COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 10 December 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
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 9.37am in public session .
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Independent review of child protection in Northern Ireland
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
Fiona Goodman Head of Children's Services
Theresa Nixon Director of Quality Assurance and Chief Social Work Advisor
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
9.40 a.m. Mrs Claire McGill joined the meeting.
9.44 a.m. Mrs Iris Robinson joined the meeting.
9.48 a.m. Mr Alex Easton joined the meeting.
9.52 a.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
10.06 a.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
10.40 a.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
10.46 a.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
10.51 a.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
10.51 a.m. meeting adjourned.
10.57 a.m. meeting resumed.
Evidence session with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Hugh McCaughey Chief Executive
Mrs Kate Thompson Director of Children's Services and Executive Director of Social Work
Mr John Simpson Director of Planning, Information and Performance Management
Mr Seamus McGoran Director of Hospital Services
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
11.38 a.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
Evidence session with the Western Health & Social Care Trust
The Committee took evidence from
Mrs Elaine Way Chief Executive
Mr John Doherty Director of Women & Children's Services (Executive Director of Social Services)
Mrs Deirdre Mahon Assistant Director for Quality and Development
Mr Tom Cassidy Assistant Director Family Support
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
12.12 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
12.42 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
12.54 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
12.57 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
12.58 p.m. meeting adjourned.
2.00 p.m. meeting resumed in room 30, Parliament Buildings.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Members agreed that the Chairperson would represent the Committee at the Ulster Chemists’ Association President’s Ball on Saturday 23 rd January 2010.
The Chairperson informed members of the groups that he would be meeting informally the next day.
The Committee noted a weekly briefing paper from the Department on Swine Flu.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chief Executive of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding his decision not to attend an evidence session on hospital hygiene.
4. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 3 December 2009.
The amended minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2009 were agreed.
5. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the time given to the Committee to consider Statutory Instruments.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Sage report.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister outlining respite services available in Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding dental services.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the detoxification services offered by the Health & Social Care Trusts and agreed to forward this to the Derry Detox Support Group.
The Committee noted a response from Minister about the consultation on the cancer service framework and agreed to forward this to Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Committee noted a response from PSNI about cooperation with the Department on child protection matters.
The Committee noted additional information provided by the Infertility Network following an evidence session on Thursday 12 th November
The Committee noted answers to written questions to the Minister and freedom of information requests to the Trusts providing information on the cost of missed outpatient clinics and the amount of money spent by Trusts on taxis. Members agreed to write to each Trust for a breakdown of the money spend on taxis and the reduction in the number of porters.
The Committee noted that Assembly Research had been unable to find any research on public opinions to air ambulance services in areas were they operate.
6. Briefing from the Health and Social Care Board
The Committee took evidence from
Mr John Compton Chief Executive
Ms Fionnuala McAndrew Director of Social Care and Children
Mr Paul Cummings Director of Finance
Mr Hugh Mullen Director of Performance Management and Service Improvement
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to forward additional questions to the witnesses for a written response.
7. Departmental response to the independent review of child protection in Northern Ireland
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Sean Holland Acting Chief Social Services Officer
Mr Fergal Bradley Head of Child policy Directorate
Ms Christine Smyth Acting Deputy Chief Social Services Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee discussed issues relating to child protection in Northern Ireland and agreed to defer consideration of a motion calling for a public inquiry into the events leading up to the deaths of Lorraine McGovern, Arthur McElhill and their family in November 2007 until the next Committee meeting.
8. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/377 the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee considered SR 2009/377 the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
9. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/394 the Health & Personal Social Services (Prescribing and Charging Amendments Relating to Pandemic Influenza) Regulations (NI) 2009
The Committee considered SR 2009/394 the Health & Personal Social Services (Prescribing and Charging Amendments Relating to Pandemic Influenza) 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.
10. SL1 - The Draft Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered the Draft Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
11. Correspondence.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter copied to the Minister from Mr & Mrs Sloan outlining their concerns regarding care for their disabled son.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department announcing the launch of the Service Framework for Respiratory Health and Wellbeing.
The Committee noted a press release and report from the Department regarding the publication of the NI Waiting List Statistics – September 2009.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Regional Development Committee regarding services for disabled people.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Social Development Committee regarding ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together Green Paper.’
The Committee noted the Departments Service Framework for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Care.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland asking the Committee to make a submission the Department for Regional Development, ‘Regional Transportation Strategy Review.’ The Committee agreed to prepare a submission referring to the recommendations in the Committee’s obesity reports.
12. Committee discussion on RQIA hygiene reports
The Committee discussed a request made by Mr G Bond for it to take action following evidence it had taken on the RQIA hygiene report on wards at the Royal Victoria Hospital. After considering legal advice indicating that the action requested by Mr Bond were not within the Committees remit, it agreed to continue to monitor hospital hygiene and to write to Mr Bond regarding the decision.