Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 2.09 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received as above.

2. Chairperson’s business

The Committee recorded its condolences to the Durkan family.

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should carry out initial scoping work on the commissioning of a specialist advisor on budget.

The Committee noted a questionnaire seeking Members’ views on electronic Committee briefing papers.

The Committee noted a consultation on the Department’s draft Maternity Strategy and agreed to invite the Department to brief it after the consultation period has finished on the outcome of the consultation and details of the way forward.

The Committee noted that an evidence session has been arranged with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Children’s Law Centre regarding the Mental Health (Private Hospital) Regulations.

2.12 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 21 st September 2011

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 st September 2011 were agreed.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister correcting errors in the Department’s briefing paper on Group B streptococcus.

The Committee noted letters from the Chair of the Health Social Care Review Team and the Department about the Review and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister to a written question from Mr Danny Kinahan MLA and a letter from the Rainbow Project regarding the lifetime ban on men who have sex with men donating blood. The Committee agreed to take evidence from the Department the Rainbow Project on this matter.

The Committee noted a copy of the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust’s draft delivery plan for 2011/2012.

5. Mental Health Resource Budget

The Committee were briefed by Assembly Research on the mental health resource budget.

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Peter Toogood Director of Finance, DHSSPS
Ms Christine Jendoubi Director of Mental Health & Disability Policy Directorate, DHSSPS
Mr Colin McMinn Mental Health Unit, DHSSPS

A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The witnesses agreed to forward further information to the Committee.

2.28 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
2.29 p.m. Ms Michaela Boyle joined the meeting.

3.23 p.m. meeting adjourned.

3.26 p.m. meeting resumed.

6. Evidence session with Trade Union representatives on the impact of budgetary cuts and the Health & Social Care Review

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Kevin McAdam Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Health Services Committee
Mr Kevin McCabe NIPSA
Mr Jonathon Swallow UNISON

A question and answer session ensued.

3.32 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis left the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.

Ms Paula Bradley made a declaration of interest that she is a member of Unison.

4.13 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

7. Statutory Rule - SR 2011/320. The Healthy Start and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Committee considered SR 2011/320 The Healthy Start and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted correspondence from P McNabb and Company regarding regulations banning the sale of tobacco products from vending machines and agreed to write to the Department about this matter.

The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment about reducing energy costs to the Department.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Bamford Monitoring Group and agreed to invite the group to brief it as part of its consideration of the Mental Capacity Bill.

The Committee noted the September 2011Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report and agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee noted a letter from Children’s Law Centre regarding the proposed Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare and Finance) Bill and agreed to write to the Committee for Justice regarding issues raised in the letter.

The Committee noted a briefing paper on HPV Testing provided by Roche Diagnostics.

The Committee noted a letter from Kinship Care seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.

The Committee noted a letter from Anne Tumelty regarding a personal case and agreed to advise Mrs Tumelty to contact her constituency MLAs.

The Committee agreed to arrange a visit to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

The Committee noted a report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding the minimum unit price for alcohol.

The Committee noted a letter from the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence regarding the publication of its annual performance review of the health professional regulators.

9. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the contract for providing transportation to hospital appointments.

The Committee noted news reports that a man had been convicted of assaulting members of the Ambulance Service.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 5th September 2011 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35 p.m.