Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 01 JULY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson) 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk) 
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk) 
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer) 
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer) 
Dr Janice Thompson (Research Officer)

Apologies: 
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.08 p.m. in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.

1. Apologies.

Apologies as above.

2.09 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill joined the meeting.

2. Chairperson’s Business.

The Committee noted a rota for members’ attendance at informal lunchtime meetings following summer recess.

The Committee noted that this was the last meeting before recess and that the next meeting would be on Thursday 9 th September. The Committee agreed a response to inquiries received over the recess period.

The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to submit views on Freedom of Information requests on behalf of the Committee over the recess period.

The Deputy Chairperson provided the Committee with details of a meeting that she and the Chairperson had with the Minister on the closures at Mid Ulster Hospital and Whiteabbey Hospital.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2010 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Bike to Work scheme.

The Committee noted a response from the Department to Mrs A C Long regarding referral by a GP to an Accident & Emergency unit.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the review of the Investing for Health Strategy.

The Committee noted a response from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder and agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister thanking the Committee for bringing the petition for Help for Young Informal Carers in Northern Ireland to its attention.

The Committee noted a response from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding Historic Child Abuse and agreed to copy this to Mr Conall McDevitt MLA.

The Committee noted submissions on the Sunbeds Bill received from the Department of the Environment, Lisburn City Council, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Western Health and Social Care Trust.

The Committee noted additional information from the Health & Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency following an evidence session on 3rd June 2010. Claire Mc Gill MLA noted that she believes that further work is required on the capitation formula with regards to rural factors. The Committee agreed to write to the Board seeking further information on this matter.

The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Minister to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Assembly’s decision to support the Committee motion calling for a Public Inquiry into the McElhill/ McGovern Tragedy.

The Committee noted responses regarding Palliative care and the end of life strategy from the Belfast, Northern and South Eastern Trusts. Members also noted that the Southern and Western Trusts had failed to respond to the Committee’s request for information and agreed to write to the Chief Executives of these Trusts regarding this.

The Committee noted responses regarding a moratorium on recruitment and a breakdown of administrative structures from the Belfast, Northern, Southern and South Eastern Trusts. Members also noted that the Western Trust had failed to respond to the Committee’s request for information and agreed to write to the Chief Executive of the Trust regarding this.

The Committee noted responses regarding the number of unallocated children’s cases from the Belfast, Northern, South Eastern and Western Trusts. Members also noted that the Southern Trust had failed to respond to the Committees request for information and agreed to write to the Chief Executive of the Trust regarding this.

The Committee noted the key points of the informal meeting with Mindwise on Thursday 24 th June 2010 and agreed to write to the Department about the issues raised.

The Committee noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the Independent Review of the UK response to Swine Flu.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Health and Social Care Board regarding issues raised on 3 rd June 2010.

The Committee noted a copy of the Public Petition presented to the Assembly by George Robinson on GP Out of Hours.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Primary Care Foundation Benchmarking report on the structure of the Regional Out of Hours Service in Northern Ireland and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the availability of child protection information.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department listing amendments to be made to the Sunbeds Bill and agreed that officials should brief members regarding these at the next Committee meeting.

The Committee agreed to seek legal advice regarding its request for a copy of the North South Feasibility study.

5. Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed a revised Forward Work Programme for September to December 2010.

2.30 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

6. Evidence session on the Mid Ulster Hospital and the Whiteabbey Hospital

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr David Galloway Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety

Mr Brian McNeill NI Ambulance Service

Mr Michael Bloomfield  Health and Social Care Board

Dr Peter Flanagan Medical Director, Northern Health & Social Care Trust

Ms Valerie Jackson Director of Acute Services, Northern Health & Social Care Trust

Dr Olivia Dornan Clinical Director Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Northern Health & Social Care Trust

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

The Committee agreed to forward a copy of a briefing paper from the ‘Save the Mid’ Campaign to the Northern Health & Social Care Trust and also agreed to ask the Trust to provide a written brief on its future plans for the Mid Ulster Hospital and the Whiteabbey Hospital.

2.48 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.

2.54 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.

3.23p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

3.57 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

3.59 p.m. Mr Jim Wells took the Chair.

3.59 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.

3.59 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagherleft the meeting.

7. Guidance for the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2010

The Committee noted guidance for the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2010 and agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of the Departmental spending plan and savings delivery plan once they are submitted to DFP.

8. Assembly Research Briefing on the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill NIA 25/09

The Committee was briefed by Dr Janice Thompson of Assembly Research Services on the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill.

The Committee agreed to write to the BMA (NI) seeking its views on the Bill.

4.03 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.

4.11 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagherrejoined the meeting.

4.16 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.

4.32 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.

9. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Food Irradiation (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

10. Correspondence.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding a meeting with Real Fathers for Justice.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding action plans developed under the work programme of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People and agreed to write to the Department for information on its involvement with the action plans.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Europe 2020 Strategy.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding accessibility of local government art and agreed to forward this to the Minister.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding funding for Special Olympics Ulster and agreed to write to the Department on this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence the Construction Employers Federation seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to the next reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted correspondence from Independent Health and Care Providers requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted correspondence from John McCallister MLA seeking a meeting for the Chief Executive of the Football Association and agreed to invite him to the next reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted the Belfast Healthy Cities June 2010 Newsletter.

The Committee noted the General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland – 2009.

11. Any other business.

The Committee agreed to request a research paper on the administrative structures of the Department and the Health & Social Care Trusts.

12. Date, time and place of the next meeting.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 9 th September 2010 at 2.00 pm in room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.41 p.m.