MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AT 2:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2001 IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Rev R Coulter
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies:
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams
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 Hendron took the Chair at 2:04pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

The Chairman reminded members of the informal meeting with the Junior Doctors' Committee (BMA) scheduled for 12:30pm on Tuesday, 4 December 2001 in the Private Dining Room, Parliament Buildings.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

The Clerk has written to remind OFMDFM of the outstanding response to the Chairman's request for a meeting of a Committee delegation with the First and Deputy First Minister in relation to resourcing for the health service.

Public Session

4. Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services in NI: Presentation by the Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

Panel Members:
Mr Quentin Coey, Chief Executive
Prof. Patrick Johnston, Prof. of Oncology
Mr Alistair Brown, Director of Operational Support
Mrs Elizabeth Henderson, Lead Nurse (Cancer Services)

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the meeting at 2:25pm, after which Mr Coey and Prof. Johnston spoke to the BCH's written submission to the cancer 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 4:11pm.

The meeting was suspended at 4:12pm and resumed at 4:14pm.

Agreed: The Clerk will write to Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency, to request the up-to-date position on any initiatives being progressed in collaboration with community and voluntary groups to improve the uptake of cancer screening programmes, particularly in socially deprived areas.

5. Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector: Draft Response

The main points of the response were as follows:
• The Committee feels strongly that current arrangements for the auditing of HSS bodies are wholly inadequate, and it wholeheartedly supports a reorganisation that results in the audit of HSS bodies being brought under the independent control of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO).

•It is unacceptable that at present the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) has no direct access to the audit and accountability of the HPSS front line.

•The Committee believes that improved management of the audit function, by transferring control to the NIAO, will go some way to providing more sophisticated and better quality monitoring of public expenditure on health. It will also aid strategic planning.

•The Committee feels that under the proposed arrangements the C&AG should replace the Department in terms of being directly responsible for all health service audits. It was felt that such a move would also enhance the role of the Public Accounts Committee.

•It further concludes that the proposed reorganisation of the health audit would enable it to monitor more effectively the Department's implementation of recommendations arising from the NIAO's annual investigations.

•The Committee proposes that as part of the plans for the health audit reorganisation, due consideration be given to the extension of the work of the Commission for Health Improvement (England and Wales), which relates to clinical audit, to the audit process in Northern Ireland.

•In order to avoid costly duplication in future audit processes, the Committee requests that, as part of the health audit reorganisation, consideration be given to possible overlaps in functions that may exist between new regulatory bodies proposed in 'Best Practice-Best Care' for Northern Ireland and powerful national regulatory bodies.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft response, which the Clerk will forward to the Department of Finance and Personnel.

6. Cancellation of Outpatient Clinics

The Committee considered a synopsis of the responses given by Community and Hospital HSS Trusts in relation to outpatient clinic cancellations.

Agreed: A draft letter will be prepared for the Chairman for issue to the Minister requesting the establishment by the Department, in collaboration with the HSS Boards and Trusts, of a common set of criteria to be applied across the health service in relation to the scheduling and monitoring of outpatient appointments.

Private Session

7. AOB

i. Agreed: In light of the volume of evidence submitted in relation to the cancer inquiry, it was agreed that the final report should include only the written submissions from those witnesses who had also given oral evidence. Copies of the remaining unpublished written submissions will be available to the public for inspection through the Committee Clerk.

ii. Agreed: In light of its current heavy work schedule, the Committee will regretfully decline a request by the Public Services Liaison Committee of Craigavon Borough Council for a meeting to discuss underfunding in the health service. The Committee is, however, extremely well briefed on the problems right across the health sector as a consequence of financial constraints, and, accordingly, is actively seeking a meeting with the First and Deputy First Minister to discuss the current crisis.

iii. Agreed: The Committee noted a letter from Omagh District Council requesting that it reconsider its decision not to meet with representatives from the Council regarding the Acute Hospitals Review but stands by the original decision. The Committee reiterates that its members have already attended the presentations in the Long Gallery by lobby groups in support of the Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital and that they are fully conversant with the respective arguments surrounding the future siting of a new hospital for the south west.

iv. Agreed: The Committee will invite the Northern Ireland Carers' Association to give evidence at the Committee Stage of the Personal Services (Amendment) Bill at the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 9 January 2002. The Clerk reminded members that the Second Stage of the Bill is due to be debated at the Assembly Plenary Meeting on Tuesday, 4 December 2001.

v. Agreed: Following a concern raised by Mr Berry about the NIO's decision to reduce forensic science services (apparently due to a shortage of pathologists), it was agreed that the Chairman should write a letter of concern to the Minister, Mr Des Browne, requesting details of the background to the problem, the current position and a list of those consulted about the new arrangements.

vi. Agreed: Following a request from the Nightingale Project in Lurgan for a meeting with the Committee in relation to respite and day care facilities, it was agreed to send the group a copy of the Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum, and to solicit its comments.

vii. The Committee noted a letter from Dr Victor Patterson (BCH) advising of the Chief Medical Officer's confirmation of funding for an additional two consultant neuroscience posts at BCH, and conveying his thanks to the Committee for its support.

viii. The Committee noted the consultation document on the Bill of Rights issued by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as referred by the Committee of the Centre.

8. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 2:00pm on Wednesday, 05 December 2001 in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. In order to facilitate the organisation of the joint visits to the BCH and RVH on 05 December, the Chairman requested that members advise the Clerk in advance of their proposed attendance.

The meeting ended at 4:44 pm.

DR J HENDRON
Committee Chairman

November 2001

21 November 2001 / Menu / 5 December 2001