Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present: 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

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

Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson) 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.03 p.m. in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson reported that a successful reception had been held in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 10 March 2009 for health-related groups. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Members for attending and helping to make the event a success. Members acknowledged the role of committee staff in the organisation of the event.

The Committee agreed to forward petition’s opposing the closure of Greenfield Residential home in Strabane and Gortmore home in Omagh to the Minister for information.

The Deputy Chairperson informed the Committee that a proposed visit to Chicago to look at the services available for children with intractable epilepsy had been postponed because two of the main participants that Members planned to meet were no longer available. The Committee considered a report on the visit by the Deputy Chairperson to Great Ormond Street Hospital and agreed to consider at the next Committee meeting if the visit to Chicago was still necessary.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 5 March 2009

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a letter from the Department and copies of a leaflet on C Difficile that has been distributed to doctors’ surgeries.

The Committee noted an update on the implementation of the review of maternal deaths at Antrim Area hospital provided by the Northern Trust.

The Committee noted responses from the Northern Health & Social Care Trust and the Western Health & Social Care Trust to issues raised by the Derry Detox Group.

The Committee noted an acknowledgement from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Construction Industry Group and agreed to forward the response to the Construction Industry Group.

The Committee noted a report on the Committee’s lifesaving training event with the British Heart Foundation.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister informing the Committee that responses to the Departments consultation on ‘Delivering the Bamford vision’ are available on the Department’s website.

The Committee noted a letter from Janet Moore providing additional information on the Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Dr Mageean about Loughview Surgery in Kircubbin. Members noted that these issues had yet to be resolved and agreed to copy the letter to Dr Mageean and invite him to meet informally with representatives of the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Mr Francis Kielt about services at the Mid Ulster Hospital and agreed to copy this to Mr Kielt.

5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity

Evidence session with the British Medical Association (Northern Ireland)

Members took evidence from:

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Health & Social Care Trusts to request a sample of hospital menus.

2.14 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting. 
2.17 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting. 
2.55 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting. 
2.58 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting. 
2.58 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting. 
3.02 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting. 
3.06 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

6. Statutory Rule: The Health and Social Care (Reform) (2009 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered the content of the Health and Social Care (Reform) (2009 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and recommended that the Statutory Rule is affirmed by the Assembly subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

7. Evidence session with the Regional Resettlement Team

Members took evidence from:

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

3.47 p.m. Dr Kieran Deenyleft the meeting.
3.58 p.m. Dr Kieran Deenyleft the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting. 
4.05 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting. 
4.06 p.m. Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
4.11 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
4.14 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
4.14 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

8. Proposals for Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Recovery of Health Services Charges (General) and (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. Members agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

4.19 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

9. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases

The Committee noted a Consultation by the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency / Department of Health / Home Office on proposed legislative changes for planning in the event of pandemic flu.

The Committee noted a letter from the Committee on Procedures about their inquiry into legislative consent motions and agreed to forward a letter to the Departmental Liaison Officer.

The Committee noted a Health and Social Care Reform recruitment update for February 2009.

The Committee noted a copy of the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Annual Accounts for year ended 31st March 2008.

The Committee noted an article from the Ballymena Times about obesity.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Gerry Rogan Initiative Trust to their annual conference taking place on the 26th March 2009.

The Committee noted a letter from Health Action Zone Sexual Health Project Board requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to a future Committee event.

The Committee noted a letter from Mr Cecil Adair thanking the Committee for raising his case with the Minister.

The Committee noted a letter from Patchwork and agreed to invite the group to a future Committee event.

10. Any other business

Members agreed an outline plan for the Committee Inquiry into obesity.

The Committee discussed emergency services in the Omagh area and agreed to write to the Minister and the Ambulance Service Trust about this matter.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 26 March 2009 at 2.00 p.m. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35 p.m.