Committee for Health
Minutes of Proceedings - 3 July 2025
Meeting Location:
Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Philip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)
Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Alan Chambers MLA
Linda Dillon MLA
Diane Dodds MLA
Órlaithí Flynn MLA
Nuala McAllister MLA
Colin McGrath MLA
Alan Robinson MLA
Apologies:
None
In Attendance:
Keith McBride, Clerk
Shannen Lofthouse, Assistant Clerk
Angela McParland, Assistant Clerk
Jonathan Lamont, Clerical Supervisor
Martina Mullin-O'Hare, Clerical Officer
The meeting commenced at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson advised Members that it is standard practice to delegate authority to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, during periods of recess, to submit views on the releasing or withholding of information in any non-routine or contentious Freedom of Information requests received by the Committee. Any such views expressed would be brought to the attention of the Committee at the first meeting after summer recess.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson to submit views on the releasing or withholding of information for any non-routine or contentious Freedom of Information requests received by the Committee during recess.
The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee will consider an end of session report in September, as agreed by the Chairperson's Liaison Group in June 2024.
The Chairperson advised Members he had received correspondence from Save Our Acute Services, South West Acute Hospital (SOAS, SWAH) asking to receive a copy of the written briefing by the Department on the Review of Emergency General Surgery at the South West Acute Hospital.
The Chairperson referred to expected announcements by the Minister in regard to services in the Causeway Hospital and South West Acute Hospital. Members discussed that the Committee would expect the Minister to make any such announcements by an Oral Statement to the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the written briefing by the Department on the Review of Emergency General Surgery at the South West Acute Hospital to SOAS SWAH for information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek assurance ahead of recess that any announcements in regard to services in the Causeway Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital be made by way of an Oral Statement to the Assembly, and that any announcement by the Minister on hospital reconfiguration will be made when the Assembly is sitting.
3. Draft Minutes
The Committee agreed the draft Minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2025.
4. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Mental Health in Schools - Oral Briefing by the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly Health Committee
The following Youth Assembly Health Committee Members joined the meeting at 2.04pm:
- Brooke Ewing;
- Christine Farry
- Daniel Gracey.
- Fionn McCoy; and
- Donal Mullan.
The Youth Assembly Health Committee briefed the Committee on mental health in schools.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the Youth Assembly Members for their attendance.
Diane Dodds joined the meeting at 2.06pm
Alan Chambers joined the meeting at 2.35pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Northern Ireland Executive should use the findings by the Youth Assembly Health Committee to improve the educational experiences of our youth. The Committee was pleased to hear that the Health Minister had engaged with the Youth Assembly Committee and agreed to write to the Minister for Education requesting that he also meet with the Members of the Youth Assembly Health Committee.
6. Committee Inquiry: Access to Palliative Care Services - Oral Evidence by the Department of Health
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.40pm:
- Gearóid Cassidy, Director of Primary Care, Department of Health (DoH);
- Roger Kennedy, Programme Director, Community Care Directorate, Strategic Planning and Performance group (SPPG); and
- Ryan Wilson, Director of Secondary Care, DoH.
Linda Dillon joined the meeting at 2.55pm
Nuala McAllister joined the meeting at 3.13pm
The officials briefed the Committee on access to palliative care services.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The briefing session was reported by Hansard.
The Chairperson advised Members that this briefing by the Department had concluded oral evidence for the Inquiry. The Chairperson thanked all of the organisations and individuals that had contributed to the Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that all departmental responses received as part of the inquiry be published on the Committee's Inquiry webpages.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its draft report on the Inquiry immediately following summer recess.
7. Cytology Screening Review - Oral briefing from Department of Health, Public Health Agency, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Southern Health and Social Care Trust
The following officials joined the meeting at 3.31pm:
- Professor Lourda Geoghegan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, DoH;
- Paul Cavanagh, Director of Hospital Commissioning, SPPG, DoH;
- Dr Joanne Mclean, Director of Public Health, Public Health Agency (PHA);
- Stephen Austin, Medical Director, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT); and
- Moira Kearney, Interim Director of Cancer and Specialist Services, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT).
The officials briefed the Committee on the Cytology Screening Review.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
The briefing session was reported by Hansard.
Colin McGrath left the meeting at 4.39pm
Órlaithí Flynn left the meeting at 4.59pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to encourage the Department to consider, before the reports are published, how it might provide information to those individuals impacted ahead of publishing, as a duty of care to those individuals.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive from the PHA a copy of the records of the quality assurance process of all laboratories.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule another oral briefing by officials following completion of the Review reports.
Diane Dodds left the meeting at 5.10pm
The Committee agreed to move to closed session.
The meeting moved into closed session at 5.11pm to discuss to discuss governance matters in regard to the BHSCT.
Diane Dodds returned to the meeting at 5.13pm
The Committee returned to public session at 5.19pm.
