Committee for Health

Minutes of proceedings 13 March 2025

Committee for Health minutes of proceedings 13 March 2025.pdf (184.09 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:                   

McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)

Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Alan Chambers MLA

Linda Dillon MLA

Diane Dodds MLA

Órlaithí Flynn MLA

Colin McGrath MLA

Alan Robinson MLA

Apologies:               

Nuala McAllister MLA

In Attendance:       

Keith McBride, Clerk

Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk

Angela McParland. Assistant Clerk

Jonathan Lamont, Clerical Supervisor

Stephen McGlennon, Clerical Officer

The meeting commenced at 2.01pm in public session.


1.      Apologies

Nuala McAllister MLA.


2.      Chairperson’s Business

Respite Services/Short Breaks

The Chairperson thanked the attendees of the recent Committee event on Respite Services, particularly the mothers of those children with complex needs who provided very emotional and difficult testimonies of their lived experiences of caring for children when respite services are not available.

Access to Palliative Care Services

The Chairperson sought the agreement of Members to defer the planned research briefing to the next meeting of the Committee.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer the planned research briefing to the next meeting of the Committee.


3.      Draft Minutes

The Committee agreed the draft Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2025.

 

4.      Matters Arising

Core Grant Funding

Members discussed a draft Committee Motion in respect of Core Grant Funding.

Mr Chambers outlined that he felt the motion should call on the Executive to take action to free up funding on this matter. Other Members of the Committee felt it was the responsibility of the Health Minister.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to amend the draft motion to include details of the relevant assessments of impact and details of the significance of funding for core groups. It was agreed that the Clerk would circulate a copy of the amended motion for the Committee’s agreement before forwarding to the Business Office.

Mr Chambers outlined his opposition to the motion.

Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre in Belfast

The Chairperson informed Members that the Minister had indicated that he felt it would be more appropriate for the Trust to brief the Committee and answer questions on the issue of repairs to the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Centre in Belfast and the subsequent impact on patients.

Agreed: The Committee expressed its disappointment at the proposal and agreed to write to the Minister to request that he attend to provide a briefing and answer questions on the matter.


5.      Respite Services/Short Breaks – Oral Briefing by the Department of Health

The following officials joined the meeting at 2.15pm:

  • Maurice Leeson, Programme Manager, Partnerships, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, CAMHS and Disability, Department of Health;
  • Nigel Chambers, Head of Learning Disability and Autism, Department of Health;
  • Lynn Preece, Director of Children’s Services, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; and,
  • Maura Dargan, Director of Children’s Services, Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

The officials briefed the Committee on Respite Services/Short Breaks.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that officials provide detailed information on:

  • The number of additional beds, recovered beds and respite days each trust intends to provide in its plans to address the issue of residential care/short breaks;
  • The Office of Social Work’s assessment of the workforce situation and what measures are required to resolve the issue, including the reasons for higher vacancy rates in some Trusts;
  • Progress on the re-opening of the White Haven site for respite care;
  • The Department’s plan to return the current service provision to pre-Covid levels;
  • An assessment of the funding required to provide an adequate number of residential placements; stabilise the service; and, increase in staffing levels;
  • Whether the Minister has plans to ring fence short-term respite beds. 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek regular updates from the Department on the work of the Trusts in addressing the issues outlined in the briefing.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.


6.      Review of Emergency General Surgery in the South West Acute Hospital – Oral Briefing by RQIA Officials

The following officials joined the meeting at 3.52pm:

  • Prof. Stuart Elborn, Deputy Chairperson, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority;
  • Briege Donaghy, Regulation and Improvement Authority.

The officials briefed the Committee on the Review of Emergency General Surgery in the South West Acute Hospital.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

Alan Chambers left the meeting at 4.38pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Regulator for clarity on how it deals with issues which are deemed to be an immediate priority but are not possible to resolve immediately.


7.      Review of Emergency General Surgery in the South West Acute Hospital – Oral Briefing by the Department of Health and the Western Health and Social Care Trust

The following officials joined the meeting at 4.40pm:

  • Dr Tomas Adell, Department of Health;
  • Dr Brendan Lavery, Western Health and Social Care Trust; and,
  • Mark Gillespie, Western Health and Social Care Trust.

