Present:
Dr J Hendron (Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr P Berry
Rev R Coulter
Mr J Kelly
Mr A McFarland
Ms M McWilliams

In Attendance:
Mr P Hughes (Committee Clerk)
Mr D Harkin (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs K McFerran (Executive Support)
Mr R McConaghy (Assembly Researcher)
Dr J Thompson (Assembly Researcher)

Dr Hendron took the Chair at 2:12 pm.

Private Session

Apologies were received from Mr Tommy Gallagher (Deputy Chairman), Ms Sue Ramsey and Mrs Iris Robinson.

1. Chairman's Opening Remarks

The Chairman advised members of two no-day motions on health scheduled for debate in the Assembly next week:

Monday, 21 January - Care in the Community
Tuesday, 22 January - Health Service Crisis

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 09 January 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

1. A draft response from OFMDFM to the Committee's request for a meeting with the First and Deputy First Minister to discuss the crisis in the health service and the need for extra funding is awaiting clearance by the First and Deputy First Minister.

2. Agreed: In response to a request from the Southern HSS Board for the Committee to meet with representatives from the new Pharmaceutical Palliative Care Service for that area, it was agreed that the Clerk should arrange a suitable date for an informal lunch in the Private Dining Room. An invitation to attend the briefing will be extended to all Assembly Members.

3. Agreed: The Clerk will prepare a paper on the future handling of Committee press releases and media access for discussion at next week's meeting.

Public Session

[2:20pm]

Rev R Coulter joined the meeting at 2:25 pm.

4. Report on Visit to Downe Hospital

The Chairman reported briefly on the Committee's morning visit to Downe Hospital and Downpatrick Maternity Hospital, where members had an opportunity to meet and talk to doctors, nurses and patients. He advised that the Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brún, is awaiting the outcome of the consultation process following the Hayes Report before reaching a decision on the future of both hospitals. Members commended the excellent screening programme at the Maternity Hospital and the tremendous work being done in the small fractures clinic and the A&E department at the Downe Hospital.

Mr Kelly joined the meeting at 2:40 pm.

5. DHSS&PS Update Note on Hospital Pressures

The Committee considered a Departmental briefing paper giving an update on the impact of the recent virus infection on the main hospitals. Members expressed concern that 156 beds for new patients were closed across six hospitals, adding to the already severe pressures being experienced by patients and staff working in hospitals and in the community.

The Committee was further alarmed that the fracture service at the Royal Victoria Hospital was particularly badly affected, with beds in other wards having to be re-designated as fracture beds, as well as the opening of 25 beds in the first phase of the new Building.

Agreed:

1. The Committee supported a proposal by the Chairman for a taskforce to be set up immediately, comprising representatives of doctors and nurses working in A&E departments, as well as senior managers. The taskforce would report to the Department and Committee within weeks on how scarce hospital resources could best be used to meet the needs of patients.

2. A draft press release was agreed calling for such an emergency taskforce. The statement also highlighted members' concern at the number of hospital beds closed to new patients as a result of the recent virus infection, and referred to the Committee visit to the Downe Hospital in the morning.

3. The Clerk will invite a Department Official to attend next week's Committee meeting to provide an updated position on the hospitals crisis, including what detailed contingency measures the Department has in place to address current and future problems.

6. Subordinate Legislation

1. Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Department's proposal for the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

2. Notification of Marketing of Food for Particular Nutritional Uses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Department's proposal for the Notification of Marketing of Food for Particular Nutritional Uses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

Agreed: In relation to a point raised by Ms McWilliams, the Clerk will request a brief from the Department on the nutritional value of slimming foods.

3. Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Department's proposal for the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.

4. Statutory Rule No. 1/02 - Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and Statutory Rule No. 431/01 - Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001

Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No. 01/2002 - the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and Statutory Rule No.434/2001- the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and, subject to the Examiner of statutory Rules being satisfied as to their technical effectiveness, has no objection to the Rules.

5. Statutory Rule No. 434/01 - The Road Traffic (Health Services Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No. 434/01 - The Road Traffic (Health Services Charges) (Amendment) 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.

Agreed: In relation to a point raised by Ms McWilliams, the Clerk will request a note from the Department on whether there has been any evidence of ecstasy-type drugs having been produced by illicit chemists in Northern Ireland.

6. Statutory Rule No. 02/02 - General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No. 02/02 - General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being satisfied as to its technical correctness, has no objection to the Rule.

