Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 2 April 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 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill 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) 
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.04 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with representatives of Loughview Surgery, Kirkcubbin. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 26 March 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2009 were agreed as amended.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister announcing the membership of the public inquiry into the C Difficile outbreak in the Northern Health & Social Care Trust.

The Committee noted a letter from the Royal College of Midwives about the Northern Health & Social Care Trust’s policy for dealing with unexpected deaths and agreed to write to the Trust to request a copy of the policy.

The Committee noted a letter from the Western Health & Social Care Trust about the use of Agency staff.

The Committee noted a response from the Western Health & Social Care Trust about proposals to close Drumshaw residential home in Lisnaskea and agreed to forward this to Mr Leo McElgunn.

The Committee noted a letter from the Department regarding the template used by the Department to screen legislation for equality issues.

The Committee noted a response from the Northern Health & Social Care Trust about how Trust’s took account of public petitions in reaching decisions about home closures. Responses from other Trusts are awaited.

The Committee noted an Executive response to the Committee’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm from the Minister and agreed to defer consideration of this until the next Committee meeting.

5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity

Evidence session with the Allied Health Professions

Members took evidence from:

Pauline Mulholland Board Member, British Dietetic Association (NI)

Tracey Gibbs Chairperson, College of Occupational Therapy

Teresa Ross Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

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

2.54 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

6.Departmental Briefing on Generic Prescribing

Members took evidence from:

Norman Morrow Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS

Mark Timoney DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The Committee urged the Department to seek to reach consensus with the interested organisations and to keep the Committee updated on developments. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.06 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting. 
3.28p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting. 
3.28p.m. Mrs Claire McGill took the chair. 
3.32p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting and took the chair. 
3.52 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting. 
4.04 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting. 
4.04 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchananleft the meeting. 
4.12 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2009/ 121: The Recovery of Health Services Charges (General) and (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009/ 121: The Recovery of Health Services Charges (General) and (Amounts)(Amendment) 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 Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

Ernie Swain Primary Care Directorate, DHSSPS

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

Members were briefed on the proposal to make the Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

Gerard Smyth Primary Production Unit, Food Standards Agency (NI)

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

9. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

The Committee noted a letter from the Health Foundation about a report ‘the quality of healthcare in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: an intra-UK chartbook’.

The Committee noted an invitation to the Parkinson’s Disease Society’s first Board of Trustees meeting on Monday 11 th May 2009.

The Committee noted correspondence from the General Medical Council regarding proposed changes to the Fitness to Practise Rules 2004 and a letter from the General Medical Council about the new edition of GMC today.

The Committee noted a letter from Declan Quinn regarding concerns surrounding maternity provision at the Royal Victoria Hospital and that the Committee is waiting for a response from the Minister on this matter.

The Committee noted an email from a University student, requesting an interview with a member of the Committee for a project on climate change .

10. Any other business

The Committee agreed an outline of a proposed round table research event as part of its inquiry into obesity.

The Committee agreed not to undertake a fact finding visit to Norway.

The Committee noted that the next Committee meeting would be preceded by a visit to the Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology at Belfast City Hospital.

The Committee discussed plans to build a respite centre for young people in the Omagh Fermanagh area and agreed to write to the Trust for further information.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 23 April 2009 at 2.00pm in the Old Staff Common Room, Lanyon Building, Queens University Belfast .

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.22 p.m.