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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE Present: Dr J Hendron (Chairman) Apologies: Mrs I Robinson In Attendance:Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:05 pm.
Private Session 1. Chairman's Opening Remarks The Chairman reminded members of the extra meeting scheduled for Monday, 2 July, which the Minister and Senior Departmental Officials will attend to discuss the Budget bids for 2002/03. He also encouraged members, where possible, to attend the launch of the new cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care programme by the New Opportunities Fund in the Long Gallery on Tuesday, 3 July at 12:00 noon. 2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 3. Matters Arising i. The Clerk has received confirmation that no plants in the Republic of Ireland have approval for the production of gelatine. ii. The Department has agreed to meet the Committee's request for monthly returns on occupational therapy waiting lists from the end of July, but has pointed out that the staff time needed to collate the statistics will impact on occupational therapy front-line services. Agreed: In light of the above, the Committee will review the arrangements in three months' time.
4. Subordinate Legislation Agreed: The Committee was content with the Departmental proposal for the following Statutory Rule: General Dental Services (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001. 5. Examination of Health Service Budgets Mr Ciaran O'Neill of the University of Ulster at Jordanstown presented a paper, as commissioned by the Committee, examining the allocation of resources from the Department through the Eastern HSS Board for the year 1998/99. Mr O'Neill highlighted the value of locality commissioning budgets in assessing and comparing the relative "under" or "over" funding of particular programmes of care within HSS Trusts. Mr O'Neill undertook to provide the Committee with a more detailed explanation of "income adjustments" as referred to in the notional allocation of funds tables. The Clerk will provide a breakdown of the services within the nine programmes of care listed in the notional allocation of funds to HSS Trusts. Rev R Coulter and Ms Hanna joined the meeting at 2:25 pm and 3:00 pm respectively. The meeting was suspended at 3:15 pm and resumed at 3:20 pm. 6. Single Equality Bill for Northern Ireland Ms Janice Thompson, Assembly Researcher, presented a briefing paper on the initial consultation document on the above proposed Bill. Agreed: The Clerk will advise the Committee of the Centre that this Committee will await the draft Bill before considering how to make its response. Mr Berry and Mr Kelly left the meeting at 3:30 pm and 3:36 pm respectively.
7. 'Best Practice - Best Care' Consultation Paper Ms Janice Thompson presented a briefing paper on the above consultation document. Members considered and amended the draft responses to the questions posed in the document, which the Clerk will forward to the Department.
Ms McWilliams and Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 4:05 pm and 4:10 pm respectively.
8. Acute Hospitals Review Report - The Way Forward The Committee deferred consideration of its course of action following the above report until a future date. 9. AOB The Chairman advised that the Finance Minister has requested the Assembly's Departmental Committees' comments on the layout and presentation of the Executive's Position Report to the Assembly in preparation for 2002/03. Members were asked to give the matter consideration in advance of next Wednesday's Committee meeting. 10. Date and Time of the Next Meeting The next Committee meetings will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, 2 July and Wednesday, 4 July 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings. The meeting ended at 4:35 pm. DR J HENDRON |
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