Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 2.01 p.m. in closed session.

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Consideration of Legal advice

The Committee noted legal advice regarding taking evidence on the proposed Adoption and Children Bill and agreed to initially invite Departmental officials to give evidence on the proposed Bill, excluding those issues that are the subject of a Judicial Review.

2.02 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan joined the meeting.
2.03 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting .
2.16 p.m. The meeting moved to public session.
2.16 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting .

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee noted that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson had been briefed by officials regarding the recall of immunology patients in the Belfast Trust.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about bids made in the October monitoring round and agreed to write to the Minister again requesting sight of the bids.

2.21 p.m. Mr John McCallister re-joined the meeting .

4. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 12 th October 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 12 th October 2011 were agreed.

5. The Mental Health (Private Hospital) Regulations (NI) 2011

2.31 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.

The Committee discussed t he Mental Health (Private Hospital) Regulations (NI) 2011 and agreed to write to the Department asking it to carry out an 8 week consultation on the proposed legislation and to return to the Committee following the consultation.

6. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the rate of Caesarean sections and agreed to return to this issue after the consultation on the draft Maternity Strategy has been completed.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the number of cycles of IVF currently funded by the Department and agreed to copy this letter to the Infertility Network, and to write back to the Minister to ask whether he had made any bids for IVF funding under the October monitoring round.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the timetable for introducing the Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare & Finance) Bill and the Adoption & Children Bill.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister providing an update on the contact lens solution pilots in the Royal and Altnagelvin hospitals and agreed to forward this to Advice NI.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about a proposal for a therapy centre for disabled children by Mr McCann.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about expenditure on health promotion and disease prevention.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister providing the Committee with an update on the Commissioning Plan for 2011/12.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the review of clinical excellence awards and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a copy of a response from the Minister to the Committee for Education on the guidance ‘Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs’.

The Committee noted a response from the Health & Social Care Board regarding the recruitment of a specialist nurse for motor neurone disease and agreed to copy this to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

7. Evidence session on the Health & Social Care Review

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr John Compton Health and Social Care Board

Mr Pamela McCreedy Health and Social Care Board

Ms Catherine Daly Department for Health, Social Services & Public Safety

3.11 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.

3.31 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.

3.34 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan re-joined the meeting.

3.37 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

3.41 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.

8. Evidence session on the unannounced inspection of Prison Healthcare: Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Ash House Women’s Prison - RQIA

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Glenn Houston Chief Executive, RQIA

Dr David Stewart Director of Review and Medical Director, RQIA

Ms Elizabeth Colgan Senior Hygiene Inspector, RQIA

3.45 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley re-joined the meeting.

3.55 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis re-joined the meeting.

3.56 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle left the meeting.

4.02 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

4.33 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.

9. Evidence session on the unannounced inspection of Prison Healthcare: Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Ash House Women’s Prison – Department for Health, Social Services & Public Safety, Health & Social Care Board & South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust.

The Committee took evidence from:

Ms Catherine Daly Department for Health, Social Services & Public Safety

Ms Mary Hinds Health and Social Care Board

Mr Desmond Bannon South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Mr Michael Williamson Department for Health, Social Services & Public Safety

4.45 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle re-joined the meeting.

4.51 p.m. Mr Mickey Brady left the meeting.

4.54 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.

5.10p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left 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.

5.13 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne re-joined the meeting.

11. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about the launch of the Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing.

The Committee noted a letter from the All Party Pro-Life Group of the Assembly regarding a document – “Statement of Law against Abortion and Child Destruction in Northern Ireland’’.

The Committee noted a letter from Trinity Presbyterian Church, Greyabbey about the Community Pharmacy budget.

The Committee noted a letter from Lakeland Community Care.

The Committee noted a letter from Home-Start seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to arrange an informal meeting with the group.

The Committee noted a letter from Mr Ian Houston regarding the issue of Prompt Payment of supplier invoices.

The Committee noted an anonymous letter of concern regarding the Health and Social Care system.

The Committee was advised that it had been copied into a complaint sent to the Public Accounts Committee regarding the NIFRS.

12. Any Other Business

No other business was discussed.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 26 th October 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.18 p.m.