Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 01 May 2013
Venue: The Senate Chamber
The meeting commenced at 2.05 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chair’s Business
The Committee noted a letter from Mr Thompson regarding residential care home closures in the Northern Health & Social Care Trust & agreed to advise him that he should raise his concerns directly with the Northern Trust.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Mr Cairns to the Minister regarding residential care home closures and correspondence from the Western Trust on the same matter.
The Committee agreed to write to all government departments regarding suicide prevention strategies.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding programmes funded under the Delivering Social Change Framework.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 24th April 2013
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 24th April 2013 were agreed.
4. Evidence session on Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Services
The Committee took evidence from:
Dr Heather Livingston, Senior Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Mr Jackie Johnston, Director of Secondary Care, DHSSPS
Mr John Compton, Chief Executive, Health and Social Care Board
Mr Dean Sullivan, Director of Commissioning, Health and Social Care Board
Dr Miriam McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health Agency
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide additional information to the Committee. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.14 p.m. The meeting was adjourned.
3.22 p.m. The meeting resumed.
5. Evidence session on cancelled appointments
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Jackie Johnston, Director of Secondary Care, DHSSPS
Mr Eugene Mooney, Information & Analysis Directorate, DHSSPS
Mr John Compton, Chief Executive, Health and Social Care Board
Mr Michael Bloomfield, Director of Performance & Corporate Services, Health and Social Care Board
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide additional information to the Committee.
3.23 p.m. Ms Pam Brown rejoined the meeting.
3.24 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
3.27 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
3.27 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting.
3.27 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.
3.30 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy rejoined the meeting.
3.33 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
3.50 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
3.52 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
3.52 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
4.22 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
4.38 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
4.40 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
4.47 p.m. Mr Roy Beggs left the meeting.
4.47 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy rejoined the meeting.
4.49 p.m. Mr Roy Beggs rejoined the meeting.
4.52 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.52 p.m. The meeting was adjourned.
5.01 p.m. The meeting resumed.
5.01 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.
6. Evidence session on proposals in relation to residential homes
The Committee took evidence from:
Mr John Compton, Chief Executive, Health and Social Care Board
Dr Maura Briscoe, Director of Mental Health, Disability & Older People, DHSSPS
Mrs Fionnuala McAndrew, Director of Social Care and Children, Health and Social Care Board
A question and answer session ensued.
5.09 p.m. Ms Pam Brown left the meeting.
5.11 p.m. Ms Pam Brown rejoined the meeting.
5.19 p.m. Ms Pam Brown left the meeting.
5.55 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
7. Matters rising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the completion of welfare-related claim forms by General Practitioners.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Care and Support Bill 2013 and agreed to take evidence from officials.
The Committee noted a letter from Target Ovarian Cancer regarding Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day.
The Committee noted a letter from R.S. Moles regarding proposed changes to General Dental Services.
The Committee noted a letter from the Save the Mid Campaign regarding Accident & Emergency Services at the Antrim Area Hospital and agreed to ask the group for a written brief.
The Committee noted a letter from Macmillan regarding costs associated with living with cancer.
The Committee noted a letter praising the Macmillan Unit at Antrim Hospital and agreed to forward this to the Northern Health & Social Care Trust.
The Committee noted a letter from Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons regarding Surgical Podiatry and agreed to write to the Department on this matter.
The Committee noted a letter from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regarding Health Service Sickness Levels.
The Committee noted a letter from Mr McMurray regarding Fluoridation.
The Committee noted a letter from Imtac regarding Public Transport.
The Committee noted a letter from the General Medical Council regarding a new guide for patients.
The Committee noted a letter from the British Heart Foundation.
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Education and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts & Leisure and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
9. Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.
10. Any other Business.
No other business was discussed.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 15th May 2013 at 2.00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 6.07 p.m.