Alan Robinson left the meeting at 5.19pm
8. Winter Preparedness - Written Briefing from the Department of Health
The Committee noted a written briefing from the Department on Winter Preparedness.
9. Hospital Car Parking Charges - Written Briefing from the Department of Health
The Committee considered a written briefing from the Department on the implementation of hospital car parking charges.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing by the Department in the Autumn to include information on free parking and permits for staff.
10. Violence and Aggression Toward Staff - Written Briefing from the Department of Health
The Committee considered a written briefing from the Department on violence and aggression toward staff.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to receive a written update on the pilot in the Antrim Hospital on the use of bodycams.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to receive information on data collated that can show different trends to assist with tackling the issue of violence against Health and Social Care staff. The Department to clarify if the data collected includes detail of context, for example whether individuals involved have substance abuse issues or mental health issues etc.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing in the Autumn on this matter.
11. SR 2025/117 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
The Committee considered SR 2025/117 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.
Agreed: The Committee for Health has considered SR 2025/117 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules Report, has no objection to the Rule.
12. Adult Protection Bill
Members considered a draft motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Adult Protection Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the motion as written.
13. Correspondence
1. The Committee noted a response from the Department regarding Budget Priorities, June Monitoring and Legislation Programme following the meeting on 29 May 2025.
2. The Committee noted a response from the Department regarding the Royal Victoria Hospital Maternity and Children's Hospital following the meeting on 29 May 2025.
3. The Committee considered a response from the Department regarding financial support for medical students.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the British Medical Association (BMA NI).
4. The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding proposed amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Group (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 through the Crime and Policing Bill.
5. The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning paediatric waiting lists.
6. The Committee considered a response from the Department on the issue of PEG insertions for children.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to Parents4PEGS NI.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it will consider a workstream focusing on paediatric waiting lists and access to paediatric services at its next strategic planning session following recess.
7. The Committee considered correspondence from the Department on the new Maternity Hospital.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to receive a timeline for the completion of the Review.
8. The Committee noted a response from the BHSCT regarding a fire safety audit.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the BHSCT for further information and receive detail, to include a timeline, on any events or engagement that occurred prior to 4 June 2025 and up to 11 June 2025 related to the fire safety audit.
9. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance on the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.
10. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance on the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill.
11. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance on the Analysis of 2025-26 Outturn and Forecast Outturn.
12. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice regarding the defence of reasonable chastisement and equal protection.
13. The Committee noted correspondence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council on the introduction of its equality, diversity and inclusion strategic objectives and targets.
14. The Committee considered correspondence from Action on Postpartum Psychosis regarding the delay in establishing a Mother and Baby Unit in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to receive further information on work undertaken to progress a Mother and Baby Unit.
15. The Committee noted correspondence from the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee on proposed European Union pharmaceutical legislation.
16. The Committee considered a response from the Minister of Education regarding Cruse bereavement support in schools.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the response as part of its evidence gathering for its Inquiry on Access to Palliative Care Services.
17. The Committee considered correspondence from Sarcoma UK requesting to meet with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson will consider scheduling a meeting following summer recess.
18. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Executive Office regarding the Mother and Baby Homes Bill.
19. The Committee noted correspondence from the Equality Commission regarding the Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.
20. The Committee noted an Investing Activity Report for June 2025.
21. The Committee considered correspondence from SOAS.
Agreed: The Committee to consider again in regard to its visit to SWAH in November.
22. The Committee considered a response from Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI) following a correction made by the Department in regard to a recent briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department that the Minister and his officials engage with CPNI and provide the necessary support on funding issues and update the Committee.
23. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding correspondence from the Department to Caleb's Cause.
24. The Committee noted a response from the Department in regard to Stanton Healthcare.
25. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Justice on bail accommodation for children and young people.
26. The Committee noted correspondence from the Regional Palliative Medicine Group Northern Ireland concerning a departmental response to the Committee on a 'Northern Ireland Regional Last Days Care Bundle'/'Individualised Care Plan'.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the correspondence as part of its evidence gathered for the Inquiry on Access to Palliative Care Services.
27. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding the BHSCT.
28. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding the Department's responsibilities on safeguarding in both public and private family law proceedings where domestic abuse is a relevant factor.
29. The Committee noted correspondence from The Speaker concerning legislative scrutiny for the remainder of the Assembly mandate and Members' Bills.
30. The Committee noted a response from the Department regarding treatment of Muscular Dystrophy medicines.
31. The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning Health and Social Care whistleblowing policy and the processes followed by whistleblowing managers.
32. The Committee considered a written submission to the Committee Inquiry on Access to Palliative Care Services from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Locality Board.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the submission as part of its evidence gathered for the Inquiry on Access to Palliative Care Services.
14. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered a draft Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft Forward Work Programme.
15. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
16. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to take place at in Room 29 at 2.00pm on 11 September 2025.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.30pm.
Phillip McGuigan MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Health
11 September 2025
