Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2012/2013

Date: 03 October 2012

Venue: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

The meeting commenced at 2.05 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies as above.

2.06 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne joined the meeting.

2.06 p.m. Ms Pam Brown joined the meeting.

2. Chair’s Business

The Committee noted that an event would be held on Tuesday 9 October to mark World Mental Health week.

The Committee noted that a seminar on parenting support would be taking place on Thursday 4 October.

The Committee discussed the waiting times for memory clinics and agreed to write to the Department for details of memory clinics and waiting times in each HSC Trust.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 26 September 2012

The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 26 September 2012 were agreed.

4. Review on Health inequalities - Evidence session with the Institute of Public Health in Ireland.

The Committee took evidence from:

Mr Owen Metcalfe - Director, Institute of Public Health in Ireland

Dr Helen McAvoy - Senior Policy Officer, Institute of Public Health in Ireland

Dr Joanna Purdy - Public Health Development Officer, Institute of Public Health in Ireland

2.21p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.

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

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

3.19 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.

3.20 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information.

3.28 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy rejoined the meeting.

5. Mental Capacity Bill - Assembly Research presentation.

Dr Black briefed the Committee.

3.30 p.m. Ms Pam Brown left the meeting.

3.35 p.m. Ms Pam Brown rejoined the meeting.

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

3.45 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting.

3.53 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information.

The Committee agreed to take further evidence on how the bill will apply to under 16s.

6. Forward Work Programme.

The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.

7. Matters arising.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the Nursing & Midwifery Bursary Scheme.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Transforming Your Care.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Magnetic Resonance Imaging services at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the health grant to Thalidomide Survivors and agreed to write to the Department for further information. The Committee alsoagreed to forward the Minister’s response to the Survivors of Thalidomide who raised this issue with the Committee.

The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the provision of Diabetic Support Nurses and the administration of medication to pupils in schools and agreed to write to the Department for further information. The Committee also agreed to copy the Minister’s response to the Committee for Education.

The Committee noted a response from the Public Health Agency regarding funding for Brook NI.

8. Correspondence.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the welfare and protection of adult victims of human trafficking.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding minimum care standards for leaving care services and young adult supported accommodation projects.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a review of paediatric services.

The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding Mapping Poverty and Social Deprivation.

The Committee noted a letter from the General Medical Council regarding the state of medical education and practice in the UK.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Osteoporosis Society and agreed to write to Department about the matters raised.

4.01 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Belfast Health Initiative regarding Homeopathy.

The Committee noted correspondence from Sainsbury’s regarding the Paralympic legacy.

The Committee noted a letter from the Infertility Network regarding infertility treatment.

The Committee noted an invitation to hold a Committee meeting in the Southern Area Hospice in Newry and agreed to consider the invitation in its work programme in 2013.

The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the launch of a public consultation on paediatric cardiac surgery and agreed to take evidence from the Children’s Heartbeat Trust during the consultation. It further agreed to take evidence from the Department and the Health & Social Care Board after the consultation responses have been analysed.

9. Any other Business.

The Committee discussed safeguarding vulnerable adults.

The Committee agreed to write to the Department about the operation of the Social Services Client Administration and Retrieval Environment (SOSCARE).

The Committee agreed to write to the Department for an update on issues relating to the NI Fire & Rescue Service.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 10th October 2012 at 2.00pm in room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.10 p.m.

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