Committee for Health

Minutes of proceedings Thursday 26 March 2026

Committee for Health minutes of proceedings 26 February 2026.pdf (221.47 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:                

Phillip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)

Alan Chambers MLA

Diane Dodds MLA

Nuala McAllister MLA

Colin McGrath MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Linda Dillon MLA

Órlaithí Flynn MLA

Alan Robinson MLA

Apologies:            

Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

In Attendance:      

Keith McBride (Clerk)

Roisin Donnelly (Senior Assistant Clerk)

Michael Doran (Senior Assistant Clerk)

Shannen Lofthouse (Assistant Clerk)

Angela McParland (Assistant Clerk)

Jonathan Lamont (Clerical Supervisor)

Caroline Devlin (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in public session.


1.    Apologies

As above.


2.    Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings held on 19, 23 and 24 March 2026.


3.    Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.


4.    Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised Members that arrangements for the Committee’s attendance at this year’s Balmoral Show were being progressed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to attend the Balmoral Show on Wednesday 13 May.

The Chairperson updated Members on his attendance at a number of events including: the Pharmacy in Focus Awards; the Breaking the Silence on Anal Cancer event at Belfast City Hospital; the launch of Myeloma Forward Belfast; and an event organised by Cancer Focus and Action on Smoking and Health.


5.    SL1 - The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland (2026)

The Committee considered a proposal by the Department of Health to make a statutory rule to remove limits on when flu antivirals can be prescribed. This will allow GPs to prescribe flu medicines outside the flu season.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Department make the statutory rule.

 

6.    Business Office Departmental Minutes on Contingent Liabilities

The Committee noted a Departmental Minute from the Department of Health, dated 12 March 2026, outlining a proposal for an indemnity relating to a centre for digital healthcare technology delivered through a City Deal collaboration between Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Ulster University.


7.    Oral Briefing with the Minister of Health – Health and Social Care Trusts Governance and Accountability

The Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt MLA and the following officials from the Department of Health joined the meeting at 2.09 pm:

  • Ms Tracey McCaig, Chief Operating Officer, SPPG;
  • Mr Jim Wilkinson, Deputy Secretary, Healthcare & Policy Group; and
  • Mr Chris Matthews, Deputy Secretary, Resources & Corporate Management Group.

Órlaithí Flynn MLA joined the meeting at 2.27 pm.

The Minister of Health and Department officials briefed the Committee on governance and accountability within the health and social care sector.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for their attendance.

The briefing session was reported by Hansard.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request the following:

  • Further information on the Audit Office Report on the Management of ALBs;
  • A copy of the responses from the Trusts to the Minister’s questions on the work of Liaison Care in reviewing care packages in Trusts;
  • Details on the cost of engaging Liaison Care, the associated cost savings to Trusts, and who commissioned the work and for what purpose;
  • An outline of the lessons learned from the Maternity Hospital build;
  • Confirmation on whether chemicals used during the flushing of pipes in the Maternity Hospital contributed to the issues identified;
  • Information on the new practical support available during the transition period for Post-19 SEN;
  • ; and
  • Further detail on the information and research gathered during the Minister’s recent visit to the USA.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister in relation to the Education Authority’s announcement of the cancellation of summer schools for special school pupils. The Committee agreed to outline its disappointment at the announcement and seek clarification on whether issues relating to summer schemes relate solely to onsite nursing provision and to request further information on nursing levels compared with previous years. The Committee also outlined the importance of these schemes for children and families.


8.    Oral Briefing from the Department - Control of Data Processing Bill

The following officials from the Department of Health joined the meeting at 3.36 pm:

  • Dr Paul Rice, Chief Digital Information Officer, Department of Health;
  • Mr Tom Simpson, Director of Digital Health & Care NI, Digital Health and Care NI; and
  • Dr Frances Burns, Lead HSC, Northern Ireland Trusted Research Environment.

The officials briefed the Committee on the Control of Data Processing Bill.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

The briefing session was reported by Hansard.

 

9.    Adult Protection Bill- Consideration of draft report

The Committee agreed to move to closed session at 3.57 pm.

The Committee discussed the draft Committee report on the Adult Protection Bill.

The Committee resumed public session at 4.02 pm.

