Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Mrs J Carson
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey
Mrs I Robinson

Apologies: Mr J Kelly

In Attendance: Mr G Martin Mr D Harkin
Mrs V Artt Mrs K McFerran

Dr J Hendron took the Chair.

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

1. Agreed: In accordance with Mr John Kelly's written suggestion to the Chairman, the Clerk will write a letter of condolence on behalf of the Committee to the family of the late Rory Casement, who was an eminent obstetrician in the Mater Hospital for many years, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to health care. The Committee agreed to consider future cases on their merits.

2. Agreed: The Committee noted the Chief Medical Officer's report and the EHSS Board's report to the Minister on the recent winter crisis. The Clerk will write to the Department to register the Committee's concern that this was its first chance to read the CMO's report; Members felt that they should have been given sight of the document earlier with an embargo endorsement if necessary.

2. Minute of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

1. The Clerk has written to the Office of the First and deputy First Minister to reiterate the Committee's wish to be consulted on the Equality Disability Bill.

Agreed: The Clerk will write to seek clarification as to which Department has responsibility for disability as there is a suggestion that it might fall under the remit of the Department of Finance. The Committee was strongly of the view that this was a health issue.

2. The Clerk has been advised by the Office of the First and deputy First Minister that the Committee's interaction with the Food Safety Board should be through the Departmental Minister.

Agreed: The Clerk will write to register the Committee's strongest concern that the Chairman of the Food Safety Board is a food producer as this could involve a conflict of interests.

The Clerk will further raise with the Business Office Ms McWilliams's concern at its not having accepted a Food Safety-related question from her to the Health Minister on the basis that this was a matter for the Minister for Agriculture.

4. Maternity Services Press Leak

The Chairman expressed his deep concern over the leak. The Permanent Secretary had contacted him to say that the leak was a gross discourtesy to the Minister, who had felt a deep sense of hurt. Moreover, he warned that repeats of such instances could lead to difficulties in the Committee's relationship with the Minister.

Members were unanimous in their condemnation of the leak and were in agreement that it could call into question the credibility of the Committee.

The matter of the Chairman's giving media interviews on the future maternity provision was raised in the context of people's being able to differentiate between his comments in his capacity as Committee Chairman and his personal views as an Assembly Member for West Belfast.

The Chairman emphasised the need for the Committee to exercise collective responsibility, which Members endorsed.

5. Matters for Consideration

1. Agreed: The Committee agreed with the Department's policy proposal relating to the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (hair loss) in the Health Service, which is that its cost cannot be justified. GPs can of course write private prescriptions.

2. Agreed: The Committee agreed that the existing arrangements that extend to NI the provisions of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme covering the rest of the UK should continue.

6. Presentation by the Southern Health and Social Services Board

Panel Members: Mr W F Gillespie, Chairman
Mr B P Cunningham, Chief Executive
Dr A M Telford, Director of Public Health

The Chairman welcome the panel to the meeting at 2.35 PM and they then gave a comprehensive presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked the panel and they left the meeting at 3.45 PM.

7. Presentation by the Western Health and Social Services Board

Panel Members: Mr R Toland, Chairman
Mr T Frawley, General Manager
Dr B McConnell, Director of Public Health

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.55 PM and they gave a comprehensive presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session, which is summarised in Annex B. The Chairman thanked the panel and they left the meeting at 5.20 PM.

8. Children's Order

Agreed: The Clerk will arrange for Departmental officials to attend, if possible, the Committee meeting scheduled for 9 February to speak on the Children's Order and the area of children in care.

9. Future Work Programme

1. Agreed: Next week's meeting with the Minister (to discuss the Departmental budget) and the NHS Confederation respectively will be open to the public. The Clerk will identify an independent expert for advice on the budget proposals. He will also obtain a breakdown of last year's budget figures for comparison with this year's allocations.

2. The Clerk has arranged for the Northern HSS Board to come on 16 February.

10. AOB

1. The Chairman advised the Committee that he received a request from the NSPCC for a meeting and that he had agreed to an informal discussion at 11.00 AM on Wednesday 2 February in Room 152 Parliament Buildings. He welcomed all Members who were interested in doing so to attend.

2. He further drew the Committee's attention to a letter he had received from Professor Robert Stout, Member of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care requesting a meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it should complete its current work of programme before making further commitments. The Clerk will respond to Prof. Stout and request copies of the Commission's report on care for the elderly.

3. Mrs Robinson drew the Committee's attention to the blockage in the release of £5.5m from the Department for Drugs Awareness Programmes, and asked the Chairman to investigate the reason for the delay.

4. Mrs Robinson further drew attention to correspondence a party Colleague had received that claimed porters in Londonderry's Health Service were to have their pay frozen for this year and next. The Clerk will investigate the accuracy of the claim.

5. The Permanent Secretary has drawn the Chairman's attention to the establishment of the Food Standards Agency UK last year, which will have worldwide back-up. In view of this, the Executive Committee would like the Committee's advice on whether NI should have a separate Agency. The Permanent Secretary will write to the Committee in due course.

6. The Clerk will write to Department requesting that the Committee be informed of the Minister's visits in NI both retrospective and prospective. The Deputy Chairman advised that a Code of Conduct is being drawn up in relation to Ministerial engagements, and that Members should input through their parties.

11. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet next at 1.00 PM on Wednesday 2 February in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

19 January 2000 / Menu / 02 February 2000