Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS 
THURSDAY, 17 APRIL 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA 
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance: 
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.34 pm. in public session.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies received.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Roddy McNidder, Head of Critical Incident Stress Management Team, North West Kilmarnock Area Centre, who was observing the meeting.

The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Mr Lowry about organ donors and a separate meeting with representatives of the British Medical Association. A note of the meetings will be circulated in due course.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 10 April 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2008were agreed.

2.36pm Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.

4. Matters arising

Members approved the draft Committee response to the Stroke Strategy and agreed that it should be forwarded to the Minister.

Members noted a letter from the Minister about the circumstances of the injuries sustained by Mrs McGinley after her death. Members agreed that a letter should be sent to the Minister stating that Members were not satisfied with the contents of the Minister’s letter and asking him to reconsider the decision not to hold a public Inquiry.

2.40pm Mr Tom Buchanan joined the meeting.

Members noted the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules on ten proposed Statutory Rules which had been considered by the Committee at the two previous meetings. Members agreed that they had no objection to the Statutory Rules.

Members agreed to ask the Department to brief the Committee on the overall provision of maternity services and to write to the Department in the meantime asking for an update on the number of children who have had to be transferred to other hospitals because of the lack of facilities.

5. Evidence session on Perinatal Psychiatry Services

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Breedagh Hughes NI Board Secretary, Royal College of Midwives 
Shona Hamilton Chairman of Royal College of Midwives NI Board 
Patricia McStay Head of Midwifery Services, Southern Health & Social Care Trust 
Dr. Janine Lynch Consultant Psychiatrist 
Mary D uggan Chairman CPHVA NI Board

A question and answer session ensued.

The Committee welcomed the invitation for individual Members to meet with mothers who have suffered from perinatal psychiatric disorders.

The Committee agreed that a transcript of the evidence session should be sent to the Minister asking for a response and asking him to ensure that the issues are dealt with in the context of the Bamford Report.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.35pm Mrs Carmel Hanna, Ms Michelle O’Neill and Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

6. Proposals for Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on The Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 which was deferred at the Committee meeting on 13 March 2008, in order that the Department could check that proper consultation had taken place with the Fire Brigades’ Union by:

Ms Heather Robinson Equality & Public Safety Directorate
Mr Bertie Kennedy Equality & Public Safety Directorate

3.40pm Ms Michelle O’Neill returned to the meeting.

Members agreed that they were content that the Department proceed to prepare the Statutory Rule.

Members were briefed on The Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and The Smoke-Free (Exemptions, Vehicles, Penalties and Discounted Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by:

Mr Jim Gibson Population Health Directorate
Mr Nigel McMahon Chief Environmental Health Officer

Members agreed that they were content that the Department proceed to prepare the Statutory Rules.

Members were briefed on The European Qualifications (Pharmacy) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and The European Qualifications (Pharmacy) No. 2 Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by:

Ms Gail Anderson Human Resources Directorate 
Ms Joyce Cairns Human Resources Directorate

3.48pm Ms Sue Ramsey returned to the meeting.

Members agreed that they were content that the Department proceed to prepare the Statutory Rules.

4.02pm the Committee adjourned.

4.10pm the Committee resumed in closed session. 
4.11pm Mr McCallister joined the meeting.

7. Consideration of draft Report on the Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm

4.27pm Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting. 
4.3 pm Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting. 
4.42pm Mr Tommy Gallagher returned to the meeting. 
4.46pm Ms Sue Ramsey returned to the meeting.

The Committee considered paragraphs 1 – 56 of the Draft Report.

8. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

Members noted a letter from the Minister for Finance and Personnel to the Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Executive’s review of Domestic Rating.

Members noted a Joint Report from the Department of Education and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs.

Members noted letters from Dr M El-Agnaf and Dr M Bowers on Medical Secretaries, South Eastern Trust and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Minister.

Members noted a document from Dr G Max O‘Brien on Support the Retention of the Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland.

Members noted a document from Ballymoney Community Childcare on the decision by the Northern Regional College to close the childcare Service. Members agreed that this should be forwarded to the Employment and Learning Committee for consideration.

Members noted a document from The Trossachs Area Residents’ Association on the closure of two lane ways. Members agreed that this should be forwarded to the Regional Development Committee for consideration.

Members noted a copy of a letter to the Minister from Mr Michael Dalton on examination and reformation of performance targets for the NIAS.

Members noted a letter from Mr Michael McGinn on the Bamford Review. Members agreed that this letter should be referred to the Minister.

Members noted a letter from the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network on Putting the Learning to use: Inequalities in health and wellbeing. Members agreed that the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network should be invited to attend a lunchtime meeting with the Committee.

Members noted a letter from the Fertility Counselling Service on accessing additional funding for fertility counselling services in Northern Ireland. Members agreed to write to the Minister requesting a copy of his response to a letter sent to him by the Fertility Counselling Service.

Members noted a letter from the Participation and the Practice of Human Rights Project on Rights in Action; Changing Mental Health Services.

Members noted a letter from the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council on Managing Professional Competence and Behaviour: Workshop report.

Members noted a document from the Northern Ireland Social Care Council on NISCC News.

Members noted a document from ARC Northern Ireland on the ARC NI Conference on Friday 18 April 2008.

9. Any other business

Members agreed to cancel the Committee meeting on Thursday 8 May 2008 due to events being held in the building on that date, in relation to the investment conference.

Members noted that there will be a Committee reception for eighteen health related groups on Monday next 21 April 2008 from 4.00 to 6.30 pm.

Members agreed to invite the Royal College of Nursing to an informal lunchtime meeting at 12.45pm on Thursday 24 April 2008 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

Issues relating to the Ambulance protocol on falls and injuries were raised and Members noted that a visit to the Ambulance Trust has been planned. In the meantime Members agreed to write to the Minister to ask for a copy of the protocol and to request information on how many patients were brought to Erne Hospital and subsequently moved to Altnagelvin Hospital since the beginning of the year.

Members agreed to ask the Department for an update on an evaluation carried out last year by the Healthy Living Centre Regional Alliance.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 24 April 2008 at 2.30pm in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.43 p.m.