Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 1.38 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received as above.

2. Chairperson’s business

The Chairperson thanked the Western Trust on behalf of the Committee for providing the venue for the Committee meeting and accommodating the visit.

The Committee agreed to write to the Health & Social Care Board regarding an offer from the Motor Neurone Disease Association to fund a specialist nursing post.

The Chairperson informed members that she was sponsoring an event being hosted by Safefood on Tuesday 28 June at 1pm in the Private Dining Room to inform members about the “Stop the Spread” Campaign.

The Chairperson reminded members of an informal meeting with healthcare related groups on Thursday 23rd June 2011.

The Committee agreed to arrange an evidence session regarding the proposed Mental Health Bill.

The Committee agreed to request a copy of the draft Mental Health Bill.

The Committee agreed to arrange an evidence session on the mental health budget.

The Committee agreed to arrange an evidence session regarding the proposed Adoption Bill.

The Committee agreed to ask for further information on the legislation the Minister intends to introduce over the mandate as detailed in an answer to a written question.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask for an explanation as to why it did not bid under the June monitoring round.

The Committee agreed to arrange an evidence session on the acute services budget.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding its progress against Priorities for Action 2010-2011.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 15th June 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 15 th June 2011 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding funding for the NI Music Therapy Trust and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Paul McKeever of the Western Trust regarding HPV testing.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding a letter received from Domestic Care which was considered at the meeting on 15 June 2011.

5. Legislative consent motion. Protection of Freedoms Bill - ‘Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups’ Provisions

The Committee agreed a report on the legislative consent motion.

6. Evidence session with the NEXUS institute

The Committee took evidence from

Ms Helena Bracken Regional Manager for North and West

Mr Peter Lockhart Regional Manager for Belfast

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

7. Correspondence

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding proposals for a Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2021.

The Committee noted a letter from Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Cancer Research UK seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Foyle Parents and Friends Association seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Local Commissioning Group Chairs of the Health and Social Care Board seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the organisation to a formal evidence session. The Committee also agreed to request a Research Services paper on local commissioning groups.

The Committee noted an invitation from Queen’s University Belfast to an event in the Long Gallery on Monday 27th June 2011.

The Committee noted a letter from Praxis inviting it to visit one of its schemes and agreed to arrange this as part of future external meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from the Centre for Aging, Research & Development in Ireland regarding a research briefing ‘Insights into elder abuse’.

8. Presentation on proposed radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin Hospital

The Committee took evidence from

Mrs Elaine Way Chief Executive
Dr David Stewart Consultant Oncologist
Mrs Margaret McIvor Project Lead
Mr Alan Moore Director of Strategic Capital Development

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

9. Evidence session with the Western Health & Social Care Trust on Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and bowel cancer testing

The Committee took evidence from

Dr Anne Kilgallen Medical Director
Dr Michael McKenna Consultant Pathologist
Dr William Dickey Consultant Gastroenterologist

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

10. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to write to Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster congratulating them on their work developing drugs to treat cystic fibrosis.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 29th June 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.01 p.m.