COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 14 May 2009
Room 135, 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
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 David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.02 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson informed Members that the proposed visit by the Committee for Health & Children from the Dáil had been postponed to a later date.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 30 April 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister about maternity services in Northern Ireland and agreed to copy this to Mr Declan Quinn who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister about the use of ambulance rapid response vehicles and agreed to copy this to Mr Oliver McMullan who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister about issues raised by the Stroke Association and agreed to write to the Stroke Association seeking their views on the Minister’s response.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister providing the Committee with an update on the codes of practice produced by the Human Tissue Authority.
The Committee noted a response from the Western Trust about the provision of respite care for children with learning disabilities in the Omagh and Fermanagh area. Members agreed to write again to the Trust for further information and to write to the Minister for an update on the implementation of the Bamford report.
The Committee noted a response from Aware Defeat Depression regarding mental health care in Northern Ireland and agreed to forward the letter to the Minister for a response and copy the original correspondence to Aware Defeat Depression.
The Committee noted the issues relating to seven statutory rules highlighted in the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
The Committee noted letters from the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee (PCC) and TEVA UK about the central tendering for generic medicines and agreed to ask the Minister to respond to the issues raised.
The Committee noted a response from the Department about the vacant paediatric neurologist post at Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.
The Committee noted a response from the Department about the provision of coronary care services at Downe Hospital.
The Committee welcomed an update from Dr Maura Briscoe on the situation at Lakeview Hospital in the Western Health & Social Care Trust.
The Committee noted a Departmental press release announcing an investment in dental services. Members welcomed the development and agreed to write to the Minister regarding a timescale for implementation of the services and urging him to liaise with the Department of the Environment on possible planning issues.
5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity
Evidence session with the Public Health Agency
Members took evidence from:
Dr Eddie Rooney Chief Executive, Public Health Agency
Dr Carolyn Harper Director of Public Health, Public Health Agency
Ms Gerry Bleakney Health Promotion Commissioner, Public Health Agency
Before the evidence on obesity Dr Rooney and Dr Harper updated the Committee on Swine Flu. Following the presentation on obesity a question and answer session ensued. The witnesses also advised on the implementation of a recommendation by the Committee on suicide & self harm. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.26 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
3.10 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
3.11 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
6.Statutory Rules
Statutory Rule: SR 2009/ 167. The Purity Criteria for Colours , Sweeteners and Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee considered the content of SR 2009/ 167. The Purity Criteria for Colours , Sweeteners and Miscellaneous Food Additives Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009and had no objection to the Rule.
3.16 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
Statutory Rule: SR 2009/ 186. The Charges for Drugs & Appliances & Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Members were briefed on the Charges for Drugs & Appliances & Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Shona Coy DHSSPS
Edmond McCosh DHSSPS
The Committee considered the content of SR 2009/ 186. The Charges for Drugs & Appliances & Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule. The Witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
7. Proposals for Statutory Rules
Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:
Seamus Camplisson Population Health Directorate, DHSSPS
Richard Price Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
Raymond Anderson Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
3.20 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.25 p.m. Meeting resumed in closed session
Closed Session
8. Evidence session with Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
Members took evidence from:
Colin Lammey Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
A question and answer session ensued. The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on sub judice implications. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
3.30 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
9. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a letter from Thomas Buchanan MLA seeking a meeting with the Committee on behalf of Miss Lisa Walker regarding funding for surgery and agreed to write to the Minister about funding for this specialist surgery and invite Miss Walker to the next Committee reception.
The Committee noted a letter from the General Medical Council regarding progress towards the introduction of the licence to practise in 2009.
The Committee noted a letter from the Professor Peter Rubin introducing himself as the new Chair of the General Medical Council.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the implementation of Sir David Varney’s second report.
The Committee noted a letter from the Niamh Louise Foundation regarding funding negotiations and agreed to write to the Southern Health & Social Care Trust about the issue.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding an inquiry they are carrying out into the Dioxin Incident in December 2008.
The Committee noted a copy of a report produced by the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding frauds perpetrated by George Brangam against the Health and Personal Social Services.
The Committee noted a request for submissions to an inquiry on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes being carried out by the House of Lords European Union Committee. The Committee agreed that it would not make a submission.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Education regarding a briefing from Love for Life regarding promotion of school-based Relationships and Sexuality Education and agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.
The Committee noted a letter from Environment Link about its publication ‘Policy Priorities for Northern Ireland’s Environment – The Way Ahead 2009’.
The Committee noted a letter from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry about a report “Monitoring care of Lung cancer patients in Northern Ireland diagnosed 2006’’.
The Committee noted a letter from Dr David Alderdice seeking a meeting with the Committee about the delivery of dermatology services in Northern Ireland and agreed to invite him to the next Committee reception.
The Committee noted an information guide from the General Medical Council regarding licensing.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment about Departmental contribution to climate change targets and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.
The Committee noted details of the non-executive directors of the new Health and Social Care bodies appointed recently by the Minister.
10. Any other business
The Deputy Chairperson reminded Members of a round table research event taking place on Tuesday 19 May as part of the Committee’s inquiry into obesity.
11. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 21 May 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.01 p.m.