
The Committee noted correspondence from Dominic Bradley MLA seeking a meeting with the Committee about legislation that he is planning to introduce on autism. Members agreed that a briefing should be arranged.
The Committee noted an e mail from the Elder Abuse Coalition seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next Committee reception for health related groups
8. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to write to SOS bus regarding funding arrangements.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding the waiting times at Accident and Emergency Units in Northern Ireland.
The Committee agreed to write to the South Eastern Trust regarding inconsistent pay bandings under Agenda for Change. Members also agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.
4.04 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.18 p.m. Meeting resumed.
9. Briefing on the Swine Flu Alert by the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Members were briefed by:
Michael McGimpsey Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Michael McBride Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS
Carolyn Harper Director of Public Health, Public Health Agency
Theo Nugent General Practitioner
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
10. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 7 May 2009 at 2.00pm in room 135 , Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.58 p.m.