The Chairperson expressed his disappointment that the Chief Executive or Chairperson of the Trust had not been available for the briefing.

Alan Chambers rejoined the meeting at 4.42pm.

The officials briefed the Committee on the Review of Emergency General Surgery in the South West Acute Hospital.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a copy of the data which had been collated following the recent Risk Adjusted Mortality Index survey and copies of the data that had also been shared with the RQIA.

Órlaithí Flynn MLA left the meeting at 5.04pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for:

  • Information on the escalation in patient conditions as a consequence of prolonged waits in ambulances;
  • Further information on the increased capacity following the move of services;
  • Confirmation that the review process will be put in place before the changing or withdrawal of services; and
  • Information on the progress of the implementation of the review, with updates to be provided every three months.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

Diane Dodds MLA left the meeting at 5.24pm.


8.      Committee Inquiry into Access to Palliative Care Services – Oral briefing by Assembly Research and Information Services

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer the briefing to the meeting scheduled for 20 March 2025.


9.      SL1 – The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) (Amendment) Regulations NI 2024

The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee would consider this SL1 at a future meeting of the Committee.


10.   Hospital Car Parking Charges – Written briefing from the Department

The Committee noted a written update from the Department in respect of the new traffic management system until its full implementation.


11.   Children’s Social Care Review – Written briefing from the Department

The Committee noted a written update on the progress of the Children’s Social Care Services Independent Review Report.


12.   Correspondence

i.        The Committee noted a Departmental response in relation to its query on the status of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust’s UKAS accreditation for HPV testing. The Department has confirmed that, whilst a UKAS accreditation for cervical cytology testing is held, the Trust is in the process of being assessed for an extension to include HPV testing.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for an indication of the date when the accreditation is expected to be attained.

ii.        The Committee noted a Departmental response to its request for an update on its work to progress issues relating to the provision of ADHD services, in light of recent complaints regarding the practice of Dr Anish. The Committee noted that the Department is not responsible for arrangements between patients and private providers. The Department indicated that a needs assessment for the future commissioning of ADHD services across Trusts is expected to be completed by June 2025.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response to those individuals who had engaged with the Committee.

iii.        The Committee noted a Departmental update on the implementation status of the Independent Neurology Inquiry Programme and the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia Related Deaths Implementation Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to include an oral briefing in its Forward Work Programme.

iv.        The Committee noted Departmental correspondence to advise of a forthcoming consultation to mark the start of a review on the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under 12.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that a written briefing be provided once the consultation had been completed.

v.        The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of substitute teachers and the provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education.

vi.        The Committee noted an invitation from Boots Chemist to visit its Donegall Place store to discuss the issues facing community pharmacy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to advise of Members engagement with community pharmacies in their constituencies.

vii.        The Committee noted a response from the British Dental Association in respect of its views on the direction of travel of the Department towards General Dental Services Reform.

viii.        The Committee noted correspondence from the Community Transport Association NI in respect of its findings from its research into challenges which impact on the organisations efficiency and ability to serve the public.

ix.        The Committee noted a copy of the Audit Office report on Ambulance Handovers in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to include the NI Ambulance Service in its list of informal meetings.

x.        The Committee noted a copy of a Health and Safety notification issued by NIPSA to the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust in respect of new working arrangements for its members who are Approved Social Workers.

xi.        The Committee noted a copy of correspondence between an individual and the Public Accounts Committee in respect of additional information to a call for evidence on access to General Practices.

xii.        The Committee noted a copy of correspondence between an individual the RQIA in respect of a complaint.


13. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered a draft Forward Work Programme.

The Chairperson reminded Members of the planned visit to St Francis Hospice in Dublin which had been confirmed for Wednesday 2 April 2025.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft Forward Work Programme.


14.   Any Other Business

None.


15.   Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place at 2.00pm on Thursday 20 March 2025.

The meeting was adjourned at 5.26pm.

Philip McGuigan MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Health

20 March 2025