COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
End of Session Report 2008/2009
The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is a Statutory Departmental Committee established in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Belfast Agreement, section 29 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and under Standing Order 48
The Committee has power to:
- Consider and advise on Departmental budgets and annual plans in the context of the overall budget allocation;
- Consider relevant secondary legislation and take the Committee Stage of primary legislation;
- Call for persons and papers;
- Initiate inquires and make reports; and
- Consider and advise on any matters brought to the Committee by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Committee has 11 members including a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and a quorum of 5.
Democratic Unionist Party |
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Independent Health Coalition |
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Sinn Fein |
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Social Democratic and Labour Party |
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Ulster Unionist Party |
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1 With effect from 15 September 2008 Mr Sam Gardiner replaced Rev Dr Robert Coulter.
2 With effect from 29 June 2009 Mrs Dolores Kelly replaced Mr Tommy Gallagher.
3 With effect from 4 July 2009 Mr Jim Wells replaced Mrs Iris Robinson MP.
Between September 2008 and August 2009 the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety held 33 meetings, 3 of which were held outside Parliament Buildings. These were:
- A meeting in Muckamore Abbey Hospital on 25 September 2008 following a visit to the Hospital.
- A meeting at Autism NI premises, Knockbracken Healthcare Park on 12 February 2009 following a fact finding visit to Newcastle Co Down about services provided for adults with autism.
- A meeting in Queens University Belfast on 23 April 2009 following a visit to the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queens University Belfast.
Four of the Committee meetings were held partially in closed session to consider issues of a confidential nature or draft reports. In addition the committee carried out the following fact finding visits:
- A visit to the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital and the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children on 23 October 2008.
- A visit to Cardiff on the 19 and 20 November 2008 to examine the implementation of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ADS) Strategic Action Plan for Wales.
- A visit by the Deputy Chairperson on 3 March 2009 to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London to learn about the services available for children with intractable epilepsy.
Primary Legislation
The Committee examined the provisions in the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill, received 30 submissions from interested groups, took formal evidence from 12 organisations and produced a report on 13 November 2008. The Committee recommended a number of amendments to improve consultation by Health and Social Care bodies and to strengthen the duty on these bodies to take account of the views of the Patient and Client Council. These were accepted by the Department.
Subordinate Legislation
Between September 2008 and August 2009 the Committee considered and approved 35 statutory rules made by the Department and by the Food Standards Agency NI. Nine of these statutory rules arose out of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act.
Inquiries
The Committee began an Inquiry into Obesity in January 2009. The Inquiry is examining current measures to prevent obesity and the availability of weight management and other services for those with obesity related ill health.
The Committee received 66 submissions from interested groups and took formal evidence from 17 organisations. The Committee also hosted a round table research event on 19 May 09 which brought together leading academic researchers from throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a small number of key stakeholders, and committee members to discuss the effectiveness of measures to tackle obesity and to suggest recommendations for the Committee report. A report on the inquiry with recommendations will now be prepared by the Committee.
The Committee questioned Departmental officials on 28 May 2009 about progress in implementing the 26 recommendations in the previous Committee Report of the Inquiry into Suicide and Self Harm published on 1 May 2008. Considerable progress has been made on many of the recommendations including, the Lifeline telephone helpline, ring fencing of funding, and greater involvement for bereaved families. The Committee noted that the Protect Life Strategy is currently under review.
Budget Scrutiny
The Committee took evidence on efficiency savings from the Minister (9 October 2008 & 5 February 2009), Trade Union Representatives (27 November 2008), each of the five Health & Social Care Trusts (15 January 2009, 29 January 2009, 12 February 2009 & 19 February 2009), and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (26 February 2009).
Policy Scrutiny
The Committee took evidence from pro-life and pro-choice organisations in relation to the Department’s consultation on the Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy. The committee then submitted a response to the Department based on the evidence it had taken.
In relation to the Department’s consultation on the draft Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Action Plan 2008/09 – 20010/11 the committee took evidence from Autism NI and the National Autistic Society. The Committee visited Cardiff to see the implementation of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ADS) Strategic Action Plan for Wales. The committee recommended a coordinated approach to delivering comprehensive autism services by involving other departments, including Education, Employment and Learning, and Social Development.
The Committee carried out scrutiny on the Department’s policy on Generic Prescribing, taking evidence from the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee (NI) (22 January 2009) and Departmental officials (2 April 2009).
The Committee took evidence from Queens University Belfast and Departmental Officials regarding the Supplement for Undergraduate Medical & Dental Education (25 June 2009).
Engagement - Informal meetings/events
The Committee has sought new ways to allow more groups, who would otherwise not get the opportunity to meet the Committee, to put forward their views. The Committee held 17 informal lunchtime meetings, which take place before the main Committee meeting.
The Committee has also held 3 functions in the Long Gallery for health related groups. At these a total of 36 groups were able to meet members of the Committee and speak to them about issues and concerns. A further event is planned for 13 October 2009.
On 7 October 2008 the Committee arranged an event at Parliament Buildings to highlight attacks on the Emergency Services. A number of schools from across Northern Ireland participated in demonstrations of the work done by the Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service.
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On the 26 February 2009 the Committee arranged a training event in the Long Gallery Parliament Buildings where members were taught emergency life saving skills by the British Heart Foundation.
Committee motions
The Committee put forward the following motions which were debated and endorsed by the full Assembly:
- Free Car Parking for hospital patients
- Call for frontline services for society’s most vulnerable groups to be protected from the impact of efficiency savings.
The likely key priorities for the next session will be
- Response to ongoing Swine Flu Pandemic
- Funding for the health and social care including efficiency savings
- Completion of Inquiry Report into Obesity
- Examination of proposals for Mental Health & Mental Capacity Legislation
- Autism services
Expenditure for the period 1 September 2008 – 31 August 2009
| Budget Area | Details | Expenditure |
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| Committee Travel - committee members and staff travel and subsistence in relation to visits and meetings outside Parliament Buildings | Includes the cost of committee visits to:
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£4,010.27 |
| Printing of committee reports | Includes the cost of the committee report on the Health & Social Care Reform Bill | £1,536.00 |
| Advertising – the cost of public notices relating to committee inquiries, the committee stage of bills and meetings held outside Parliament Buildings | Includes the cost of public notices in relation to:
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£3,182.49 |
| General expenses | Cost of refreshments for committee meetings, working lunches, seminars, room hire and witness expenses | £5,591.93 |
£14,320.69 |