The Committee considered the following Departmental consequential amendments to the Adult Protection Bill.

 

Department Amendment 1

Clause 29, Page 18, Line 2

At end insert- “prison” has the same meaning as in the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953;’

 

Department Amendment 2

Clause 29, Page 18, Line 11

At end insert- “young offenders centre” has the same meaning as in the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968;’

 

Department Amendment 3

Clause 50, Page 31, Line 14

Leave out ‘This Part comes’ and insert Part 4A and this Part come’

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendments as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 29 as amended.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 50 as amended.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Committee staff will reflect these changes in the final copy of the Adult Protection Bill report.

The Committee considered its draft report on the Adult Protection Bill.

 

Title Page, Committee Powers and Membership and Table of Contents

The Committee considered the Title Page, Table of Contents, Committee Powers and Membership, and List of Abbreviations and Acronyms as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Title Page, Table of Contents, Committee Powers and Membership, and List of Abbreviations and Acronyms.

 

Executive Summary

The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the report as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Executive Summary.

 

Introduction

The Committee considered the Introduction section of the report (paragraphs 48 to 61) as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction and Committee Approach section of the report.

 

Consideration of Evidence

The Committee considered the Consideration of Evidence section of the report (paragraphs 62 to 376) as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Consideration of Evidence section of the report.

 

Clause by Clause Consideration of the Bill

The Committee considered the Clause by Clause Consideration of the Bill section of the report (paragraphs 377 to 450) as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Clause by Clause Consideration of the Bill section of the report.

 

Appendices

The Committee considered the Appendices of the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Appendices be included in the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to approve the Minutes of Proceedings of this meeting for inclusion in the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that staff should undertake any required formatting changes before the document is published.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report to be published and issued to all MLAs.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that an electronic copy of the Report should be sent to all organisations who provided evidence to the Committee.

 

The consideration and approval of the Committee report was reported by Hansard.


10.  Written Briefing from the Belfast Trust- Capital Costs Projects

The Committee noted a written briefing from the Belfast Trust regarding Capital Costs Projects and will consider further at oral session with the Belfast Trust on 16th April.


11.  Correspondence

i. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Health regarding hospital car parking charges.

ii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Health regarding minimum unit alcohol pricing.

iii. The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Health regarding the offer informal briefing on ‘This is Our Health’ on 13 of 20 April.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to arrange an informal briefing with the Department.

iv. The Committee noted correspondence from Department of Health regarding Organ Tissues and Cells Common Framework.

v. The Committee noted correspondence from Department of Health regarding The Blood Safety and Quality Common Framework.

vi. The Committee considered a response from Department of Health regarding Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Youth Board.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the individual.

vii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the Domestic Abuse in Private Family Law Proceedings RaISe Paper.

viii. The Committee considered correspondence from Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group with an invitation to Sarcoidosis Patient Day on 24 April.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would respond to the invitation on an individual basis.

ix. The Committee considered correspondence from the Professional Standards Agency with an offer to brief the Committee on Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland and pharmacy regulation in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an informal meeting with the Professional Standards Agency.

x. The Committee noted correspondence from Pharmaceutical Society Northern Ireland regarding their Standards for Pharmacist Prescribers – Draft Consultation Launch.

xi. The Committee considered correspondence from the Institute of Health Care Engineering and Estates Management regarding.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would respond to the invitation on an individual basis.

xii. The Committee considered responses from the Northern, Western, South Eastern and Belfast Health and Social Care Trusts regarding information on Trust waiting lists.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider these responses further along with the Committee priority on waiting lists.

xiii. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual with a copy of an email to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust regarding the Compliance Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland).

xiv. The Committee noted correspondence from Independent Health Care Providers regarding freedom of information evidence on Homecare domiciliary care during winter pressures.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to Department of Health for comment.


12. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted its Forward Work Programme.


13. Any Other Business

Colin McGrath MLA noted that he attended the Endometriosis UK event in the Long Gallery on Monday 23rd March and suggested including the organisation in the next ‘Committee Clinic’.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Endometriosis UK to the next ‘Committee Clinic’.


14. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting was scheduled to take place at 16 April at on 2.00 pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.15 pm.

 

Phillip McGuigan MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Health

26 March 2026