Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2008
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present: Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
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 Sue Ramsey MLA

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

Apologies: Rev Robert Coulter MLA 
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting commenced at2.36 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with the Family Ministry Commission. A note of the meeting will issue in due course.

The Chairperson reported that the Minister would be attending the Committee meeting on 6 March 08 to discuss plans for restructuring the health service. Members agreed to advise the Minister that they wished to raise other issues at the meeting.

Member agreed to write to Rev Robert Coulter wishing him a speedy recovery.

2.38 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín joined the meeting

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 31 January 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a press release from the Department announcing the launch of a regional suicide prevention helpline. Members expressed concerns that the helpline was going ahead without evaluation of the pilot scheme.

Members noted a response from the Minister for Social Development to the Committee’s letter about funding for North and West Belfast Self Harm Service.

Members noted an invitation from Mr. John Moloney, T.D, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children to meet with the Committee during the visit to Dublin.

Members agreed to forward a copy of response from Dr Paula Kilbane, Chief Executive of the Eastern Health & Social Services Board to the Committee’s letter about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy services to Elaine Jennings who had raised the issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a letter from Queens University & the University of Ulster about a research study on suicide they are conducting.

Members noted a report on the Committees meeting with Optometry NI on Thursday 31 January 2008 and agreed to write to the Minister about issues raised during the meeting.

5. Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm

Evidence session with Church Leaders

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Rev Roy Cooper, President Methodist Church in Ireland
Rev Dr John Finlay Moderator, Presbyterian Church
Archbishop Alan Harper OBE Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, 
Bishop Patrick Walsh Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor
Mr Lindsay Conway Director for Social Services, Presbyterian Church
Rev John McClure Church of Ireland
Dr Oliver Woods Advisor to Bishop Walsh

A questions and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.40 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.53 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

6. Departmental Briefing on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

Members were briefed by the following:

Dr Liz Reaney Senior Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Margaret Rose McNaughton Secondary Care Directorate, DHSSPS

A questions and answer session ensued. Members agreed to write to the appropriate Westminster Standing Committee to express the Committee’s concerns about elements of the Bill. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

4.29 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.

7. Proposal for Statutory Rule from the Food Standards Agency

Members were briefed by Maria Jennings, Head of Consumer Choice and Food Standards Division, FSA on the Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations (NI) 2008.

Members agreed they were content that the Food Standards Agency proceeds to prepare the relevant Statutory Rule.

8. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases

Members noted the first results of the 2006/2007 Drug Prevalence Survey.

Member agreed to forward a letter from Dr Michael McKenna about Pathology services in Northern Ireland to the Minister for a response.

The Committee agreed that the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, the Hurt Project and the Healthy Living Centre’s Regional Alliance should be added to the list of organisations requesting a meeting with the Committee. The Committee agreed to arrange a further reception for Health related groups after Easter.

Members noted a letter from Cloona Child Contact Centre about funding. The Committee noted that other groups including Community Drugs Awareness (CODA) have expressed concerns about funding and agreed to write to the Minister to ask for a list of community based Groups dealing with suicide, drug and alcohol abuse that may loose funding at the end of the year.

The Committee noted a newspaper article about research into suicide carried out Dr Dermot O’Reilly, Queens University and agreed to invite Dr O’Reilly to brief the Committee on his research.

Members noted a newspaper report about industrial action by medical secretaries at Altnagelvin Hospital and agreed to write to the Western Trust and the NIPSA Trade Union asking for an update.

9. Any other business

Members agreed to write to the Minister again asking for an urgent reply to the Committees letter sent 16 November about a dispute regarding the display of a commemorative picture at Enniskillen Fire Station.

The Committee agreed to allow Professor Lindsay Prior from Queens University Belfast to contact individual Members as part of a research project he is conducting on the patient choice agenda in health policy.

Members discussed continuing concerns about cases of C. difficile and agreed to invite the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Executives of the five Trusts to provide an update at the next Committee meeting. The Committee agreed to bring forward the start of the next Committee meeting to 1.30 p.m. and postpone the planned meeting with the Family Care Society.

Members agreed to write to the Minister asking for procedures to be put in place to enable Committee Members to carry out unannounced checks on hospital conditions.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 14 February 2008 at 1.30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.04 p.m.