Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 22 APRIL 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA

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

Apologies: Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session .

1. Apologies

Apologies as above

2. Chairperson’s Business.

The Chairperson informed the Committee that the next meeting on Thursday 13 th May would be an all day meeting on the RQIA reports on Intrapartum Care. The Committee agreed to invite the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and the Southern Health & Social Care Trust to give evidence on this matter.

The Committee agreed to call witnesses from the Department to discuss Budget issues at its meeting on Thursday 27 th May 2010.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Social Development regarding issues raised by the Committee Representing Independent Supporting People Service Providers (CRISPP).

The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would represent the Committee at the Chest Heart and Stroke Spring Conference on Friday 23 rd April 2010 and the Four Seasons Health Care Annual Conference 2010 on 20th & 21st May 2010.

The Committee noted that the visit to Bradford and Bolton was cancelled due to the impact of volcanic ash on air travel and agreed not to reschedule this at present.

The Committee agreed to rearrange the date of its visit to Downe Hospital Downpatrick to Thursday 20 th May 2010.

The Committee agreed to consider visiting the new orthopaedic suite in Craigavon Area Hospital following the summer recess.

2.07 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 25 March 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2010 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister and the Social Development Minister regarding the Review of the Support of Carers. Members agreed to copy these to the Carers Association and the Finance and Personnel Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding palliative and end of life care.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Service Framework for Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Care.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding financial advice for cancer sufferers. Members agreed to write to the Minister for Social Development about this matter and copy the Ministers response to Macmillan Cancer Care who raised this matter with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding details of youth projects funded by the Department.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing the Committee with an update on the public inquiry into the outbreak of clostridium difficile in the Northern Trust.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister and correspondence from Precious Life regarding interim guidance issued by the Department on the termination of pregnancy. Members agreed to invite Precious Life and Departmental officials to brief the Committee at its meeting on Thursday 3 rd June 2010.

Mr Jim Wells made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the All Party Group on Abortion.

Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the All Party Group on Abortion.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the consultation on the Northern Ireland Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to a letter from the Committee for Employment & Learning regarding Automated Communication Systems and agreed to forward this to the Committee for Employment & Learning.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the provision of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) on the Health Service and agreed to forward this letter to the Belfast Health Initiative who raised this matter with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding child protection issues being undertaken through the North South Ministerial Council.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding issues raised by the British Heart Foundation regarding the impact of budget cuts on cardiac services.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding issues raised by Mr Lee Wilson about management savings across Health & Social Care Trusts and agreed to forward this to Mr Wilson.

The Committee noted a letter from the Public Accounts Committee regarding evidence taken by the Committee on the Northern Ireland Audit Offices ‘General report on the Health & Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland 2008’.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the implementation of Agenda for Change and agreed to seek a further update in June.

Mr Alex Easton made a declaration of interest that he was a former Health service employee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the introduction of legislation for the Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding physiotherapists with specialist knowledge of progressive neurological conditions.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding issues raised by the Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade and agreed to forward this to the Federation.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding concerns expressed by the Committee about the Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) and agreed to forward this to the Institute of Licensing (Northern Ireland Branch) seeking their views on the Ministers response.

The Committee noted the 13th report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Education regarding the implementation of recommendation 17 in the Committee Report on the Inquiry into Obesity to make it compulsory for children to have had least 2 hours of PE in school each week. The Committee agreed to write to the Education Committee seeking its views on this matter.

The Committee noted Correspondence from Sport NI providing the results of a survey into the amount of time tabled for PE in Northern Ireland primary schools.

The Committee noted correspondence from Michelle McIllveen MLA regarding the Private Members Bill on Missing Children and Young People in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a response from the RQIA regarding the collection of statistics on missing children and agreed to forward this to Michelle McIllveen MLA.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Children in Northern Ireland to the consultation on the Private Members Bill on Missing Children and Young People in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted Correspondence from RNIB regarding equality of access to health information for blind and partially sighted people.

