Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 19 February 2009
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 Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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:

The meeting commenced at 2.05 pm in public session.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson informed the Committee about an event being organised by Slimming World at Parliament Buildings on Saturday 21 February 2009.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 12 February 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by Asthma UK and agreed to copy the response to Asthma UK.

The Committee noted a letter from the Southern Trust in response to questions about proposed efficiency savings.

The Committee noted letters from New Life Counselling and the Retrieve Foundation.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Royal College of Midwives about the number of caesarean sections carried out in Northern Ireland and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

The Committee noted a report on the Committee visit to services operated by Autism Initiatives in Newcastle. Members agreed that the visit had been productive and worthwhile.

The Committee noted a response from the Northern Trust about the Memorandum of Understanding on the Investigation of Unexpected Deaths or Serious Untoward Harm.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by Mr Michael Gribben about plans to build a healthcare village in Ballygawley & agreed to copy the response to Mr Gribben. Members also agreed to invite Primacure to brief the Committee at a future meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the availability of 3 tesla scanners in the UK and agreed to write to the Minister about plans to obtain a 3 tesla scanner.

5. Evidence session with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust on Efficiency Savings.

Members took evidence from:

John Compton Chief Executive
John Simpson Director of Planning, Information & Performance Management

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

2.25 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
2.35 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
2.44 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
2.44 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
2.54 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
3.20 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.

3.25 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.33 p.m. Meeting resumed.

6. Evidence session with Departmental officials on the Implementation of the Report of the Independent Review of the C Difficile outbreak in the Northern Trust.

Members took evidence from:

Elizabeth Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Lorraine Doherty Senior Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Robert Sowney Service Development Unit, DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with a copy of a leaflet being distributed to the trusts and to provide regular updates to the Committee on the number of cases of C Difficile. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.36 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
3.37 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.41 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
4.33 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.

4.33 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the Chair.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/42: The Care Tribunal (Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered the content of SR 2009/42: The Care Tribunal (Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

8. Proposals for Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

Robert Kirkwood Primary and Community Care Directorate, DHSSPS
Michael Mawhinney Head of medicines inspection and investigations, DHSSPS 
Shona Coy Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS

and on the proposal to make the Health and Personal Social Services (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

Christine Jendoubi DHSSPS
Julianne Broten Noble DHSSPS

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

9. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding a briefing from Macmillan Cancer Support on cancer poverty.

The Committee noted a letter from the Committee on Procedures regarding an inquiry into Legislative Consent and agreed the Committee submission.

The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding Hope Centre Ballymena. Members noted that the Committee had written to the Northern Health and Social Services Board regarding this matter and agreed to copy the reply to the Committee for Finance and Personnel when this is received.

The Committee noted a letter from Alastair Ross MLA regarding Foster Care Associates (Northern Ireland) and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a press release about a Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery meeting taking place on Wednesday 11th March 2009.

The Committee agreed to invite representatives of Magherafelt District Council to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Benenden Healthcare Society.

The Committee noted letters from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association and UNITE regarding proposed legislation on tobacco displays in shops and agreed to invite these groups to brief Members at the next Committee meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Francis Kielt regarding the downgrading of Mid Ulster Hospital and agreed to forward this to the Minister for a response.

The Committee noted NIPEC’s annual report and accounts 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008.

The Committee noted an invitation from the GMC to a round table discussion on ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors 2009: a draft for consultation’ taking place on Wednesday 25th March 2009.

The Committee noted the Orchardville Society’s annual report 2008.

The Committee noted NIUSE’s annual report 2008.

10. Any other business

The Committee agreed to hold an event for healthcare related groups on Tuesday 10 March 2009.

The Committee agreed a press release for a Life Saving Training Event to be held on Thursday 26 February 2009.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 26 February 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.21 pm.