Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present: 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA

In Attendance: 
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Render (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson) 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.11 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Deputy Chairperson thanked Queens University for their hospitality, for hosting a visit to the Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology and for the use of the university’s facilities to hold the Committee meeting.

The Deputy Chairperson recorded the Committee’s thanks to an officer who has left the Committee staff.

The Committee agreed not to proceed with a planned fact finding visit to London & Birmingham as part their inquiry into obesity. The Committee agreed to invite a representative from the Department of Health to brief it on measures being taken to prevent & treat obesity.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 2 April 2009

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 April 2009 were agreed as amended.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about issues raised by the Shingles Support Society and agreed to copy this to the Society.

The Committee noted a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister about issues raised by the Construction Industry Group. Members agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Ministers for further information and copy the response to the Construction Industry Group.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Department to the President of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

The Committee noted responses from Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, the Northern Health & Social Care Trust and Southern Health & Social Care Trust about hospital menus and agreed to include this information in the Committee report on obesity.

The Committee noted responses from all 5 Trusts about issues raised the Derry Detox Group and agreed to forward these to the group for their views.

The Committee noted responses from the Southern Health & Social Care Trust, the Western Health & Social Care Trust and the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust about how the Trusts took account of public petitions in reaching decisions about home closures.

The Committee noted a response from the Retrieve Foundation about mental health services in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a letter from the British Medical Association about obesity.

The Committee noted a letter from Foster Care Associates thanking the Committee for meeting with them.

The Committee noted a letter from Political Youth wings thanking the Committee for their interest in mental health issues. 

The Committee noted a response from the Ambulance Service about the definition of the Golden Hour.

The Committee welcomed a response from the Minister about the future of Gortmore & Greenfield residential homes.

The Committee noted a summary of the key points from the lunchtime meeting with representatives of Loughview Surgery and agreed to write to the Minister about this matter.

The Committee noted a letter from the South Eastern Trust providing additional information following the evidence session with the Committee on 19 February 2009.

5. Committee Inquiry into Obesity

Evidence session with Queens University Belfast

Members took evidence from:

Professor Frank Kee Deputy Director, Centre for Public Health, QUB 
Dr Michelle McKinley Principal Investigator, Centre for Public Health, QUB 
Ms Mairead Boohan Deputy Director, Centre for Medical Education, QUB

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

2.20 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.

The Committee noted a number of research topics for consideration at a round table event being organised for Tuesday 19 May 2009. Members were asked to provide any views to the Committee office.

Evidence session with NILGA

Members took evidence from:

Karen Smyth Head of Policy, NILGA
Katrina Morgan Leisure Operations Manager, Belfast City Council

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

3.04 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.21 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

6. Statutory Rule. SR 2009 / 145: The Establishments and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009 / 145: The Establishments and Agencies (Fitness of Workers) (Amendment No.2) 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.

3.27 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
3.31 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2009 / 151: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009 / 151: The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) 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. Statutory Rule. SR 2009 / 152: The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009 / 152: The General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment No. 2) 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.

9. Statutory Rule. SR 2009 / 153: The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee considered SR 2009 / 153: The Optical Charges and Payments (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.

10. Consideration of Executive response to the Committee’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm

The Committee considered the Executive’s response to the Committee’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm and agreed to invite Departmental officials to discuss progress on implementing the recommendations in the report.

The Committee noted correspondence from Dr Paul Slater and agreed to invite him to the next Committee reception.

11. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases

The Committee noted correspondence received from the Committee for the Environment about initiatives from BT to reduce carbon emissions and agreed to forward this to the Department for a response.

The Committee noted a copy of the Hansard Transcript from the Committee for Finance and Personnel evidence session on 11th March 2009 in relation to Varney II and Strategic Economic Issues.

The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson of the Audit Committee about the implementation of new International Financial Reporting Standards.

The Committee noted a HSC Reform Update.

The Committee noted letters regarding the death of firefighter Paul O`Brien and agreed to invite the Chief Fire Officer to brief members and to write to the Minister about this matter.

The Committee noted a letter from Stephen Murtagh seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite Mr Murtagh to the next Committee reception.

The Committee noted a letter from Dr Una Lynch about the Committee Inquiry into obesity and agreed to invite Dr Lynch to make a written submission.

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Lee Wilson proposing an internet site to allow patients and care users to register views regarding the Health and Social Care System.

The Committee noted an invitation from Asthma UK regarding a World Asthma Day event being held on Tuesday 5th May 2009.

The Committee noted a letter from the Prince’s Trust requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to the next Committee reception.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Participation and the Practice of Rights Project about the new complaints procedures for health services in Northern Ireland and agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on the new procedures.

The Committee noted Minutes for the 166th and 167th Western Health and Social Services Council meetings.

The Committee noted a BMA publication – ‘Partners in Care’.

The Committee noted a report ‘Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2006/2007 – Drug Prevalence Survey: Sedatives or Tranquillisers and Anti-depressants Results’.

The Committee noted a report ‘ChildLine Casenotes – A series of reports on issues facing children today.’

The Committee noted details of the Parents Advice Centre NI 20th Anniversary Conference.

The Committee noted an advertisement for the Irish Traditional Super Group being held at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on 4th May 2009 in aid of suicide awareness.

The Committee noted details of the ARC NI Annual Conference 2009

The Committee noted NISCC News – February 2009

The Committee noted a letter from TSA Planning seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to the next Committee reception.

The Committee noted an invitation to an event being organised by Armagh City & District Council.

10. Any other business

The Committee agreed to inquire about the work being carried out on obesity by the Sports Centre at the University of Ulster.

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about services at Downe Hospital.

The Committee agreed to write to the Western Health & Social Care Trust about recent reports about the retraining of some surgical staff.

11. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 30 April 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.51 p.m.