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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman) In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mrs V Artt Dr J Hendron took the Chair.
1. Chairman's Opening Remarks Agreed: The Chairman drew attention to a recent newspaper article referring to the Assembly's Committees not generally having held public meetings to date. The Committee agreed unanimously that it's future evidence sessions would be mostly held in public.
2. Minute of the Last Meeting The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. Agreed: Future Annexes to the minutes relating to questions and answers will attribute Members' names to questions.
3. Matters Arising Agreed: The Clerk will write to the NI Mental Health Association to request summaries of the excellent presentation that its representatives delivered today to Assembly Members in the Long Gallery.
4. Proposed Subordinate Legislation The Committee considered the Department's paper on proposed increases in Health Service charges with effect from April 2000 and noted that it will be coming forward as subordinate legislation in due course.
5. Presentation by Representatives of the Belfast City HSS Trust and Jubilee Action Group
Panel Members: Dr John Price, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 1.20 PM after which they gave a comprehensive presentation and provided Members with copies of related papers. Following a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A, the Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting a 2.25 PM.
6. Presentation by the Royal Maternity Hospital Panel Members: Professor Henry Halliday, Consultant Neonatologist
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.35 PM after which they gave a comprehensive presentation and provided Members with copies of related papers. Following a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex B, the Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3.35 PM.
7. Presentation by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Panel Members: Mr J Daniel Thompson, Chairman
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.45 PM after which they gave a comprehensive presentation and provided Members with copies of related papers. Following a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex C, the Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 5.15 PM.
8. Committee's Response to the Minister on Future Maternity Provision Agreed: The Clerk will draft a letter for sending to the Minister tomorrow to reflect the Committee's views on the future siting of the new regional maternity hospital. Members will have until 3.00 PM tomorrow to comment on its content.
The letter will include reference to the following: The Committee was very concerned that decisions such as that made by the Royal College of Paediatricians are made without an effective input from locally elected representatives. It will therefore expect to be consulted by the Royal Colleges in advance of future such decisions. The Committee would like the Minister's assurance that other maternity hospitals have sufficient capacity to cope with the extra demands that the decision imminently to close the Jubilee Hospital may place on them. The Committee would also have wished to see a more holistic view taken of all maternity services in NI. The Committee was of the unanimous view that both hospitals should have remained open until a new hospital was built. In terms of members' preference for the location the new regional site, seven favoured the City Hospital and four favoured the Royal site. The Committee would like the Minister to spell out clearly the timescale for the provision of a new hospital and where the funding will come from.
9. Future Work Programme
Agreed: i. The Northern HSS Board will be invited to attend the Committee meeting scheduled for 16 February. ii. The Minister will be invited to the Committee's meeting scheduled for 2 February to discuss the Departmental budget for 2000/2001. This meeting will begin at 1.00 PM with two hours set aside for the Minister. The Clerk will also arrange for the NI representatives of the NHS Federation to attend on the same day at 3.00 PM. The Clerk reported that the Ambulance Service report is likely to be issued in mid-February, immediately after which he will arrange a suitable date for a meeting between its senior officials and the Committee.
10. AOB i. The Clerk has written to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister in relation to the Committee's interest in having input into the NI Disability Rights Bill. ii. The Committee noted Mr Berry's concern that the Department had not met the Residential Care Confederation during the recent beds crisis with a view to freeing up hospitals places by moving some patients into 1200 unused beds in residential care. iii. Agreed: The Clerk will include as an agenda item for next week the Children's (NI) Order, in particular care of children in residential care homes, a concern raised by Ms Ramsey. iv. The Committee re-emphasised the need for the Minister to keep it fully updated on current policy matters and imminent Departmental decisions.
11. Date and Time of Next Meeting The Committee will meet next at 2.00 PM on Wednesday 26 January 2000 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. DR J HENDRON |
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