Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 21 January 2010
Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson) 
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance: 
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session .

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted that Mrs Carmel Hanna had resigned from the Northern Ireland Assembly and agreed to write to thanking her for her work on the Committee and to wish her well for the future.

The Committee noted that Mrs Hanna would be replaced on the Committee by Mr Conall McDevitt.

The Committee noted a letter from Charlie O’Connor TD, member of the Committee for Health and Children in the Irish Parliament thanking the Committee for hosting a meal for their visit to Parliament Buildings on Monday 11 January.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 14 January 2010

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2010 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted responses from the South Eastern Trust and the Northern Trust about expenditure on Taxis and agreed to consider this matter when responses had been received from all trusts.

The Committee noted a response from Minister about victims of institutional abuse and agreed to forward this to Mrs Carmel Hanna.

The Committee noted a response from Minister about the availability of fertility treatment and agreed to forward the response to the Infertility Network UK and More to Life who raised this issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from Minister about patient nutrition.

The Committee noted a response from Marie Curie Cancer Care about the effect of efficiency savings on cancer services and agreed to write to the Minister about the issues raised.

The Committee noted a response from South Eastern Trust about patient nutrition.

The Committee noted responses from all Trusts and the Minister about the provision of information in a form accessible to patients with visual impairment and agreed to forward the responses to the RNIB who raised the issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a report on informal meeting with RNIB and agreed to write the Department and the Western Health & Social Care Trust about the issues raised.

The Committee noted a response from Southern Trust about services for young people with cerebral palsy who may require institutional care.

The Committee noted a response from Health and Social Care Board about the operation of the Board.

The Committee agreed a media operational notice for the next Committee meeting which will take evidence on revised Departmental spending plans.

The Committee noted a response from Education Minister regarding the proposed autism bill and agreed to hold an informal meeting on Tuesday 9 th February to discuss the proposed bill.

5. Departmental briefing on the Review of Investing for Health

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Liz Mitchell Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Mr Andrew Elliott Director of Population Health
Dr Naresh Chada Senior Medical Officer
Mr Rob Phipps Head of Health Development Policy Branch, Population Health Directorate

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The witnesses provided the Committee with an update on swine flu. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.00 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.22 p.m.Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.30 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
3.31 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.

6. Evidence session on Investing for Health – Mr Evan Bates

The Committee took evidence from Mr Evan Bates. A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the information provided by Mr Bates. The Committee also agreed to write to Mr Bates for further information.

4.03 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.

7. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed a forward work programme to examine the issues around a proposed Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland. The Committee agreed to consider a visit to examine best practice in safeguarding at a future Committee meeting.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Social Inclusion Working Group Report on disability and agreed to forward this to the Department seeking its views on the report.

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the monitoring of Post Project Evaluations.

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding its Inquiry into participation in sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland and agreed to submit a copy of the obesity report with reference to specific sections of the report.

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure about the promotion of townland names and agreed to forward a letter to the Department.

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Committee for the Environment about the Committee Stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill and agreed to forward a letter to the Department.

The Committee agreed to visit the new Cancer Research-UK centre at Queens University Belfast.

The Committee noted an invitation from Barnardos to attend ‘Addictions in the Family’ seminar on 3 rd March 2010.

The Committee noted c orrespondence from the Community Relations Council regarding their Annual Reports.

9. Any other business

The Committee agreed to arrange a visit to the Downe Hospital.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 24th January 2010 at 10.00am in the Senate Chamber , Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.29 p.m.