Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2008/2009

Date: 15 January 2009

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 15 January 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 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 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)

The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Children’s Independent Therapy. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.

The Committee noted that the Select Committee on Health and Children in the Dail would be visiting Belfast on the following Tuesday and Wednesday and agreed to host a dinner for them on Tuesday night.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 December 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a paper from Mr Kevin Taylor on dioxins in animal feed.

The Committee noted a letter from the Northern Trust confirming that a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of their review of maternity services will be sent to the Committee at the end of February. The Committee agreed to write to the Trust and the Royal College of Midwives in relation to the existence of procedures for dealing with serious adverse incidents.

2.05 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about introducing home test kits for colon cancer.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by the Association for Real Change (ARC) and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to ARC.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by the British Association of Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to BAAF.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Mrs Mena Lyons and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to Mrs Lyons.

2.06 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Triangle Housing Association about funding for supported housing. Members agreed to invite the Regional Resettlement Team to meet the Committee and to copy the Minister’s reply to Triangle Housing Association and ARC.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about services for people suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy in Northern Ireland and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Claire O’Neill about screening of newborn children for biotindase deficiency and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to Ms O’Neill.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about patients paying for additional drug treatments without losing their right to free Health Service care.

The Committee noted an acknowledgement from the Minister to the Committee’s response to the consultation on Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Political Youthwings regarding mental health services and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to Political Youthwings and other voluntary organisations working on mental Health. Members also agreed to write to the Minister for an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Bamford review and ask about delays responding to Committee correspondence.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about matters raised by Dr Mary Gallagher about the statutory regulation of psychologists and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to Dr Gallagher.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the implementation of recommendations made by the review of the C Difficile outbreak in the Northern Trust. Members agreed to write to the Minister requesting more details on the implementation of the outstanding recommendations & also agreed to invite the RQIA to brief the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Complimentary and Alternative Medicine pilot project and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to the Belfast Health Initiative.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about funding for the proposed Women and Children’s Hospital on the Royal site and agreed to defer consideration of this matter until the next Committee meeting.

2.12 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the facilities available to care for victims of human trafficking.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by the Lymphoedema Network and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to the Lymphoedema Network.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the withdrawal of funding for the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre and agreed to forward the reply to the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre. Members also agreed to invite representatives of the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre to meet with the Committee.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about issues relating to Northern Ireland to be included in the Health Bill 2009 which is being introduced at Westminster.

The Committee noted a response from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister about funding for Playboard and agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for additional information.

The Committee noted a response from Belfast Trust about their policy on patient discharge and agreed to write to the Trust requesting a copy of the revised policy document.

The Committee noted a response from Belfast Trust about reward money.

The Committee noted a letter from the National Osteoporosis Society thanking the Committee for meeting with it.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Social Development regarding tree planting and agreed to write to the Minister requesting further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Social Development about issues raised by Triangle Housing Association and agreed to copy the Minister’s reply to Triangle Housing Association and ARC.

The Committee noted responses from the South Eastern Trust and Belfast Trust about efficiency savings and agreed to invite each of the Health & Social Care Trusts to brief the Committee on this matter.

A Committee motion was proposed that ‘The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety while recognising that there is a need for ‘efficiency saving’ within the Health Service calls on the HSSPS Minister in this the 60th year of the Health Service to take the necessary actions with Boards and Trusts to ensure that these; ‘savings’ do not impact on front line services and further calls for the budget for the most vulnerable within our society i.e. children, mental health and the elderly to be ring fenced’

The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 2; Abstentions 0

AYES
Dr Kieran Deeny
Mr Alex Easton
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mrs Michelle O’Neill
Mrs Claire McGill 
Ms Sue Ramsey

NOES
Mr John McCallister
Mr Sam Gardiner

ABSTENTIONS

None

The Committee motion was agreed.

The Committee noted correspondence from the family of Maureen McGinley regarding a report on the circumstances following her death and agreed to write to the Minister urging him again to set up an inquiry.

2.36 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.38 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.

5. Evidence session with Belfast Health & Social Care Trust on ‘New Directions – A Conversation on Future Delivery of HSC Services in Belfast’

Members took evidence from:

William McKee Chief Executive, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Denise Stockman Director of Planning & Redevelopment, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust.

