Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Room 135, 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

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)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.09 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 the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.

The Deputy Chairperson reported that she had been briefed by the Chief Medical Officer about the removal of acute services from Tyrone County Hospital. Members expressed serious concerns about this decision and agreed to write to the Western Health & Social Care Trust urgently. The Committee also agreed to discuss this matter with the Trust next week and with the Minister the following week.

2.26 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting. 
2.31 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 15 January 2009.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted responses from the Minister about the payment of Reward Money.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about concerns raised by the Royal College of Midwives. Members agreed to copy the response to the Royal College of Midwives seeking their views.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the provision of Complimentary & Alternative Medicine by the health service.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the representation of the Allied Health Professions in Health & Social Care structures. Members agreed to copy the response to Allied Health Professions Federation.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about his meeting with a delegation from Omagh District Council and the plans for an enhanced local hospital in Omagh.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Department’s strategies for dealing with osteoporosis. Members agreed to copy the response to the Osteoporosis Society.

The Committee noted responses from the Northern Trust and the Southern Trust about efficiency savings.

The Committee noted a summary of the keys points from the lunchtime meeting with Children’s Independent Therapy last week and agreed to write to the Department about the issues raised.

The Committee discussed a response from the Minister and a response from the Minister for Finance & Personnel about funding for the proposed Women & Children’s Hospital at the Royal and agreed to note the position at present.

5. Evidence session with the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health on ‘Mental Health Promotion – Building the Economic Case’.

Members took evidence from:

Alan Ferguson Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

Graham Logan Policy Development Manager, NIAMH

Michael Parsonage Health Economist and Senior Policy Advisor the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health  

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. Members agreed to arrange a joint presentation with the Committee for Education for a report that Professor Ferguson was preparing for the Department. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

2.36 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting. 
2.37 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting. 
2.42 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting. 
2.58 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting. 
3.05 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting. 
3.15 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting. 
3.19 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.

6. Evidence session with the Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee on Generic Tendering.

Members took evidence from:

Terry Hannawin Chief Executive, PCC (NI)

Gerard Greene PCC (NI)

A question and answer session ensued. Members agreed to write to the Minister about the concerns raised and to discuss this with him at a future Committee meeting. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.26 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting. 
3.45 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting. 
3.49 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting. 
3.54 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting. 
3.55 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.

7. Proposed Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on:

The proposal to make the Repeal of the Establishments and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and

The Care Tribunal (Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 by:

Eilís McDaniel Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Implementation Team

Julie Stephenson Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Implementation Team

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

4.08 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting. 
4.10 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.

8. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

The Committee noted a letter from Speechmatters who will now be known as the Stroke Association Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a letter from Mrs Julie Lyttle forwarded by Peter Robinson MP about efforts to introduce a Private Members Autism Bill in Westminster.

The Committee noted a letter from the Education Committee about a consultation on the Education Bill.

The Committee noted a letter from Gavin Kirby requesting a meeting with the Committee about delays in processing applications to join the pharmaceutical list. Members agreed to forward Mr Kirby’s letter to the Minister for a response.

9. Any other business

The Committee noted arrangements for a CPR event being organised by the British Heart Foundation for Members.

The Committee agreed that the Construction Industry Group and the Shingles Support Society should be invited to the next two lunchtime meetings.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 29 January 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.13 pm.