Present:
Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Mr P Berry
Mr T Gallagher (Deputy Chairman)
Ms C Hanna
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms S Ramsey

Apologies:
Ms P Armitage
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 2:00pm.

Private Session

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

1. The Chairman reported briefly on the productive informal meeting that he and a number of members had yesterday with the BMA (NI) Junior Doctors' Committee in Parliament Buildings. Among the key issues discussed were the crisis within the health service, the European Working Time Directive and junior doctors' working hours. Members will receive copies of the Junior Doctors' briefing paper.

2. Agreed: The Chairman advised members that he had been contacted by the Chairman of the Eastern HSS Board, Mr David Russell, requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss general concerns about the delivery of health services. It was agreed to consider a slot for the meeting early in the new year, when the Committee's future work programme is firmed up.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

A draft letter has been prepared for the Chairman for issue to the Minister requesting the establishment of a common set of criteria for the health service in relation to the scheduling and monitoring of outpatient appointments, which will be considered at next week's meeting.

4. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee noted the Department's proposal to introduce the following two Statutory Instruments:

The Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2001 and the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No.2) Order 2001,

which will come into effect on a UK-wide basis from 1 January 2002.

Public Session

5. Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services in Northern Ireland: Presentation by the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

Panel Members: Mr William McKee, Chief Executive Mr Jim McGuigan, Head Cancer Clinician Dr Karem Kaur, Palliative Medicine Consultant

Dr Anne Marie Nugent, Consultant Respiratory Physician Ms Barbara Clyde, Lead Macmillan Nurse Specialist Mr John Stewart, General Manager, Surgical Directorate

The Chairman welcomed the panel to the public session of the meeting at 2:15pm. He conveyed to Mr McKee the Committee's thanks to the management of the RVH for hosting the Committee during this evidence-taking session and for the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust's written submission to the cancer inquiry. Mr McKee, Mr McGuigan and Dr Kaur jointly presented the RVH's written submission, and this was followed by a question-and-answer session. The entire proceedings are recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the panel, and they left the meeting at 3:30pm.

Private Session

6. AOB

1. The Chairman drew members' attention to a letter from Mr Eddie McGrady MP inviting the Committee to visit the Downe Hospital and seeking its support for work to commence on a new hospital.

Agreed: The Committee will consider the feasibility of making visits to a number of local hospitals in the new year at next week's meeting, taking into account its draft future work programme.

2. Agreed: The Clerk will write to the Department to check on the position of the HPSS (No.1) Bill, which relates to the introduction of free nursing care in residential care and nursing homes, and the transfer of preserved rights cases into the HSS Trust care management arrangements. Members were concerned to ensure that sufficient time be afforded to the Committee Stage of the Bill given that the new regulatory arrangements need to be implemented from April 2002.

3. Agreed: Following the conclusion of the Committee's oral evidence-taking into the cancer services inquiry at next week's meeting, when the Minister and Senior Officials will give evidence, the Clerk will prepare a draft report for its consideration by the end of January 2002.

4. Agreed: Following a request from the Brook Clinic for a meeting with the Committee, the Clerk will arrange a suitable date for an informal lunchtime meeting in Parliament Buildings in the new year.

7. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 12 December 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 3:42pm.

DR J HENDRON
Committee Chairman
December 2001

28 November 2001 / Menu / 12 December 2001