Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 4 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA 
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA 
Mr Alex Easton MLA 
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA 
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA 
Mr Paul Girvan MLA 
Mr John McCallister MLA 
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson) 
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

Apologies: 
Mrs Mary Bradley MLA

In Attendance: 
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor) 
Mr Craig Mealey (Clerical Officer) 
Dr Janice Thompson (Assembly Research Services)

The meeting commenced at 14:04 in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies as above.

14:05 Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.

14:06 Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.

2. Chair’s business

The Committee noted that there were two available dates for informal lunchtime meetings before the Christmas recess and agreed that Action for Cancer should be invited to meet informally with the Committee on 2 December 2010.

The Committee notedthat the sub-committee to evaluate tenders would meet on Tuesday 16 November at 12.30 pm.

3. Draft Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 st October 2010.

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 st October 2010 were agreed.

4. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland Bill NIA 25/09

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Fergal Bradley Child Care Directorate, DHSSPS

Ms Patricia Nicholl Child Care Directorate, DHSSPS

Ms Isobel Riddell Child Care Directorate, DHSSPS

The Committee discussed clauses of the Bill with the Department. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

5. Assembly Research Briefing on the management structures of Health & Social Care Trusts

The Committee was briefed by Dr Janice Thompson from Assembly Research Services on the management structures of the Health & Social Care Trusts.

15:08 Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.

15:16Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

15:21 Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

15:21 Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.

The Committee agreed to hold an evidence session with the relevant officials to discuss the issues further.

6. Proposal from Mr Sam Gardiner

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister seeking a copy of the spending plans submitted to DFP.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a definition of “front line services”.

The Committee agreed to write to the RCN, RCM, BMA, NIASW and AHP to request a definition of “front line services”.

The Committee discussed a motion proposed by Mr Sam Gardiner:

‘That the Committee for Health, Social Services & Public Safety recommends that funding for Health & Social Services be ring fenced as part of Budget 2010.’

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the motion until more information was made available from the Department regarding the Budget 2010 allocation.

7. Proposed Statutory Rule

The Committee considered the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

15:31 Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

8. Matters arising

The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Christine Collins regarding the Regional Neurology Service and agreed to write to the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust to request details of the advice provided to it by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the McDermott case.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Committee’s request for a copy of documents associated with the impact on Equality, Good Relations and Anti-Poverty resulting from the cuts to the Department’s 2010/2011 budget.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the review of maternity services.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the review of the Investing for Health Strategy. The Committee agreed to return to this issue at a later date.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the 10 Year Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.

15:35 Mr. Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about cuts to the budget for Research & Development and agreed to copy the response to Dr Sharpe who raised this issue with the Committee. The Committee also agreed to forward a copy of the response to the Employment and Learning Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the employment opportunities for physiotherapy graduates and agreed to copy the response to Mr Thompson who raised this issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the funding for Lakeland Community Care and agreed to copy this to Lakeland Community Care who raised this issue with the Committee. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to ask why the service is being withdrawn given that the South Eastern Trust has adopted a similar pilot study.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about quarterly child protection statistics and agreed to copy this to Mr Young who raised this matter with the Committee. The Committee also agreed to forward a copy to NICCY.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Sauce 4 Schools programmes and agreed to copy the response to Mr Thompson who raised this issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on anti-TNF drugs and agreed to write back seeking further clarification.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the introduction of self referral to physiotherapy services.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the guidelines for people missing outpatient’s appointments in exceptional circumstances.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the enforcement of new tobacco control legislation.

15:41Mr Jim Wells resumed the Chair.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the implementation of the Card before You Leave Scheme.

15:48 Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.

15:49 Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister on the British Lung Foundation’s campaign to ban smoking in cars where children under 18 years of age are present.

The Committee noted a copy of a response from the Department to the Parents Autism Lobby about a review of the Regional Autistic Spectrum Disorder Network.

The Committee noted a response from the South Eastern Trust about the criteria used by the Trust to assess needs for people with autism and how unmet needs are being addressed and agreed to copy the response to the National Autistic Society who raised the issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Health & Social Care Board about the timeline for the changes to funding for General Medical Services for 2010/2011.

The Committee noted a letter from Diane Dodds MEP enclosing a response from EU commissioner John Dalli on the use of sunbeds.

The Committee noted a response from NICCY providing information requested by the Committee at an evidence session on Thursday 30 September 2010.

The Committee noted a summary of the work of Vela Microboards.

15:58 Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about a review of Arms Length Bodies.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Health and Social Care Board about a consultation on piloting the new dental contracts and agreed to ask the Board to provide the Committee with a written briefing on the outcome of the consultation.

The Committee noted correspondence from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust regarding its Board meeting on 24 th November 2010.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Western Health and Social Care Trust regarding the accounts for the year ended 31 st March 2010.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the proposed Desertcreat Training College and agreed to write to the Department about the matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Public Accounts Committee regarding Save the Mid campaign.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development regarding the Department’s plans to amend Article 2 (2) of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986and agreed to write to the Department for clarification on the matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking the Committee’s views on the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.

16:06 Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.

The Committee noted correspondence from Pharmaceutical Contractors Committee regarding the Minor Ailments Service and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted correspondence from Dr. John Burton regarding Belfast Trust’s proposal to introduce chilled meals and agreed to write to the Trust for further information.

The Committee noted a press release from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regarding its response to the comprehensive spending review.

The Committee noted correspondence the General Medical Council regarding the Berlin statement on the mobility of doctors and safeguards for patients.

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr. Kevin Taylor.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Participation and the Practice of Rights Project on behalf of the Belfast Mental Health Rights Group seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding the implementation of the Card Before you Leave Scheme and agreed to invite the group to attend an informal lunch meeting on the 16 th December 2010. The Committee agreed to ask the Department for an update on its implementation of the recommendations of the Committee’s inquiry report into suicide and self harm.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Music Therapy Trust requesting a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next Long Gallery reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Niamh Louise Foundation seeking an informal meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to the next Long Gallery reception for healthcare related groups.

The Committee noted an invitation to an event highlighting the work of Cancer Research UK in Northern Ireland in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.

The Committee noted an invitation to a celebration of the NI Chest Heart and Stroke Respiratory Support Network.

The Committee noted an invitation to the Surgical Forum.

The Committee noted an invitation from Women 2 Gather’s 2 nd Anniversary Celebration & Annual General Meeting.

The Committee noted an invitation to Advice NI Annual General Meeting.

The Committee noted the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator Report and Accounts for 25 January to 31 March 2010.

The Committee noted the Patient and Client Council Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010.

10. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to write to the Department asking for an update on swine flu.

The Committee agreed to write to Dr Peter Cunningham of the Ceara School in Lurgan to express condolences following the death of one of their pupils from swine flu.

16:17 Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.

11. Date, Time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Thursday 11 th November 2010 at 2 p.m. in room 30, Parliament Buildings

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 16:21.