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 (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs K McFerran (Executive Support)
Mr G Neill (Administrative Support)
Dr J Thompson (Assembly Researcher)

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:04 pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

The Chairman reported that he had hosted a lunch in the Members' Dining Room, on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer, in connection with the visit to Northern Ireland of Prof. Michael Langman, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

1. A meeting between the Chairman and the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Dowdall, has been arranged for Tuesday, 20 November to discuss the feasibility of an audit of Departmental expenditure.

2. Agreed: While sympathising with Mrs Robinson's predicament in relation to her dual commitments on Wednesday afternoons, members agreed not to alter the scheduled Committee meeting time, which has generally proved suitable.

3. Agreed: The Clerk will investigate the possibility of the Committee's visiting the A&E Units at BCH and the RVH on Wednesday, 05 December, including whether it would be also feasible to take oral evidence on site from the RVH on the Committee's cancer services inquiry.

4. Subordinate Legislation

Role of the Examiner of Statutory Rules

1. Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee resolves that in carrying out his technical scrutiny of Statutory Rules, the Examiner of Statutory Rules shall be authorised to report his findings on each Statutory Rule to the Assembly, through the Business Office, to the Department, as well as to the Committee itself, and to publish his report.

2. Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No.367-The Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefits) 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.

3. Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No.389-Food Protection (Emergency Provisions No.4) Order 2001, and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being satisfied as to its technical correctness, has no objection to the Rule.

4. Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No.374-General Medical Services (Amendment No.4) 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.

Ms Hanna and Ms McWilliams joined the meeting at 2:15 pm and 2:22 pm respectively.

Public Session

5. Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services in NI:Presentation by Macmillan Cancer Relief

Panel Members: Mr Ian Gibson, Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland

Mr St John Hattersley, Head of Service Development, Scotland/NI

Ms Heather Monteverde, Service Development Manger, NI

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2:20 pm, after which Mr Gibson spoke to the Macmillan Cancer Relief written submission to the inquiry. This was followed by a question-and-answer session, and the entire proceedings are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3:10 pm.

Mr Berry and Ms Ramsey left the meeting at 2:58 pm and 2:59 pm respectively.

The meeting was suspended at 3:10 pm and resumed at 3:25 pm.

6. Health Service Structures Research Project - Assembly Researcher

Agreed: After a presentation by Assembly Researcher, Dr Janice Thompson, of a draft paper on the scope for a more streamlined health service administration in Northern Ireland, as commissioned by the Committee, the following terms of reference were agreed for an assessment of current health structures and the potential for change:

1. To explore current organisational health structures in Northern Ireland with regard to demographic ratios and profiles;

2. To explore the organisational health structure proposed by the Hayes Review Group with regard to demographic ratios and profiles;

3. To provide further information on the background to, and the operational aspects of, the Managed Clinical Networks proposed by the Review Group;

4. To provide further comparative information on health organisational structures in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and two recognised "health efficient" jurisdictions (e.g. France and Sweden); and

5. To recommend potential best practice issues from this comparative analysis that might be applicable to Northern Ireland.

A daft paper will be presented to the Committee on Wednesday, 16 January 2002.

7. Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in NI - Assembly Researcher

Dr Thompson presented a paper on the main points (particularly in relation to Health and Social Services Bodies) arising from DFP's consultation document on Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland.

A draft response will be prepared for consideration at the Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 28 November 2001.

Mr Kelly left the meeting at 4:17 pm.

8. Programme for Government 2002/05: Draft Response

1. Agreed: The Committee agreed, as amended, the draft response to the Programme for Government 2002/05.

2. The Clerk will obtain a copy of the NAO Report on Inpatient and Outpatient Waiting in the NHS. (HC 2001/02)

3. The Clerk will arrange for Senior Departmental Officials to brief the Committee on the provision of maternity services in Northern Ireland.

4. In preparation for the requested meeting of a Committee delegation with the First and Deputy First Ministers to discuss the crisis in the Health Service, a short-list of priorities will be drawn up, including a suggestion to set up a specialist team to assess particular areas of concern.

9. Problems in Clinical Neurosciences in Northern Ireland: Carmel Hanna

Agreed: This matter will be included for discussion at the proposed meeting of the Committee with the First and Deputy First Ministers, as mentioned above.

Private Session

10. AOB

1. Agreed: The Clerk will write to Omagh District Council to advise that, in view of its full work programme, the Committee regretfully declines the Council's request for a meeting regarding the Acute Hospitals Review. It was emphasised, however, that members had attended the presentations by the lobby groups in support of the Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital in the Long Gallery and are well aware of their respective arguments surrounding the future siting of a new hospital for the south west.

2. Agreed: The Clerk will refer a letter sent to the Committee regarding eating disorders to the Department.

11. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 21 November 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 4:43 pm.

DR J HENDRON
Committee Chairman
November 2001

7 November 2001 / Menu / 21 November 2001