COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 25 June 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny 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 Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Allison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Easton MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.06 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 meal for the Select Committee on Health and Children in the Dail had been cancelled.
The Deputy Chairperson paid tribute to the significant contribution that Tommy Gallagher has made to the work of the Committee.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 18 June 2009
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the arrangements for the introduction of new dentists to provide health service dental treatment and agreed to write to the Minister for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the effect of energy saving light bulbs on people suffering from lupus and agreed to copy this to Sammy Wilson MP MLA who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the implementation of the Bamford review and a copy of ‘Delivering the Bamford vision – Action Plan 2009 – 2001’.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister explaining the background to the making of the Charges for Drugs and Appliances and Provision of Health Services to Persons not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 as emergency legislation.
The Committee noted a response from the Southern Trust to issues raised by the Niamh Louise Foundation and agreed forward the response to the Foundation.
The Committee noted a response from the Southern Trust about a research study being carried out by Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster on suicidal behaviour in young men.
The Committee noted a response from the Western Trust providing a sample of hospital menus from the Trust.
The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Trust about the implementation of the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy & Action Plan 2008-2013.
The Committee noted a letter from the NI Association for Mental Health and agreed to arrange a joint meeting with the Committee for Education about a report on the new Mental Health Promotion Strategy in due course.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister providing the Final Draft Abstract from the Autism Bill (NI).
The Committee noted the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
The Committee noted a brief from the Assembly’s caterers on initiatives taken to reduce obesity and agreed to include this paper in the Committee report.
The Committee noted a response from the School of Sports Studies at the University of Ulster about research being carried out on the effects of exercise in reducing obesity.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the cost of transporting nursing staff from Tyrone County Hospital to Erne & Altnagelvin hospitals.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about a Review of the Investing for Health Strategy.
5. Supplement for Undergraduate Medical & Dental Education
Evidence session with Queens University Belfast
Members took evidence from:
Professor Paddy Johnston, Director of the Institute of Health Sciences at Queen's University Belfast
Mr Norman Bennett, Director of Finance, Queens University Belfast
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.35 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.39 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.09 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.12 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.
3.14 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.17 p.m. Meeting resumed.
Evidence session with officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Members took evidence from:
Peter Gregg, Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Paddy Woods, Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Helena Brown, Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.
3.52 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
6. Departmental briefing on Swine Flu
Members took evidence from:
Sloan Harper, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Andree McCollum, Pharmacist, Health and Social Care Board
John Farrell, Primary Care Directorate, Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.39 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
4.49 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
4.53 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
7. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment about the payment of government invoices.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel forwarding evidence taken regarding the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit’s (PEDU) Review of Public Service Agreement (PSA) Delivery.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding the Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice for Members’ information.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister asking for the Committee’s views on of the Children and Young People’s Action Plan and agreed not to make a submission.
The Committee noted a report ‘Drug use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2006/2007 – Drug Prevalence Survey: Polydrug Use Results.’
The Committee noted Safefood’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2007 (NIA 50/08-09).
The Committee noted a report form the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Services, ‘Access to Innovation in Healthcare: Lessons from Devolution: Northern Ireland.’
The Committee noted a copy of CAUSE’s quarterly newsletter.
The Committee noted the spring 2009 edition of ‘Dementia Perspective’
The Committee noted a June 2009 update from the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Agriculture & Rural Development Committee to the Food Standards Agency.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Buddy Bear Trust to the Minister.
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Employment Supported Childcare Voucher Scheme to the Minister.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development seeking the Committee’s views on a consultation document from the Department for Work and Pensions on proposed changes to medical certificates issued by GPs to patients claiming social security benefits and agreed to prepare a response.
8. Any other business
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister about Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation and agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on this matter following recess.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for an update on the services for sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about cardiac risk in young people.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about a report from the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland on the appointment process for Non-Executive Directors to the Public Health Agency.
9. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 2 July 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.58 p.m.