Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 1.58 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Chair’s Business

The Chairperson thanked the Western Health & Social Care Trust for hosting the Committee’s visit and providing the facilities for the meeting.

The Chairperson advised members that the debate on the Committee motion on paediatric congenital cardiac surgery will take place on Tuesday 25^th September 2012.

The Committee noted than the Chairperson would be accepting a petition regarding the future of paediatric congenital cardiac surgery on Monday 24^th September 2012 from the charities involved and members were invited to attend.

2.02 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to the RQIA requesting a copy of its report on Owenvale Court in Belfast and an update on follow up actions taken.

The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the drafting of the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill.

The Committee agreed its end of session report.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 12 September 2012

The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 12 September 2012 were agreed.

4. Committee review on health inequalities.

2.14 p.m. Ms Maeve McLaughlin joined the meeting.

A motion was proposed by Conall McDevitt:

That the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should carry out a study visit to Cuba as part of the review on health inequalities.

The Committee divided: Ayes 5; Noes 2.

Ayes

Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Ms Maeve McLaughlin MLA

Noes

Ms Pam Brown MLA
Mr Gordon Dunne MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA and Mr Jim Wells MLA did not vote.

Question accordingly agreed to.

The Committee agreed to issue a press release regarding the study visit which would be approved by the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson.

5. Proposed Statutory Rule. The Mental Health (Private Hospitals) (Fees) Regulations.

The Committee considered the Mental Health (Private Hospitals) (Fees) Regulations and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

6. Proposed Statutory Rule. The Mental Health (Commencement No 5) Order.

The Committee considered the Mental Health (Commencement No 5) Order and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.

7. Proposed Statutory Rule. The Food (Miscellaneous Amendment and Revocation) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2012

The Committee deferred consideration of the Food (Miscellaneous Amendment and Revocation) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2012 and agreed to write to the Food Standards Agency for further information.

8. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/259.  The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/259.  The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

9. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/280. The Food Hygiene (Amendment) (No2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/280. The Food Hygiene (Amendment) (No2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

10. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/309. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations (NI) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/309. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations (NI) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

11. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/310. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Statutory Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Advisers) Regulations (NI) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/310. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Statutory Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Advisers) Regulations (NI) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

12. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/311. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification) Regulations (NI) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/311. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Fitness to Practise and Disqualification) Regulations (NI) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

13. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/312. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Continuing Professional Development) Regulations (NI) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/312. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Continuing Professional Development) Regulations (NI) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

14. Statutory Rule. SR 2012/324. Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (Membership, Procedure, Exercise of Function and Committee) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

The Committee considered SR 2012/324. Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (Membership, Procedure, Exercise of Function and Committee) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

15. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.

16. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding services for allergy sufferers and agreed to copy this to Allergy NI who raised these issues with it. The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information on this matter. It also agreed to write to the Department of Education to ask what is being done in schools to raise awareness of allergy issues.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about cardiac catherisation.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister about funding for waiting lists and agreed to write to the Department for further information.  

The Committee noted a letter from the Department regarding the Safeguarding Board (2011) Act (Commencement No.1) Order (NI) 2012.

17. Correspondence

The Committee noted a consultation regarding the Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010.

The Committee noted a consultation regarding Pandemic Preparedness and Response Guidance.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a joint domestic and sexual violence strategy and agreed to write to Women’s Aid seeking its views on the proposals.

The Committee noted a consultation regarding the Appointment of Consultants Regulations.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Commissioning Plan 2012/13 and agreed to write to the Department regarding the time taken to produce the plan.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Minister to Ms Jennifer McCann MLA regarding a Suicide Awareness Petition.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister regarding European issues and agreed that a draft response should be prepared for its next meeting.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister & deputy First Minister regarding the European Priorities 2012-13 Implementation Plan.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Speaker regarding a Westminster Private Members Bill, the Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill.

The Committee noted a report on the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention.

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Jim Shannon MP regarding fluoridation of water.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Food Standards Agency.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from Rare Disease UK.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Fire Brigades Union regarding job cuts.

The Committee noted a letter from the Ulster Farmers’ Union regarding rural health service provisions and agreed to forward this to the Department for its views. The Committee also agreed to copy the letter to the Committee for Agriculture & Rural Development.

The Committee noted a letter from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children & Young People regarding its Participation Awards Programme.

The Committee noted funding updates from the Big Lottery Fund.

The Committee noted a letter from Dr Burton regarding a departmental consultation and agreed to forward this to the Department.

The Committee noted a letter from Western Health & Social Care Trust staff regarding a dispute regarding Medical Secretary Pay andagreed to write to the Department for an update on this matter in each Trust.

The Committee noted a letter from O'Toole & Associates regarding the cost of female life protection.

The Committee noted a letter from Mr Fullarton-Healey regarding the community pharmacy contract and agreed to write to the Department for an update.

The Committee noted a letter commending services at Antrim Area Hospital and agreed to forward the letter to the Northern Health & Social Care Trust.

The Committee noted a copy of a letter to the Minister regarding allergy services.

The Committee noted a letter from NIPEC.

The Committee noted correspondence from Belfast Healthy Cities.

The Committee noted an invitation to visit the Holywood Arches Health & Wellbeing Centre and agreed to consider a visit at a later date. The Committee also agreed to consider the offer by the BMA to brief it on Transforming Your Care at a later date.

18. Any other Business

No other business was discussed.

19. South West Acute Hospital Emergency Department use of an ultrasound scanner

The Committee took evidence from:

Dr Campbell Brown - Consultant Emergency Medicine, Western Health & Social Care Trust 

Dr Ian Crawford - Consultant Emergency Medicine, Western Health & Social Care Trust 

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

20. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 26^th September 2012 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.45 p.m.