Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 10 JANUARY 2008
Everton Complex, Ardoyne Road, Belfast

Present: 
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson) 
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA

In Attendance: 
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)

Apologies: 
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Rev Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.28 p.m. in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust for hosting the Committee visit to the Mater Hospital, their briefing on the Suicide Interventionist project & the use of the Everton Complex to hold the Committee meeting.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 13 December2007

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2007 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

Members agreed to forward a letter from the Allied Health Professionals to the Minister and to ask that the Committee be copied into the response.

Members noted a response from the Minister about the treatment received by Billy Caldwell. Members agreed to write to the Minister for further information.

5. The Health and Social care Bill

Members were briefed by the following:
Dr Norman Morrow Chief Pharmacist, DHSSPS 
Joyce Cairns Human Resource Directorate, DHSSPS 
Gail Anderson Human Resource Directorate, DHSSPS

A questions and answer session ensued. The Committee agreed to support the principle of extending to Northern Ireland the relevant provisions of the Health & Social Care bill. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

2.33 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilínleft the meeting. 
2.47 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilínreturned to the meeting.

6. Committee Inquiry into the prevention of Suicide and Self Harm

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Jo Murphy PIPS Project.
Philip McTaggart PIPS Project.
Marie Osborne West Belfast Suicide Awareness.
Vincent Donaldson Suicide Awareness Support Group.
Roberta Coates Rays Crisis Centre. 
Phyllis McDoal Rays Crisis Centre. 
Michael Doherty Lenadoon Community Counselling.
Seamus McCabe PIPS Project, Newry & Mourne.
Gerard McCartan PIPS Project.
Maureen Young Northern Health Board Area.
Robert Doyle The Association of Mental Health new Northern Ireland Children’s enterprise, West Belfast Suicide Awareness Support Group.
Bobby Cosgrove South & East Belfast Families Bereaved through Suicide. 
Ann McGarrigle North West Bereaved by Suicide group.

A questions and answer session ensued. Members agreed to write to the Department for Social Development regarding the renewal of funding for community based groups. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

7. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

Members noted a letter from Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health and agreed that they should be invited to a lunchtime meeting with the Committee.

Members noted a letter from the Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre and agreed that they should be invited to a lunchtime meeting with the Committee.

Member agreed to forward a letter from Ms J M Knowles to Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for a response.

Members noted a letter from SOS bus NI and agreed that they should be invited to a lunchtime meeting with the Committee.

Members noted an invitation to an event on MS Society sponsored by the Chairperson, Iris Robinson, in the Long Gallery 29 January 2008.

Members noted an invitation from the Equality Commission asking if a representative of the Health Committee could attend the Launch of Formal Investigation Report on the accessibility of Health Information for People with a Learning Disability on Tuesday 29 January 2008.

8. Any other business

The Committee agreed write to the Department requesting an update on the monitoring of care homes.

The Committee agreed write to the Department requesting an update on hospital cleanliness.

Members agreed to invite Departmental Officials to answer questions regarding concerns about the implementation of the Agenda for Change.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department about hospital telephone charges.

Members agreed to forward a letter from the Agriculture Committee about an inquiry it is undertaking into renewable energy to the Minister.

Members agreed the Forward Work Programme and details of an evidence session on the suicide inquiry for 31 January 2008.

9. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 17 January 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in the Room 135, Parliament Buildings & will be preceded by an informal meeting with Professor Appleby over lunch in the Members Private Dining Room starting at 1.00 pm.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.50 p.m.