COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS THURSDAY, 18 MARCH 2010
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 Conall McDevitt MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
In Attendance: Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.04 pm in public session .
1. Apologies
Apologies as above
2. Chairperson’s Business.
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would give the keynote address at the RCN Northern Ireland Trauma and Orthopaedics spring conference on Friday 16 April 2010.
The Committee agreed that due to the flight times for the Committee visit to Bolton and Bradford on the 15 th April 2010 overnight accommodation would be arranged for any member who required it.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 March 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 were agreed.
2.09 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted an amended briefing paper on Safeguarding.
The Committee noted an update from the Minister about the introduction of additional dental services.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about Maternity Services and agreed to write to the Department for information regarding the budget for the new hospital.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the effect of efficiency savings on the delivery of cancer care.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to the Royal College of Psychiatrists about the impact of cuts to the health budget on frontline mental health services.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the effect of efficiency savings on Downe Hospital. Members noted that the Minister had used the same paragraphs in a number of letters to the Committee and agreed to write to the Minister regarding this matter, revised expenditure plans and the Ministers priorities for the incoming year.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the withdrawal of the PSA target for children in care and agreed to ask the Department to provide the Committee with a quarterly update on the number of children in care. The Committee also agreed to forward the Ministers response to the children’s charities who had contacted the Committee regarding this issue.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Northern Ireland Counselling Forum and agreed to forward the response to the Forum.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by the Regional Development Committee and agreed to forward this to the Regional Development Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the relevance of the recommendations of the Darzi report to Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Youthlife and agreed to write to the Western Health & Social Care Trust and Western Local Commissioning Group about the issues raised.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about cardiac rehabilitation services and agreed to forward this to the British Heart Foundation and NI Chest Heart & Stroke who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about Plans for Belvoir Park Hospital site and agreed to write to the Minister for additional information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about a proposal that existing disability legislation could be amended to include references to social and communication disability and / or ASD. Members agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister about his matter.
The Committee noted an update from the Minister about the work being carried out by Henry Toner QC to verify the implementation of recommendations made regarding the McElhill/McGovern tragedy.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the timescale for the paper being prepared on historic child abuse case to be brought to the Executive and agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister about his matter.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the availability of Bariatric surgery.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about additional funding for social services and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the formats used for appointments sent to visually impaired patients and the treatment of patients with age related Macular Degeneration in the Western Trust area and agreed to copy the response the RNIB who raised these issues with the Committee.
The Committee noted the key points of an informal meeting with CRISPP on 11 March 2010 and agreed to write to the Department about the issues raised.
5. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland.
Evidence session with Belfast HSC Trust and Southern HSC Trust
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Brian Dornan Director of Children & Young People, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Mr Paul Morgan Assistant Director for Safeguarding, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Lesley Walker Co-Director Family and Child Care Services, BelfastHealth & Social Care Trust
Mr John Growcott Co-Director Social Work/Social Care Governance, BelfastHealth & Social Care Trust
Ms Brenda Creaney Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, BelfastHealth & Social Care Trust
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.48 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
3.33 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
6. Departmental briefing on Proposed Sun Bed Regulations
The Committee took evidence from
Dr Liz Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Mr Nigel McMahon Chief Environmental Health Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.35 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
3.35 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
3.41 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
3.42 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
Mrs Claire McGill made a declaration of interest that she was a district councillor.
Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a district councillor
4.20 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.25 p.m. Meeting resumed.
4.25 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
7. Briefing from Assembly Research on Care Packages
The Committee was briefed by Assembly Research about care packages and agreed to write to the Minister requesting additional information. The Committee agreed to discuss an updated paper at a future Committee meeting.
The Committee agreed to send a copy of the research paper to Age Concern, CRISPP & Carers NI.
4.30 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
4.33 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
4.45 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
4.45 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.
Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a voluntary director of the Loughshore Care Partnership.
4.58 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting and resumed the chair.
5.02 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
5.04 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
5.06 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
5.07 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
5.10 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
5.11 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
8. Statutory Instrument: The Medicines for Human Use (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2010
The Committee noted a statutory instrument the Medicines for Human Use (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2010.
9. Statutory Rule: SR 2010/65. The Health and Personal Social Services (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/65. The Health and Personal Social Services (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
10. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/68. The Draft Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/68. The Draft Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
11. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/71. The Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/71. The Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule
12. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/72. The Pharmaceutical Services (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/72. The Pharmaceutical Services (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
13. Proposed Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
14. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding a proposed ad hoc joint committee to undertake a strategic review of support for carers. Members agreed to forward information gathered by the Committee on this subject to the Committee for Finance and Personnel and request further information. The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this matter until a future Committee meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding the effects of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields. The Committee agreed to request an update on this work from the Department and to forward a copy of the SAGE paper it considered at its meeting on 12 th November 2009 to the Committee for the Environment.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding the operation of a Bike to Work scheme and agreed to forward this to the Minister and ask for the response to be copied to the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the British Heart Foundation to the Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans for Northern Ireland Departments.
The Committee noted a copy of a response to the proposed autism bill by Dr. Karola Dillenburger and agreed to forward this to the All Party Group on Autism.
The Committee noted correspondence from the General Medical Council regarding a consultation on the revalidation of doctors.
15. Any other business
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding concerns that it was not notified about a review of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service being carried out by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for an update on the funding of the Desertcreat College.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department an update on the Feasibility study on midwife lead maternity unit in Omagh.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information on residence orders which currently apply to children living with Foster parents.
5.37 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
16. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 25 th March 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.40 p.m.
Signed: ______________________________
Chairperson
Date: ________________________________