Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 07 March 2012
Venue: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
The meeting commenced at 2.01 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies noted above.
2. Chair’s Business
The Committee noted that the Committee would be piloting electronic committee packs over the next 6 weeks and agreed to allow time at its next meeting for training purposes.
2.03 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne joined the meeting.
The Committee noted that a record of the Committee’s meeting with the Joint Committee on Health and Children would be circulated to all Members when this became available.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding a briefing from Departmental officials on hygiene audits.
2.11 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley joined the meeting.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting on Wednesday 29th February 2012
The minutes of the Committee meeting on Wednesday 29th February 2012 were agreed.
4. Evidence session with Health & Social Care Trusts on community meals
The Committee was briefed by Assembly Research regarding community meals.
2.27 p.m. Mrs Pam Lewis joined the meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Commissioner for Older People regarding community meals.
The Committee noted correspondence from Domestic Care regarding community meals.
2.41 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
The Committee took evidence from:
Mrs Angela Mc Veigh - Director of Older People & Primary Care, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Charlotte McArdle - Director of Primary Care & Older People, Executive Director of Nursing, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust
Mr Alan Corry Finn - Executive Director of Nursing/Director of Primary Care and Older People's Service, Western Health & Social Care Trust
Mr Patrick Graham - Assistant Director Primary Care & Community Care for Older Peoples' Services, Northern Health & Social Care Trust
Ms Marie Heaney - Co-Director for Older People, Physical and Sensory Disability, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.03 p.m. Mr Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting.
3.46 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting.
3.50 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan left the meeting.
3.55 p.m. Mr Mark H Durkan rejoined the meeting.
4.09 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley left the meeting.
4.23 p.m Mr Gordon Dunne left the meeting.
4.23 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.23 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
4.23 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
4.30 p.m. Meeting Resumed with Mr Jim Wells in the Chair.
4.30 p.m. Ms Paula Bradley rejoined the meeting.
5. Evidence session with Departmental officials on community meals
The Committee took evidence from:
Ms Christine Jendoubi - Director, Mental Health, Disability and Older People Directorate, DHSSPS
Mr Michael Swann - Principal, Elderly and Community Care, DHSSPS
Mr Brian Taggart - Deputy Principal, Elderly & Community Care, DHSSPS
Mr Kevin Keenan - Assistant Director for Older People, HSCB
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department about community meals.
5.07 p.m. Mr Kieran McCarthy left the meeting.
6. Proposed Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the rule.
The Committee took evidence on the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 from:
Ms Eilís McDaniel - Acting Head of Child Care Policy Directorate
Ms Patricia Nicholl - Social Services Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee considered the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and agreed that it was content for the Department to prepare the rule.
7. Commencement Order
The Committee noted the Health (2009 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.
8. Statutory Instrument
The Committee agreed it was content with the Medicines (Products for Human Use) (Fees) Regulations 2012.
9. Appointment of Specialist Advisor on Budget 2011-2015.
The minutes of the subcommittee meetings held on Wednesday 22nd February 2012 and Wednesday 29th February 2012 were agreed.
The Committee agreed to endorse the decision of the sub-committee not to appoint a specialist advisor at this time.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme.
11. Matters arising
The Committee noted responses from the Department & Dr Paul Fogarty regarding evidence given to the Committee on 14th September 2011 about Group B Streptococcus and agreed to copy this to Group B Strep Support seeking their views.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding unoccupied buildings in the health estate and the storage of personal records.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the ‘Tackling Violence at Home Strategy’ and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee noted a copy of the Minister’s response to the Committee for Education about the motion on ‘Pupils Living in Poverty’.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding income generated by the car park at the South West Acute Hospital.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding the consultation on Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding a psychiatric inpatient facility for treatment for mothers and babies.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Commissioning Plan Direction.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding car parking charges.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding missed and cancelled hospital appointments and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
5.37 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the implementation plan for the Service Framework for Cancer Prevention and agreed to copy the response to Cancer Research UK.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Shared Services and agreed to forward this letter to the unions.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister regarding Homestart schemes.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the Mental Capacity Bill.
12. Correspondence
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a Strategy for Allied Health Professions 2012-2017.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a UK Plan for Rare Diseases.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2015.
The Committee noted the DHSSPS Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity report for February 2012.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding Shared Services.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Review of Budget Allocations for 2013-14 & 2014-15 and agreed to take evidence on this matter.
The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding the progress report on the Road Safety Strategy 2010-2020 to the Department.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding the handling of hoax calls.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding alcohol consumption on private hire buses.
The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Patient and Client Council regarding its Advice and Information Project.
The Committee noted a letter from NIPSA regarding the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations.
Ms Paula Bradley declared an interest as a member of the HSC pension scheme
The Committee noted a copy of Age NI’s response to the Draft Programme for Government 2011-2015.
The Committee noted a letter from MindWise.
The Committee noted a letter from Big Lottery Fund.
The Committee noted a letter from the Long Term Conditions Alliance seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the ELK-Foundation regarding stress testing.
13. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday 14th March 2012 at 2.00pm in room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.49 p.m.
Chairperson