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

3.17 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.26 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
3.29 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.59 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
4.00 p.m. meeting adjourned.
4.12 p.m. meeting resumed.

6. Evidence session with the Chief Social Services Inspector on the implications of the Baby P case.

Members took evidence from:

Sean Holland Chief Social Services Inspector, DHSSPS
Fergal Bradley Child Care Unit, DHSSPS
Martin Quinn Office of Social Services, DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information in writing. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

4.55 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
4.57 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
5.07 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.

7. Statutory Rule SR 2008/488: The Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/488: The Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule

5.09 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.

8. Proposed Statutory Rule: The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009

Members were briefed on the proposal to make The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 by:

Ernie Swain General Dental and Ophthalmic Services

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

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

9. Consideration of the Terms of Reference for the Committee Inquiry

The Committee agreed the Draft Terms of Reference for the Inquiry on Obesity.

The Committee agreed a list of relevant organisations for a consultation on the Inquiry on Obesity with one addition.

The Committee agreed a Draft Press Release for the Inquiry on Obesity.

The Committee agreed to liaise with the Public Accounts Committee regarding the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Northern Ireland.

10. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

The Committee noted a letter from the director of The Rainbow Project regarding sexual health promotion for gay and bisexual men & agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

The Committee noted a letter from the Association for Real Change (ARC) regarding their presentation to the Long Gallery event.

The Committee noted a letter from the Director of Home-Start.

The Committee agreed to accept an invitation from Queens University Belfast to hold a future meeting in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at the University.

The Committee noted a letter from the Kilcooley Community Forum regarding Ravara Residential Home for the Elderly in Kilcooley Estate Bangor & agreed to raise this issue with the Trust at a future Committee meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Independent Health & Care Providers regarding the hourly rates paid to independent domiciliary care providers.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Medical and Dental Training Agency to an event on Friday 30 January.

The Committee noted a letter from Rethink about its decision to become a separate independent charity.

The Committee noted a letter from Edward Cooke calling for the Minister’s resignation over the handling of the C Difficile outbreak in the Northern Trust.

The Committee noted a letter from Mr Michael Gribben about plans for a private healthcare facility in Ballygawley and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

The Committee noted a copy of Bookstart’s briefing to the Committee for Education.

The Committee noted a report on Post Project Evaluations (PPE’s) from the Committee for Finance & Personnel.

The Committee noted a copy of the Employment Service Board presentation to the Committee for Employment & Learning.

The Committee noted the minutes for the Western Health and Social Services Council held on Friday 14th November.

The Committee noted a report on Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2006/2007 – Drug Prevalence Survey: Cannabis Results.

The Committee noted a report on the Legislative Framework for Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation in Northern Ireland

The Committee noted a document from the Committee for Finance & Personnel detailing departmental reduced requirements, bids & allocations for the December 2008 monitoring rounds.

The Committee noted a report ‘Divided by Health: A City Profile’

The Committee noted the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan 2008 – 2013 published by the Department.

The Committee noted the latest edition of GMC Today

The Committee noted a report by the University of Edinburgh commissioned by NIPSA regarding the use of PFI/PPPs in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a training brochure from the Citizens Advice Bureau / Advice NI.

The Committee noted a report from the British Heart Foundation on ‘How parents are being misled – a campaign report on children’s food marketing’

The Committee agreed to accept invitation from Cedar Foundation to visit one of its facilities for people with disabilities.

The Committee noted the annual report from the Dental Complaints Service

The Committee noted the Fold Housing Association Annual Review 2007/08.

The Committee noted a report from Department for Work and Pensions on ‘raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future’.

The Committee noted the Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008

The Committee noted a consultation from the Department on the ‘Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Service Strategy for Bereavement Care’ and agreed to ask the Department to report to the Committee on the results of the consultation.

11. Any other business

The Committee agreed to arrange a visit to services for autistic adults in Newcastle.

The Committee discussed the provision of acute services in Omagh Hospital and agreed to discuss this with the Western Health & Social care Trust at a meeting to be arranged as soon as possible.

12. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 22 January 2009 at 2.00pm in room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.30 pm.

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