Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 07 December 2011
Venue: Nurses home, Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry
The meeting commenced at 1.39 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that a report on a series of informal meetings held on Thursday 1st December would be produced for the first Committee meeting following recess.
The Committee agreed to invite Kinship Care and Departmental officials to brief it on kinship care arrangements in relation to the proposed Adoption and Children Bill and to commission a research paper on the issue.
3. Draft minutes of the meetings on Tuesday 29th November 2011 and Wednesday 30th November 2011
The minutes of the Committee meetings on Tuesday 29th November 2011 2011were agreed.
The minutes of the Committee meetings on Wednesday 30th November were agreed as amended.
4. Draft minutes of the Sub committee meeting on Tuesday 29th November 2011
The Committee discussed the recommendation of the sub committee on the appointment of a specialist adviser and agreed that a tender pack should be issued to those on the select tender list.
The minutes of the Sub committee meeting on Tuesday 29th November 2011were agreed.
5. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the Health & Social Care Review and agreed to write to the Department about the release of the report.
6. Update on Group B Streptococcus
The Committee noted correspondence from Group B Strep Support and agreed to write to the Department about the issues raised. The Committee also agreed to hold a further evidence session with departmental officials on Group B Streptococcus.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Group B Strep testing.
7. Evidence session on the Pharmacy (NI)Order1976(Amendment) Order (NI) 2011
The Committee took evidence from:
Dr Norman Morrow Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS
Mr David Best Assistant Director, Human Resources, DHSSPS
Ms Shona Coy Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS
1.55 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
2.19 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the Statutory Rule.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister on the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister on the publication of the North South Feasibility Study 2009 and agreed to arrange a meeting with the Committee for Health & Children in the Republic of Ireland to discuss the report.
The Committee noted ccorrespondence from the Committee for Social Development regarding Welfare Reform.
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding its Fuel Poverty Event.
The Committee noted a letter from a physiotherapist regarding pension changes.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a consultation on proposals for HSC Shared Services and agreed to write to the Department about this matter.
9. Evidence session Southern Health & Social Care Trust Initiatives
The Committee took evidence from:
Mrs Mairead McAlinden Chief Executive, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Dr Gillian Rankin Director of Acute Services, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Mrs Angela McVeigh Director of Older People and Primary Care, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
3.04 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
3.08 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted its forward work programme.
11. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to write to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to thank it for hosting the committee meeting and facilitating the tour of the hospital.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 14th December 2011 at 1.30pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.18 p.m
