Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 29 February 2012
Venue: The Senate Chamber
The meeting commenced at 2.02 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies noted above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Committee agreed to sponsor an event being organised the Infertility Network on 16 June 2012.
The Committee noted that the Minister would be making a statement on Tuesday 6th March 2012 about the outcome of the North-South Ministerial Council.
The Committee agreed to write to the Belfast Trust for further information on the consultation on maternity services.
The Committee agreed to take evidence from officials on suicide prevention strategies at a future meeting. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to for an update on the recommendations contained in the Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm.
The Committee agreed to visit the Accident & Emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Trade Unions to the Minister regarding the consultation on Shared Services.
The Committee noted responses from the Minister regarding Shared Services.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 22nd February 2012
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 22nd February 2012 were agreed.
4. Statutory Rule. SR 42/2012: The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Injury Benefits and Additional Voluntary Contributions), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
The Committee considered SR 42/2012: The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Injury Benefits and Additional Voluntary Contributions), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
5. Proposed Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Food Standards Agency to prepare the rule.
2.07 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne joined the meeting.
6. Evidence session on Community Pharmacy
The Committee took evidence from:
Dr Andrew McCormick, Permanent Secretary, DHSSPS
Dr Norman Morrow, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, DHSSPS
Mr Joe Brogan, Assistant Director, Integrated Care, HSC Board
Ms Emer Morelli, Medicines Policy, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued.
2.08 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis joined the meeting.
2.08 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.
2.13 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.
2.19 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.12 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
3.16 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.
The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Department on the costs associated with the Judicial Reviews and for an update on the meeting with Community Pharmacy NI scheduled for 2 March 2012.
The Committee agreed to invite Community Pharmacy NI to present evidence on these matters.
7. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding the suspension of the inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister about waiting times at Accident and Emergency at the Ulster and Royal Hospitals. The Committee also agreed to request a research paper on Accident & Emergency waiting times.
The Committee agreed to write to the Rare Diseases Partnership to congratulate them on their work.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 7th March 2012 at 2.00pm in room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.37 p.m.
