COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 03 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.00 p.m. in public session
1. Apologies
Apologies as above
2. Chairperson’s Business.
The Committee noted that a visit to the Cancer Research Unit at Queens University Belfast on Thursday 17 June 2010.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the Chair and Deputy Chair would be meeting informally with Mrs Charlotte Caldwell on Thursday 10 th June 2010 and invited other members to attend the meeting.
2.02 p.m. Mrs Mary Bradley joined the meeting.
3. Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety regarding the Commissioning Plan 2010/ 2011
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Michael McGimpsey Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Sectary
Mr Sean Donaghy Under Secretary, Resources & Performance Management
Mr Sean Holland Acting Chief Social Services Officer
Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Mr Martin Bradley Chief Nursing Officer
Ms Diane Taylor Director of Human Resources
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information.
2.06 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.29 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.59 p.m. Mr Alex Easton joined the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Mrs Mary Bradley left the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 May 2010 and 27 May 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2010 was agreed as amended.
The minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2010 was agreed.
5. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Departments monitoring of Health & Social Care programmes and the negotiation of National and Regional pay agreements.
The Committee noted a response from the Social Development Minister about Supporting People Services and agreed to copy the response to CRISSP who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Institute of Licensing regarding the Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed to copy the letter to the Department and Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA.
The Committee noted a letter from the Derry Detox support group regarding the lack of availability of ‘wet’ detox services in their area and agreed to raise this issue with John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health & Social Care Board.
The Committee noted information provided by the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust on its ICT infrastructure and agreed to copy this to Mr Conall McDevitt MLA.
The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
The Committee noted the key points of the informal meeting with the Hospital Campaign for the Rural West and agreed to copy the group’s presentation to the Minister and John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health & Social Care Board for information.
The Committee noted that interim responses have been received from the Minister regarding GP services, the use of taxis by trusts and the promotion of townland names.
3.39 p.m. Mrs Mary Bradley rejoined the meeting.
6. Evidence session with the Health & Social Care Board and Public Health Agency regarding Commissioning Plans.
The Committee took evidence from
Mr John Compton Chief Executive, Health & Social Care Board
Dr Eddie Rooney Chief Executive, Public Health Agency
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information.
3.54 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.07 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
4.09 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
4.10 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
4.11 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.17 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
4.25 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a GP & a member of the Western Local Commissioning Group
4.51p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
4.51p.m. Mr Alex Easton took the chair.
4.51 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
4.51 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
4.55 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
Mrs Mary Bradley made a declaration of interest that she works with a resource centre which looks after older people.
5.00 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
5.02 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
Mrs Claire McGill made a declaration of interest that she was a councillor on Strabane District Council.
5.10 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting and resumed the Chair.
5.12 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
5.28 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
5.29 p.m. Mrs Mary Bradley left the meeting.
5.32 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
7. Statutory Rule. The Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee took evidence from
Ms Joyce Cairns Workforce Planning Unit, DHSSPS
Dr Paddy Woods Senior Medical Officer, DHSSPS
The Committee considered the content of the Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and recommended that the Statutory Rule is affirmed by the Assembly subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
5.38 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.
5.39 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
5.46 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting.
5.54 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
5.57 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
6.03 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
6.12 p.m. Meeting resumed.
8. Briefing on the Sunbeds Bill from Assembly Research
The Committee discussed a briefing paper from Assembly Research on the Sunbeds Bill.
9. Evidence session with Departmental officials on the Sunbeds Bill
The Committee took evidence from
Ms Julie Stewart Health Protection Branch, DHSSPS
Mr Seamus Camplisson Health Protection Branch, DHSSPS
Mr Craig Allen Legislation Equality Branch, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
6.34 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
6.46 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
7.02 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
10. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking written submissions on the Commissioner for Older People Bill and agreed that it had no comment to make on the Bill.
The Committee noted a report on the Review of Data Security in the NI Public Sector forwarded by the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
The Committee noted correspondence forwarded by the Public Accounts Committee from Positive Futures and Manor Healthcare in relation to the PAC report on the Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter to the Chief Executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, regarding treatment of the late Father William Sproule PP and agreed to forward this to the MLAs for this constituency and to ask the Western Trust to copy its response to Miss Rita Smyth to these MLAs.
The Committee noted correspondence from the General Medical Council regarding new GMC guidance on end of life treatment and care.
The Committee noted an invitation to an event to mark Diabetes Week in the Long Gallery on Monday 14 th June.
The Committee noted an invitation to a meeting of the All Party Group on Children and Young People on Tuesday 8 th June 2010.
The Committee noted that the BMA (NI) has written to all members regarding generic prescribing.
11. Any other business
No other business was discussed.
12. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meetings of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 10 th June 2010 at 2.00pm in the Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 7.07 p.m.