Present:
Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Mr P Berry
Rev R Coulter
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr A McFarland
Mrs I Robinson

Apologies:
Mr J Kelly
Ms M McWilliams

In Attendance:
Mr G Martin (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs K McFerran (Executive Support)
Mr G Neill (Administrative Support)
Ms J MacReynolds (NHS Management Trainee)
Dr J Thompson (Assembly Researcher)

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:07 pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

The Chairman briefed members on a meeting that he had yesterday with Lisburn Mencap, where strong concerns were voiced about a decision by Down Lisburn HSS Trust to submit a planning application involving ground on the site where the Mencap premises is situated. As the Mencap building was said to be in a rundown state, the representatives argued against a sell-off of the adjacent ground on the basis that this would preclude necessary expansion of the premises. Documentation on the issues will be forwarded to the Committee.

Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Chief Executive of Down Lisburn HSS Trust for an explanation behind the proposals for the site, and to request that consideration be given to deferring a final decision until the issues can be more fully explored.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

4. Subordinate Legislation

Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No. 313 - The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being satisfied as to its technical correctness, has no objection to the Rule.

The Committee noted that NIPSA, while not objecting to the Rule itself, has agreed to forward some procedural concerns in relation to appointments to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

Public Session

5. Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services in Northern Ireland

Oral Evidence from the Campbell Commissioning Group

Panel Members:
Mr S MacDonnell, Chair of Campbell Commissioning Group
Dr W McConnell, Director of Public Health, Western HSS Board
Dr R Houston, Consultant in Clinical Oncology, BCH
Dr AM Telford, Director of Public Health, Southern HSS Board

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2:25 pm and thanked them for their written submission. The panel made a joint presentation on the key issues relating to the delivery of cancer services, which was followed by a question-and-answer session. A verbatim record of the entire proceedings is recorded separately. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3:50 pm.

Rev R Coulter left the meeting at 3:00 pm.

Private Session

5. Acute Hospitals Review Group Report: Draft Press Release on Initial Response

Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft press statement, as amended, for immediate release.

6. AOB

i. Mrs Robinson expressed concern about the absence to date of a clear Departmental plan for the seamless transfer to any new Primary Care arrangements from the present GP Fundholding system, which is due to end on 31 March 2002. She also voiced concern that some moneys set aside to tackle waiting lists in the Eastern HSS Board's area had allegedly been held back for other priorities.

Agreed: The Chairman will request a meeting with the Permanent Secretary to discuss both matters.

ii. Agreed: The Committee agreed, in principle, to accept an invitation from the Chairman and Chief Executive of Craigavon Area Hospital for a visit to the hospital in the near future.

iii. Mrs Robinson drew members' attention to a letter she had received from Crossroads (NI) Caring for Carers highlighting what it saw as the unfair treatment of the voluntary sector in relation to the commissioning of community care services.

Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Department to request a response to each of the points raised in the letter.

iv. Agreed: In response to a letter to the Committee from the Minister for Finance and Personnel highlighting the concerns of one of his constituents regarding the advice of NICE on the new Multiple Sclerosis drugs, Beta Interferon and Copaxone, the Clerk will copy him the HSSPS Minister's response to the Committee following its similar concerns.

v. Agreed: The Committee has no objection to the posting on to the Intranet, for use by other Assembly Members, of papers prepared for the Committee by the Assembly Research Service on 'Best Practice-Best Care' and the Carers and Disabled Children's Bill (now the Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill).

vi. Agreed: Following a request by Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency, to discuss two briefing papers (recently issued to MLAs) on Child Accident Prevention, the Clerk will arrange an informal lunchtime Committee meeting.

vii. Agreed: The Clerk will write to advise the Employment and Learning Committee that the HSSPS Committee will not be making a response to the Report into Education and Training for Industry as its recommendations do not have a direct relevance to health.

7. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next Committee meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 26 September 2001 in Room135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 4:20 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
September 2001

12 September 2001 / Menu / 26 September 2001