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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF
THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
AT 2:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2001
1. Chairman's Opening Remarks
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Presentation from the Northern Ireland Primary Care Forum
5. AOB
6. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Mr P Berry
Rev R Coulter
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
Ms S Ramsey
Mrs I Robinson
Apologies: Ms P Armitage
In Attendance: Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs V Artt (Executive Support)
Mrs K McFerran (Administrative Support)
Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:03pm.
Private Session
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Chairman's Opening Remarks
The Chairman reported that he and a number of members had had a very constructive
meeting that morning with the Acute Hospitals Review Group. The Clerk will prepare
a note of the proceedings for the next Committee meeting.
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Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
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Matters Arising
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The Chairman advised that he had not put down an Assembly Private Notice Question
in relation to the admission of a young girl to an adult psychiatric ward, as
she had been subsequently discharged. However, he has been in contact with the
Permanent Secretary, who has promised to keep him fully informed on developments
in relation to inpatient facilities for children with mental health problems.
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The Chairman advised that arrangements have been made for the Committee to
visit Bangor Community Hospital at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 21 February 2001, and
asked members to indicate to the Clerk whether they would be attending.
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The Royal College of Psychiatrists will attend the Committee meeting on Wednesday,
28 March 2001.
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Public Session
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Presentation from the Northern Ireland Primary Care Forum
Panel Members: Mr Terry Hannawin, Pharmacy
Dr Jim Courtney, General Practice
Dr George O'Neill, General Practice
Mrs Carole McIwrath, Nursing
Mr Frank Whiteman, User representative
The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2:20 pm, after which Mr
Hannawin spoke to a discussion paper by the Primary Care Forum on future arrangements
for HPSS, which was copied to the Committee. The following points were highlighted
as being critical for future Primary Care provision:
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Additional resources to sustain the rapid expansion in the role of nurses -
for example, in chronic disease management and screening - and GP Practice ancillary
staff. More GPs will also be required with the expansion of Primary Care (PC).
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The need for high quality IT systems, maintenance, support and training to
deliver meaningful clinical governance.
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Investment in the personal development of professionals within PC Groups.
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Upgrading, as appropriate, of premises where PC is delivered.
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An initial increase of 10% for Community Care funds for the elderly in respect
of home helps, care packages and placements and intermediate care, which provide
a more cost-effective option than hospital care.
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An enhanced role for Community Pharmacy in, for example, dispensing repeat
medication and providing advice on minor illness.
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Effective workforce planning for training will be crucial given changing professional
roles and expansion and redistribution of work.
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Additional funding for the development of the NI Oral Health strategy.
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Maintain and develop public confidence in health services through user and
carer participation in PC decision-making.
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Foster an inter-agency approach with partners in, for example, housing, education
and the community and voluntary sector.
The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session, which is
summarised in Annex A. The Chairman thanked
the panel, and they left the meeting at 3:25 pm.
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Private Session
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AOB
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Agreed: The Chairman will write to send the Committee's good wishes
to their colleague Ms Armitage, who is currently ill.
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Agreed: Following a letter from the Belfast Family Proceedings Court
Standing Committee voicing concern about the Family Law Bill, the Clerk will invite
that organisation to the Committee's meeting on Wednesday, 7 March to speak specifically
to the Bill.
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Mrs Robinson drew members' attention to a letter she had received from a severe
arthritis sufferer requesting that she lobby the Minister for an increased budget
allocation in respect of new drug therapies for arthritic care.
Agreed: The Chairman will write to the Minister on behalf of the Committee
in support of the above request.
Members also noted the potential Human Rights implications flowing from the
restricted availability of certain expensive drugs to the general public.
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Agreed: As a follow-up to the concern about the urgent need for a replacement
speech therapist at Rosstulla, the Chairman will write to the Minister for an
update on the current position on the numbers/shortages of speech therapists in
Northern Ireland, and the Department's strategy to provide for a full complement
of this professional group.
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Date and Time of the Next Meeting
The next Committee meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 21 February 2001
in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
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The meeting ended at 3:33 pm.
DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
February 2001
7 February 2001 / Menu
/ 21 February 2001
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