Minute of Proceedings 18 November 2021
Health
Committee for Health
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday, 18 November 2021
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Colm Gildernew MLA (Chairperson)
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Pam Cameron MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Alan Chambers MLA
Deborah Erskine MLA
Órlaithí Flynn MLA
Colin McGrath MLA
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Apologies:
Gerry Carroll MLA
In Attendance:
Keith McBride (Clerk)
Brendan Miskelly (Clerical Supervisor)
Ellen Wilson (Clerical Officer)
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Roisin Donnelly (Assistant Clerk)
Deirdre Farry (Assistant Clerk)
The meeting commenced at 9.31 am in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson highlighted the positive work of the acute care at home and re-ablement team in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
The Chairperson referred to the ongoing COVID-19 pressures within the Health and Social Care system. The Chairperson encouraged members of the public to continue to adhere to the public health messaging.
Committee Members condemned threats made against the Minister for Health and other Executive Ministers.
Committee Members raised a number of issues of priority consideration for the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule briefing from the HSC Trust CEOs on winter pressures.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 16 November 2021.
4. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
Alan Chambers and Colin McGrath joined the meeting at 9.39 am.
5. Autism (Amendment) Bill – Evidence from Ulster University, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and National Autistic Society
The Chairperson declared an interest as formerly being employed as a social worker and currently taking a career break.
The Deputy Chairperson declared an interest as being the Bill Sponsor for the Autism Bill.
The following representatives from Ulster University, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the National Autistic Society joined the meeting by video-conference at 9.40 am:
Professor Laurence Taggart, Ulster University;
Professor Roy McConkey, Ulster University;
Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;
Emily Mills, Policy and Research Officer, NI Human Rights Commission;
Shirelle Stewart, Director, National Autistic Society NI; and
Sharon McDaid, Education and Transitions Advice Officer, National Autistic Society Northern Ireland.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the Autism (Amendment) Bill.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
The briefing session was reported by Hansard.
The meeting was suspended at 10.59 am and resumed at 11.07 am.
6. Autism (Amendment) Bill – Evidence from the Health and Social Care Trusts
The following officials from the Health and Social Care Trusts joined the meeting by video-conference at 11.07 am:
Tom McCarthy Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Western HSC Trust;
Mary McDaid Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Western HSC Trust;
Denise Carroll, Head of Service for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Southern HSC Trust;
Liz McMonagle, Clinical Lead in Adult Psychology Services, Southern HSC Trust;
Mandy Irvine, Assistant Director, Psychological Services, Southt Eastern HSC Trust;
Julie Kilpatrick, Assistant Director, Children’s and Young People’s Healthcare;
Ciara McKillop Assistant Director, Child Health, Development and Emotional Wellbeing, Northern HSC Trust;
Jayne Colville, Improvement Co-ordinator, Autism Spectrum Disorder Service, Northern HSC Trust;
Moira Kearney, Interim Director for Mental Health and Intellectual Disability, Belfast HSC Trust; and
Dr Sarah Meekin Head of Psychological Services, Belfast HSC Trust.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the Autism (Amendment) Bill.
A question and answer session followed.
The representatives agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a number of issues raised.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.
The briefing session was reported by Hansard.
7. The Autism (Amendment) Bill – Evidence from the Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Board
The following officials from the Department of Health and Health and Social Care Board joined the meeting by video-conference at 12.11 pm:
Mark McGuicken, Director of Disability and Older People, Department of Health;
Judith Finlay, Learning Disability Unit, Department of Health; and
Maurice Leeson, Children’s Services Planning, Health and Social Care Board.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Autism (Amendment) Bill.
A question and answer session followed.
The officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a number of issues raised.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The briefing session was reported by Hansard.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send the Hansards of the previous sessions on the Bill to the Department of Health.
8. SR 2021/293 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation), (Amendment No. 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
The following officials from the Department of Health joined the meeting by video-conference at 12.51 pm:
Debra Sharpe, Deputy Head of Health Protection Branch 3; and
Justin McCaughey, International Travel Directorate.
The officials briefed the Committee on SR 2021/293 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation), (Amendment No. 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.
A question and answer session followed.
The officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a number of issues raised.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.
The briefing session was report by Hansard.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer its consideration of SR 2021/293 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation), (Amendment No. 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 until the meeting on 25 November 2021.
9. Correspondence
The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Health providing further information requested by the Committee in relation to October Monitoring.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Pay Review Body on the issue of equality screening relating to the pay offer.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Health regarding CAMHS referrals and waiting lists.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Health regarding the testing of children under the age of five for COVID-19.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Minster’s correspondence to the individual who had raised this matter with the Committee.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Health regarding the three-year budget process and equality impact assessments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further detail and request that a full EQIA is carried out.
- The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Health responding to issues raised during the RCN briefing with the Committee on 14 October 2021.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Minister’s correspondence to RCN for information.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Health regarding the Valley Nursing Home in Clogher.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister of Health advising that the Department intends to make the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021, which will consolidate existing coronavirus legislation and will contain provision for mandatory COVID status certification.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask the Executive Office and the Department of Health for further information relating to the rationale and evidence for the introduction of mandatory COVID status certification.
The Committee noted two items of correspondence from the Department of Health regarding the launch of UK wide consultation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on original pack dispensing and supply of medicines containing sodium valproate consultation.
The Committee considered correspondence from the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People regarding the Committee’s consideration of child mental health and well-being issues and proposals to mark Children’s Mental Health Week (7-13 February 2022).
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would liaise with NICCY on its proposals to mark Children’s Mental Health Week in 2022.
The Committee considered correspondence from an individual regarding alternative treatments for the symptoms of long-COVID.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the Department of Health for a response on the issues raised.
The Committee noted the publication of the NI Assembly All Party Group Inquiry Report, ‘The Future Regulation of Gambling in Northern Ireland’.
The Committee noted the publication of the ‘Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Northern Ireland 2020’.
The Committee noted an invitation from Strategem to attend an online mental health seminar on 18 November 2021.
The Committee noted correspondence between the Health and Social Care Board and an individual regarding the provision of community mental health services.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Professional Standards Authority outlining its views on the implications of the Westminster Health and Social Care Bill for professional regulation.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service responding to the Committee’s request for briefing on matters relating to Michael Watt.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask for further information from MPTS on this matter.
The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding varying pay rates for vaccinators.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Neurology Recall Support Group, thanking the Committee for its work on this matter, and asking to be included in any future correspondence on the issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee would publish relevant papers relating to this matter on its webpage.
The Committee noted correspondence from RCPCH requesting to brief the Committee on the More than a number review.
The Committee noted an invitation from Pharmacy Forum NI to a webinar on diversity and inclusion in pharmacy taking place on 23 November.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.
The Committee discussed the scheduling of additional meetings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would provide suggestions to the Clerk in relation to this matter.
11. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Health was scheduled to take place at 12:45 pm on Tuesday, 23 November 2021.
The meeting was adjourned at 1.26 pm.
Colm Gildernew MLA,
Chairperson, Committee for Health
