Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 14 November 2012
The meeting commenced at 2.30 p.m. in public session.
1.Apologies
Apologies as above.
2.Chair’s Business
The Committee noted that the Chairperson would be sending electronic Christmas cards on behalf of the Committee.
The Committee noted reports regarding consultant staff leaving the Royal Hospital and agreed to write to the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding this matter.
The Committee noted an invitation to an event on suicide prevention and agreed to send a representative if a member was available to attend.
The Committee noted the allocations made to the Department under the invest-to-save fund and the October monitoring round. The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information on the monies allocated for elective care and purchase of the Tor Bank site.
The Chairperson thanked the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust for arranging the Committee visit to the Clark Clinic and providing a room for the Committee meeting.
3.Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 7th November 2012.
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 7th November 2012 were agreed.
4. Evidence session on Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Services with the Children’s Heartbeat Trust.
The Committee took evidence from:
Dr Connor Mulholland - Chairman, Children’s Heartbeat Trust
Ms Sarah Quinlan - Executive Officer, Children's Heartbeat Trust
A question and answer session ensued.
2.53 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister requesting that the Department put on hold the review of the future of Paediatric Congenital Cardiac Services. It was also agreed to seek further information from the Department on a number of issues.
The Committee agreed to issue a press release on this matter.
3.38 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
5. Statutory Rule. SR2012/384. The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012
The Committee considered SR2012/384. The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
6. Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.
The Committee agreed to defer an evidence session on the Protect Life Strategy until the New Year.
3.40 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
7. Review on Health Inequalities
The Committee noted the minutes of evidence for the evidence session with Dr Ziglio and a summary of the main points raised at the meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister providing details of programmes to tackle inequalities in early years.
The Committee noted a letter from the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) NI regarding early year’s programmes.
8. Matters arising
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding voluntary redundancies.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding ME services and agreed to forward this to the ME Alliance and the ME Society.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the allocation of money to Trusts from the Public Health Agency and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Mental Capacity Bill and the linked project to look at the emerging capacity in under 16s. The Committee also noted that the Clerks of the Health and Justice Committee are currently preparing an options paper on how the Committees will scrutinise the Bill.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Shared Services.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Prophylactic Antibiotics.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the availability of oxygen to patients travelling to the Republic of Ireland and agreed to copy the response to Mrs Hoy who raised this matter with the Committee.
9. Correspondence.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the amendments to the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme Order.
The Committee noted a letter from the Ulster Chemists' Association regarding work they are doing under Transforming Your Care and agreed to invite the organisation to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted a letter from Ms Kernohan regarding dental services.
The Committee noted a letter from the Food Standards Agency NI regarding proposed legislation regarding the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and agreed to take evidence from the FSA in the New Year.
The Committee noted a letter from Councillor Farrell seeking a meeting with it regarding the Conditions Management Programme and agreed to ask Councillor Farrell to provide a written briefing.
The Committee noted a Funding Update from the Big Lottery Fund.
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 21st November 2012 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.48 p.m.
