1. Chairman's Opening Remarks
2. Minutes of Last Meetiing
3. Matters Arising
4. Inquiry into Residential and Secure Accomodation for Children
5. Budget Proposals
6. Any Other Business
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting

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

Apologies: Rev R Coulter
Mrs I Robinson

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

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2.01 pm.

1. The Chairman advised the Committee that he had issued a press statement in relation to the ongoing crisis in orthopaedic/fracture surgery at the RVH. He understood that senior surgeons at the RVH had written to the Minister and Dr Maurice Hayes, Chair of the Acute Services Review, to highlight their concerns. The resource-related problems are centred round three main issues: a shortage of orthopaedic surgeons and trained orthopaedic theatre nurses, and insufficient theatre space. The Chairman has agreed to arrange a meeting with the surgeons at the RVH to discuss the matter.

2. The Chairman drew the Committee's attention to the proposals for Muckamore Abbey Hospital that would mean the closure of seven resettlement wards and reduce the treatment capacity to 115 beds. The Chairman will visit the Hospital on Thursday, 21 September and will report back to the Committee at its next meeting.

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The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

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There were no matters arising.

Panel Members: Ms Helen Eagleson, Senior Social Worker

Ms Liz Millen, Senior Social Worker

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2.20 pm after which Ms Eagleson gave a synopsis of a memorandum that had been copied to the Committee. This was followed by a question-and-answer session. The proceedings are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3.33 pm.

B: Oral Evidence from Child Care Northern Ireland

Panel Members: Mr Fred McKeating, Glenmona Resource Centre
Mr Billy McMillan, Barnardos

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 3.42 pm after which Mr McKeating highlighted the major residential care issues from the perspective of the voluntary sector. Memoranda from Child Care N.I. and Glenmona Resource Centre had been copied to the Committee. There followed a question-and-answer session, and the proceedings are recorded in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 4.30 pm.

Private Session

Agreed:

i. The Chairman will write to the Minister to ascertain the number of Children's

Residential Care social worker posts that are currently unfilled and the average percentage rate of staff absenteeism within Children's Homes.

ii. The Clerk will obtain a copy of the Criminal Justice (Children) Order

1998.

iii. The Clerk will obtain details of the "Quality Protects" initiative for England and Wales that the Government introduced in 1998.

iv. The Clerk will ascertain whether there are overlapping Departmental responsibilities for the education of children in residential care, especially those who have been excluded from school.

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The Clerk has commissioned a researcher from the UUJ to produce a paper for the Committee on the Department's Budget Proposals by Monday, 25 September to facilitate members' preparation for the Minister's attendance at the Committee meeting on Wednesday, 27 September.

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Mr Berry raised concern about the lack of fracture facilities at the Craigavon Area Hospital and the unacceptable delays in transferring fracture patients from there to the RVH.

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The next meeting will be at 2.00 pm on Wednesday, 27 September 2000 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

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The meeting ended at 4.47 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

September2000

13 September 2000 / Menu / 27 September 2000