Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 2.04 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2. Chair's Business

The Chairperson informed the Committee that informal meetings had been held with healthcare related groups and that a report would be produced in due course.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding its policy for issuing appointment letters to people with sight problems.
The Committee noted that a petition regarding opposition to cuts to health service dental care was laid in the Assembly on 13 May 2013.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that an informal meeting had been held with the Commissioner for Older People on Monday 13 May 2013 regarding residential homes and it was agreed to write to the Department for further information. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk would liaise with the Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister before writing to its Department in respect of this issue.

The Committee agreed a press release regarding the proposed closure of residential homes.

The Committee agreed to undertake a piece work regarding the implementation of Transforming Your Care. It was agreed to begin by taking evidence from trade unions, the Transforming Your Care Implementation Group, and the Minister.

The Committee agreed to undertake a piece work regarding waiting lists.

3. Draft minutes of the meetings on Wednesday 1st May 2013 and Thursday 9th May 2013.

The minutes of the Committee meetings on Wednesday 1st May 2013 and Thursday 9th May 2013 were agreed.

4. The Tobacco Retailers Bill – Evidence session with Departmental Officials

The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Nigel McMahon Chief Environmental Health Officer, DHSSPS
Mr Gerard Collins Health Improvement Policy Branch, DHSSPS
Mrs Jenny McAlarney Health Improvement Policy Branch, DHSSPS

The Committee was briefed on the clauses of the Tobacco Retailers Bill. A question and answer session ensued.

Ms Paula Bradley made a declaration of interest that she was a local councilor.
3.22 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
3.25 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.34 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

The Committee agreed to invite the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) & Environmental Health Officers to give evidence on the Bill at its next meeting.

The Committee agreed to invite the NI Independent Retail Association and the NI Retail Consortium to give evidence on the Bill at its meeting on 29 May 2013.

5. Evidence session on Legislative Consent motion - Care and Support Bill 2013.

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Maura Briscoe Director of Mental Health, Disability and Older People, DHSSPS
Dr Michael Neely Assistant Director of HSC Research and Development Division, Public Health Agency
Mr Craig Allen Legislation Unit, DHSSPS
Ms Aideen O'Doherty Elderly and Community Care Unit, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued.

3.50 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.54 p.m. Ms Pam Brown left the meeting.
3.55 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting.
4.09 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
4.15 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

6. Evidence session on a draft Bill to amend the Health & Social Care Reform Act 2009.

The Committee took evidence from:
Mr Peter Toogood Director of Finance, DHSSPS
Mr Craig Allen Legislation Unit, Strategic management Branch, DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

7. Statutory Rule. SR 2013/114. The Appointment of Consultants (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013

The Committee considered 2013/114. The Appointment of Consultants (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 and had no objection to the Rule.

8. Matters rising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding cancelled appointments.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding ambulance and emergency department staff.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Family Fund and agreed to copy this to the organisation.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Domiciliary Care Services and agreed to copy this to Mr Nicholas who raised this matter with it.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Disability Sport NI.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Department's consultation on the termination of pregnancy guidelines in Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Capital Projects.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Antrim Area Hospital.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery.
The Committee noted a response from the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding waiting times at the Royal Hospital Emergency Department and agreed to forward this to Mr McCarthy who raised this matter with it.
The Committee noted responses from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and UNISON regarding proposals to replace Band 4 Emergency Medical Technicians with Band 3 Paramedic Assistants and agreed to take evidence from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and UNISON on this matter.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Children's Heartbeat Trust and the Commissioner for Children & Young people regarding Paediatric Congenital Heart Surgery and agreed to write to the Department regarding the issues raised.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted the DHSSPS Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report April 2013.
The Committee noted the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Corporate Plan.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Western Health & Social Care Trust regarding Elective Planned Orthopaedic Surgery.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Public Service Pensions Bill 2013.
The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the Department.
The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development to the Department.
The Committee noted correspondence from the British Dental Association NI.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding changes to mileage payments for community nurses and agreed to write to the Department regarding this matter.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding care home costs and agreed to write to the Department regarding this matter.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding legal highs and agreed to write to the Department regarding this matter.

10. Forward Work Programme.

The Committee noted that the evidence session on the Mental Capacity Bill had been postponed until June.
The Committee agreed that the Department would provide a written briefing on the draft Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a written briefing on the strategies to prevent accidents in the home.

11. Any other Business.

No other business was discussed.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 at 2.00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.27 p.m.