COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 26 November 2009
Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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 Carmel Hanna MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.02 pm in public session .
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place today with the Royal College of Nursing and that a report on this meeting will be prepared for the next Committee meeting.
The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee meeting on Thursday 10 th December would be an all day meeting to take evidence on the RQIA reports on child protection review.
The Chairperson informed members that as part of its e media monitoring coverage, the Assembly’s Communications Office is now collating news stories and information throughout the day which may be of interest to specific Committee members. Members agreed that they should receive these by e mail.
The Committee noted a weekly briefing paper from the Department on Swine Flu.
2.05 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson joined the meeting.
2.05 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 19 November 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2009 wereagreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the implementation of a card before you leave scheme recommended by the Committee inquiry into suicide and self harm andagreed to forward a copy to PIPs who raised the issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about difficulties experienced by visually impaired people reading appointment notifications andagreed to copy this response to RNIB who raised the issue with the Committee. The Committee alsoagreed to write to each Trust about this matter and to invite RNIB to an informal meeting with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the 2009/10 fire & rescue service pay award andagreed to copy the response to the Fire Brigades Union seeking their views.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the outcome of a meeting between officials and stakeholders regarding access to services for sufferers of ME/CFS andagreed to write to the Department asking it to keep the Committee informed of progress on this matter.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about potential discrepancies in the assessment of progress between the Department and Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for PSA targets where the Department is in the lead.
The Committee noted responses from the Minister for Employment & Learning and the Minister for Culture Arts & Leisure about proposed autism legislation.
The Committee noted further information from the Department about Health & Social Care complaint procedures.
The Committee noted correspondence from NI campaign for ME/CFS to the Department.
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules was content with the technical aspects of S.R. 2009/348 The Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Department on proposals to with draw the PSA 6 target to reduce the number of children in care by 12% by 2011 andagreed to forward this to children’s charities seeking their views on this matter.
The Committee noted a report on an informal meeting with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
5. Evidence sessions on hygiene and infection control in the Belfast Trust
Evidence session with the Regulation Quality Improvement Authority
The Committee took evidence from
Glenn Houston Chief Executive
Phelim Quinn Director of Operations and Chief Nurse Advisor
Liz Colgan Senior Inspector Infection Prevention/Hygiene
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.25 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting.
3.17 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.21 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.32 p.m. Meeting resumed.
Evidence Session with Mr G Bond
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Gerald Bond
Dr John Burton
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Evidence session with Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
The Committee took evidence from
Dr Tony Stevens Medical Director, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Nikki Patterson Acting Director of Nursing, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Mr Ian Jamison Head of Patient, Client and Support Services, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information.
4.40 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
4.40 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
5.26 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
5.46 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
6. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from National Energy Action NI seeking a meeting with the Committee andagreed to invite the group to the next Committee reception for healthcare related groups.
The Committee noted correspondence from Dr David Alderdice, Consultant Dermatologist following on from issues raised at the informal meeting held on 13 th October 2009 andagreed to write to the Health & Social Care Trusts about the issues raised.
The Committee noted correspondence from the independent review of the Dioxin Incident in 2009/10 andagreed to forward a copy of evidence taken by the Committee on this matter to the review. The Committee also agreed to write to the Minister asking what information the Department would be providing to the review.
The Committee noted correspondence from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke and the British Heart Foundation seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding cardiac rehabilitation services in Northern Ireland andagreed to invite the group to an informal lunch.
The Committee noted a consultation document from the Department on the guidance for patients who wish to pay for additional private care andagreed to ask the Department to brief the Committee on the result of the consultation.
7. Proposals for Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the Health and Personal Social Services (Reimbursement of EEA Treatment) Regulations (NI) 2009 andagreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on this matter.
The Committee considered the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 andagreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
The Committee considered the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2009 andagreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
5.47 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
8. Forward Work Programme.
The Committee discussed a forward work programme andagreed to defer consideration of care packages until after the Easter recess, arrange a visit to study best practice regarding Safeguarding. Members alsoagreed to hold a briefing with Relate as an informal lunchtime meeting and prepare a rota for member’s attendance at informal meetings.
9. Any other business
The Committeeagreed a Committee motion on hospital hygiene.
The Committeeagreed to write to the Chief Executive of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding giving evidence to the Committee
The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on the issues raised in the evidence session with Mr Bond.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding Committee members making unannounced inspections of hospital facilities.
The Committee agreed to write to the RQIA regarding the delay publishing unannounced hygiene inspection reports.
10. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 3 rd December 2009 at 2.30pm in the seminar room, Northern Ireland Hospice, Somerton House.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.13 p.m.