Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 27 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher 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)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.00 p.m. in public session

1. Apologies

Apologies as above

2. Chairperson’s Business.

The Chairperson reminded members that at its next meeting the Committee would hear from the Minister, Health Board & Public Health Agency regarding the Commissioning plan 2010/11.

The Committee noted that the Chairperson had participated in a Help the Aged event that morning.

The Committee agreed to release the briefing paper received from the Department on revised expenditure plans with an embargo to 4.00 p.m. The Committee noted a covering press release which had been approved by the Chairperson.

The Committee noted that the William McKee the Chief Executive of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust had announced he would be retiring in the autumn and agreed to write thanking him for his contribution to healthcare.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 May 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2010 was agreed.

4. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding information held on the Child Protection register and agreed to write to the Department seeking more recent information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the cost of GP out of hours cover and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Education Minister to the Health Minister regarding Historic Child Abuse and agreed to forward this to Mr Conall McDevitt MLA.

The Committee noted a consultation report from the All Party Assembly Group on Autism.

The Committee noted a briefing paper prepared by the Committee Clerk on potential Committee motions for Carers week and the RQIA report on Intrapartum Care in Northern Ireland and agreed not to proceed with these motions at this time.

The Committee noted a revised rota for member’s attendance at informal lunchtime meetings.

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

5. Evidence session with Departmental officials on Acute Hospital Services in Northern Ireland

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Miriam McCarthy Deputy Secretary, DHSSPS

Mr David Galloway Director, Secondary Care, DHSSPS

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

The Committee agreed to adjourn the meeting for 15 minutes to read briefing papers provide by the Department.

3.29 p.m. Committee adjourned.

3.44 p.m. Committee resumed.

6. Evidence session with Departmental officials on the Revised Programme of Expenditure.

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary

Mr Sean Donaghy Under Secretary, Resources & Performance Management

Mr Sean Holland Acting Chief Social Services Officer

Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer

Mr Dean Sullivan Director of Planning

Ms Diane Taylor Director of Human Resources

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information on the issues discussed.

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

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

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

5.14 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.

5.15p.m Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the Western Local Commissioning Group.

5.36 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

7. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

8. Correspondence.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding New Standards for Paediatric Surgery Services.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office regarding a good practice efficiency checklist.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing details of the number of external advisors employed by DFP and agreed to write to the Department for details of external advisers it employs.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Committee’s Inquiry into the Role of the NI Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding a consultation on the tribunal reform programme. The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking its views on proposed changes.

The Committee noted an invitation to the launch of ‘Abbyfield Week’ in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.

9. Any other business

The Committee agreed to invite the Stroke Association to an informal meeting following summer recess.

10. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meetings of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 3 rd June 2010 at 2.00pm in the Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.45 p.m.

Chairperson