COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 8 October 2009
Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.02 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee would hold an event for healthcare related groups in the Long Gallery on13 th October 2009. Members agreed that groups wishing to attend future events must write formally to the Committee asking for an invitation.
The Chairperson informed members that the committee had been allocated a new meeting room for future meetings.
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Diabetes UK. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
The Committee agreed to invite representatives of the Regional Health & Social Care Board to brief it on the work of the Board.
The Committee agreed that staff should collate the information relating to the closure of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome gathered as a result of written and oral questions.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 1 October 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2009 were agreed.
2.12 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules drawing members attention to drafting defects in the Food Irradiation Regulation (NI) 2009 (SR 2009/258). The Food Standards Agency has confirmed their intention to correct this defect.
The Committee noted a r esponse from the Northern Health & Social Care Trust regarding Comprehensive Spending Review proposals and that the Trust would be briefing members on this matter on the 5 th November. The Committee agreed to write to the Trust for further information and to again write to the Minister to request details of efficiency proposals that had been submitted to the Department.
The Committee noted a r esponse from the Northern Health & Social Care Trust regarding staff suspensions.
The Committee noted a r esponse from the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust regarding staff suspensions and agreed to write to the Trust requesting further information.
The Committee noted a r esponse from the Department regarding the Northern Ireland Office community fund. The Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Office to ask if the fund could be used for local community based health & social care projects. The Committee also agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
5. Evidence session on the Comprehensive Spending Review with trade union representatives.
Members took evidence from:
Lily Kerr Chair, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Kevin McAdam Regional Officer, Unite
Kevin McCabe Joint Secretary, HSC Trade Union Side
Patricia McKeown Regional Secretary, UNISON
Janice Smyth Joint Secretary, HSC Trade Union Side
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a GP.
Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a former Allied Health Professional.
A question and answer session ensued. Witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed to ask the Minister to make a statement on efficiency savings due to the Comprehensive Spending Review.
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would submit an urgent question to the Minister requesting a breakdown by each Health & Social Care Trust of the projected deficit in budget for 2009/10.
The Committee considered a possible Committee motion on the issue of efficiency and deficit budgets in the trusts. Members of the Ulster Unionist Party agreed to reply to the Clerk on the wording by Monday 12 th October.
3.55 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.25 p.m. Meeting resumed.
6. Departmental briefing on Northern Ireland Ambulance Service efficiency savings.
Members took evidence from:
Liam McIvor Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Brian McNeill Director of Operations, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Dr David McManus Medical Director, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
David Galloway Acting Director of Secondary Care, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.31 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
4.52 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
5.00 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
5.02 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
5.10 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
7. Statutory Rule 2009/329: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No.3) Regulations (NI) 2009.
The Committee considered SR 2009/329: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No.3) Regulations (NI) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
8. Proposed Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the Food Supplements and the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
9. Committee report on obesity
The Committeeagreed a Committee motion to have the report debated and approved by the Assembly.
The Committeeagreed an amended press plan for the launch of the report.
10. Consideration of Social Services provision
The Committee deferred consideration of the social services aspects of the Departments remit until a future Committee meeting. The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting additional information.
11. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from PIPS / Greater Shankill Bereaved Families Rights Group seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed that they should be invited to the Committee event on 13 th October.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding the Neurorehabilitation Unit at Foster Green and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking the Committees views on a draft Sustainable Development Strategy. Members agreed to invite the departmental officials to brief the Committee on the Departments policy on this issue and ask Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister to extend the deadline for responding.
12. Any other business
No other business was discussed.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 15 October 2009 at 10.00am in the Senate Chamber , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.32 p.m.