7. Statutory Rule No. 428/01 - Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Question put and agreed to:

That the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee has considered Statutory Rule No. 428/01 - Feeding Stuffs (Amendment) 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.

7. Public Bills: Committee Stage of the Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill

Panel Members: Mr Peter Deazley, Child and Community Care Unit

Mr John Clarke, Child and Community Care Unit
Mr Robin MacRory, Elderly and Community Care Unit
Ms Margaret Sisk, Elderly and Community Care Unit

The Chairman welcomed the Officials to the meeting at 3:12 pm, after which the Committee proceeded to a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, which is recorded separately in verbatim minutes of evidence. The Chairman thanked the Officials for their time in assisting the Committee with its scrutiny of the legislation, and they left the meeting at 4:22 pm.

Clause-by-clause consideration of the Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill:

Clause 1 - "Right of Carers to assessment"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 1.

Clause 2 - "Services for Carers"

The Committee deferred final consideration of Clause 2 pending an explanation from the Department at next week's meeting on the definition of the word "means" for the purposes of the legislation.

Clause 3 - "Vouchers"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 3.
Rev R Coulter left the meeting at 3:47 pm and rejoined it at 4:28 pm.
Ms Armitage left the meeting at 3:55 pm.

Clause 4 - "Assessments: persons with parental responsibility for disabled children"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 4.

Clause 5 - "Vouchers for persons with parental responsibility for disabled children"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 5.

Clause 6 - "Direct Payments"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 6.

Clause 7 - "Direct Payments in respect of children"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 7.

Clause 8 - "Interpretation and regulations"

Agreed:That the Committee is content with Clause 8.

Clause 9 - "Commencement"

Agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 9.

Clause 10 - "Short title"

The Committee will revisit Clause 10 at next week's meeting, when the Department will advise as to whether it is possible to have a viable alternative title for the Bill that would be more descriptive of its purpose.

Schedule

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the Schedule.

8. Executive Programme Fund (EPF) for Children - Consultation Paper

The Committee briefly discussed the Department's consultation paper on the EPF for Children and the proposals for the management and distribution of £18.5m in 2002 and 2003. There was particular interest in the rationale behind the two thirds/one third funding split between the statutory and voluntary sectors.

Agreed: The Clerk will invite a Department Official and a representative from the voluntary sector dealing with children's groups to next week's meeting in order to brief the Committee on the effectiveness to date of the scheme and to suggest possible options for future funding breakdowns. In light of the above, the Clerk will request a further extension to the 11 January 2002 deadline for responses to the Department.

9. Specification for Centralised Maternity Hospital in Belfast: Consultation Paper

Agreed: In light of some concerns raised by members in relation to the consultation paper, the Clerk will write to invite Departmental Officials to provide clarification on a number of issues at next week's meeting, including which interested groups had agreed its content. In light of the above, the Clerk will request an extension to the 18 January 2002 deadline for responses to the consultation paper.

10. Research on Health and Social Services Structures - Briefing

Assembly Researchers: Mr Rab McConaghy
Dr Janice Thompson

Mr McConaghy explained the proposal for revised terms of reference for the research commissioned by the Committee on health structures for Northern Ireland, which he said would deliver a range of distinct outputs.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the revised terms of reference as set out below. The research team also undertook to provide the Committee with the current health organisational baseline for Northern Ireland as a foundation for the research programme. The work will be carried out in two stages. A provisional deadline of 28 February was agreed for the first stage, which will comprise the organisational baseline structures and the first two points of the following terms of reference.

1. To explore the context of health structures with reference to pre-devolution reviews.

2. To explore the proposals for health structures under Hayes, with particular focus on the potential impact of Managed Clinical Networks.

3. To provide comparative information on health input (resource) indicators for GB and Northern Ireland relative to the EU and OECD.

4. To provide an assessment of the recently published 'Securing our Future Health: Taking a Long Term View' (The Wanless Report).

5. To provide comparative information on health provision and policies in a number of "health efficient" countries.

11. AOB

Agreed: The Committee noted a statement from staff at the NI Children's Hospice requesting statutory intervention to address the critical situation at the Hospice. It was agreed that the Clerk should seek advice from the Assembly's legal team on the matter.

12. Date and Time of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 23 January 2002 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting ended at 5:35 pm.

DR J HENDRON
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
January 2002

9 January 2002 / Menu / 23 January 2002