Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 4 February 2010
Room 30, 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 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)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA 
Mrs Claire McGill MLA

The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session .

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee agreed to rearrange a briefing from Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) to Thursday 4 th March.

The Committee noted that the Chairperson would be attending the Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards on Thursday 25 th February.

The Committee agreed to rearrange the Committee meeting on Thursday 4 th March to allow members to attend a reception for Rare Disease Day.

The Committee noted that a debate on the Committee motion calling on the Minister to seek to secure the agreement of the Secretary of State to initiate a time bound public inquiry into the multi agency aspects of the McElhill / McGovern tragedy in Omagh has been scheduled for Monday 8 th February 2010.

Members noted that the Committee would be meeting informally on Tuesday 9 th February 2010 to discuss proposed autism legislation.

Members noted that the Committee would be holding a reception for health related groups in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 9 th February 2010.

2.04 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.

3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 21 January 2010 and 28 January 2010

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2010 and 28 January 2010were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister seeking further details on the revised expenditure plans.

The Committee noted responses from Ulster Cancer Foundation, NI Cancer Fund for Children and Cancer Research UK about the effect of efficiency savings on cancer services and agreed to write to the Department about the issues raised.

The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Trust about proposals to merge the Dorothy Gardiner and Rathlin Wards at Knockbracken Healthcare Park and agreed to copy the response to Dawn Purvis MLA.

The Committee noted a response from Department about its plans to achieve a 15% reduction in running costs over the CSR period and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding staff disciplinary matters in the Belfast Trust following the RQIA unannounced hygiene inspections in the Trust.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about an analysis of trust management costs by Mr Lee Wilson and agreed to copy this to Mr Wilson.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the palliative & end of life care strategy and agreed to write to the Department and each Health & Social Care Trust for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Maternity Services and agreed to write to the Minister about the proposed new Women’s and Children’s hospital .

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the use of mortality ratios to assess local hospital performance and agreed to request an update on work being carried out by the Health & Social Care Board on this matter.

The Committee noted the report of Examiner of Statutory Rules which considered Statutory Rules 2009/389, 2009/390, 2009/395, 2009/397, 2009/ 398 & 2009/407.

The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson of the Committee on Health & Children thanking the Committee for its hospitality during their visit to Parliament Buildings.

The Committee noted a revised Assembly Research paper on air ambulance services. The Committee agreed that all research papers prepared for the Committee should be placed on the Committee website.

The Committee noted an updated Assembly Research paper on Local Safeguarding Children Boards in England and agreed to arrange a visit to examine best practice to Bolton & Bradford Local Safeguarding Children Boards. The Committee also agreed to invite Professor Alan France to brief the committee on Thursday 25 th February 2010.

The Committee noted additional information provided by the RNIB.

The Committee noted a response from Mr Evan Bates providing further information following evidence given to the Committee on 21 st January 2010.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Speaker providing a response from the Minister regarding victims of abuse and agreed to write to the Minister expressing concern regarding delays about progress on this matter.

The Committee noted a rota for the attendance of members at informal meetings.

The Committee agreed that an informal meeting with the Carers Association should be rearranged for Thursday 18 th February 2010.

The Committee noted a report on the informal meeting with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke and the British Heart Foundation and agreed to write to the Minister highlighting concerns raised by these groups.

2.27 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
2.32 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
2.40 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.43 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
2.44 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny left the meeting.
2.48 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
2.50 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny rejoined the meeting.
2.50 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.

5. Departmental response to the Committee inquiry on obesity

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Naresh Chada Senior Medical Officer
Mr Rob Phipps Head of Health Development Policy Branch, Population Health Directorate
Mr Daniel Kelly Deputy Principal, Secondary Care Directorate

A question and answer session ensued. The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Education regarding recommendation 17. The officials agreed to forward additional information to the Committee. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.

3.09 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting. 
3.19 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
3.31 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.31 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.
3.32 p.m. Mr Jim Wellsrejoined the meeting and resumed the chair.
3.48 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting. 
3.58 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

6. Evidence session with the Public Health Agency

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Eddie Rooney Chief Executive 
Dr Carolyn Harper Director of Public Health/Medical Director 
Mr Edmond McClean Director of Operations 
Mrs Mary Hinds Director Nursing

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed that the Public Health Agency should forward the commissioning plan to it when available.

4.00 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting. 
4.01 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
4.14 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.

7. Committee response on spending plans for Northern Ireland Departments

The Committee agreed an amended response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on revised spending plans for Northern Ireland Departments.

8. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Fire Safety Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

9. Statutory Instrument

The Committee noted a statutory instrument the Medicines (Products for Human Use) (Fees) Regulations 2010.

10. Correspondence

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Report of the Committee’s Inquiry into European Issues.

The Committee noted an invitation to a General Medical Council information seminar regarding new confidentiality guidance.

The Committee noted a Public Health Agency newsletter, ‘Health and health equity in all local policies.

The Committee noted an invitation to the tackling “Child Poverty Amongst 16 and 17 year olds” seminar on the 10 th of February 2010.

The Committee noted an easy access version of the Department’s Service Framework for Cardiovascular Health and Wellbeing document.

The Committee noted a consultation document from the General Medical Council regarding Lord Patel’s review of medical education and training.

The Committee noted an invitation to a meeting on 19 th February regarding the introduction of a physical activity loyalty card scheme by the UKCRN Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted an invitation to Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s annual research conference on 9 March 2010. The Committee noted that the Chairperson intended to attend the event.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Prince’s Trust, seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal lunchtime meeting.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee Representing Independent Supporting People Service Providers (CRISPP) seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite them to an informal lunchtime meeting.

11. Any other business

No other business was discussed.

12. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 11th February 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.55 p.m.