The Committee noted a response from Court Service regarding representation on the proposed Safeguarding Board.

The Committee noted responses from all Trusts regarding deficits inherited from Legacy Trusts.

The Committee noted responses from the Southern Trust and the Northern Trust regarding the cost of agency and bank nurses.

The Committee noted an article regarding Swine Flu.

The Committee noted a copy of a research brief ‘The evaluation of arrangements for effective operation of the new local safeguarding children boards in England’.

The Committee noted responses from the Western Local Commissioning Group and the Western Health & Social Care Trust regarding the funding of Youthlife and agreed to forward these to Youthlife.

5. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland

Evidence Session with Voice of Young People in Care

The Committee was briefed by

Ms Karen McAllister Acting Assistant Director, Voice of Young People in Care

Ms Vivian McConvey Director, Voice of Young People in Care

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

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

3.22 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

3.22 p.m. Mr Alex Easton took the Chair.

Evidence session with Departmental Officials

The Committee was briefed by
Mr Sean Holland Acting Chief Social Services Officer 
Mr Fergal Bradley Head Child Care Policy Directorate 
Ms Patricia Nicholl Leader of SBNI Bill Team 
Ms Isobel Riddell Member SBNI Bill Team

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

3.51 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
3.59 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.
3.59 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
3.59 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting.
4.08 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
4.09 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Mr Jim Wells resumed the Chair.
4.16 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
4.17 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.

6. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/127. The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

The Committee considered SR 2010/127. The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/149. The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010

The Committee considered SR 2010/149. The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 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 2010/148. The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

The Committee considered SR 2010/148. The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

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

9. Statutory Instrument. The Medicines for Human Use (Advanced Therapy and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010.

The Committee noted the Medicines for Human Use (Advanced Therapy and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010.

10. Proposed Statutory Rules

The Committee considered the Food Hygiene (Amendment No 2) Regulation ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

The Committee considered the Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

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

11. Forward work programme – Sunbed Bill

The Committee agreed a Forward Work Programme to take evidence on the proposed Sunbed Bill.

4.29 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
4.32 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting

12. Correspondence.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding a consultation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agencies public on the regulation of products containing nicotine and agreed to forward this to Cancer Research and Action Cancer seeking their views.

The Committee noted a letter from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust regarding plans to improve and enhance hospital based paediatric and neonatal services.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter to the Minister from Dr A J McNeill, from the Western Health and Social Care Trust, expressing thanks for the clarification on patients travel outside Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a petition in support of young informal carers in Northern Ireland and agreed to forward this to the Department. Members also agreed to copy this to the Junior Ministers in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding Departmental Prompt Payment of Invoices.

The Committee agreed a response to correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the draft ‘Engagement with Committees’ section of the 2010/2011 in-year Monitoring Guidelines.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel the services of the Performance and Efficiency Unit (PEDU) and agreed to write to the Department about this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding Draft Sustainable Development Strategy.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister regarding European Issues.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development providing a briefing paper from the Welcome Organisation on homelessness.

The Committee noted a consultation from the Home Office on the introduction of charges for controlled drug and precursor chemical licences.

The Committee noted a letter from Belfast International Airport regarding the inquiry into the planning application to extend the runway at Belfast City Airport and agreed to respond stating that the Committee did not consider or make any recommendation on this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from Randox/Check Me Ltd seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to the next Long Gallery reception.

The Committee noted correspondence from Annie McIntyre seeking a meeting with the Committee in relation to Art Therapy agreed to invite her to the next Long Gallery reception.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) Project to the international forum, Tools for Action: Making Economic and Social Change.

The Committee noted a study of cocaine use in Northern Ireland, 2009.

13. Any other business

The Committee noted a report tabled by Mr Alex Easton from Helping Hands Ltd and agreed that members would respond on an individual basis.

The Committee noted staff changes in the committee office.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding an increase in Accident & Emergency waiting times.

14. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 13 th May 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.47 p.m.