Committee for Health

Minutes of proceedings Thursday 16 April 2026

Committee for Health Minutes of Proceedings Thursday 16 April 2026 (2).pdf (157.04 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:

Phillip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)

Danny Donelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Alan Chambers MLA

Diane Dodds MLA

Órlaithí Flynn MLA

Colin McGrath MLA

Alan Robinson MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Nuala McAllister MLA

Apologies:

Linda Dillon MLA

In Attendance:

Keith McBride (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 2.00 pm in public session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson updated the Committee on his recent attendance at an event held at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2026.

4. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

5. Oral Briefing - Royal College of Psychiatrists: Policy Strategy Paper 2025-2028

The following representatives from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland joined the meeting at 2.02 pm:

Dr Julie Anderson, Chair;
Dr Mark Finnerty, Vice Chair; and
Emma Allen, Head of RCPsych in NI.

The RCPsych representatives briefed the Committee on the Policy Strategy Paper 2025-2028.

A question and answer session followed.

Alan Chambers joined the meeting at 2.15 pm.

Nuala McAllister joined the meeting 2.42 pm.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance.

The briefing session was reported by Hansard.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek his assessment of the current state of psychiatric services and the work to address issues, specifically in relation to:

Work-force issues, including training places;
Pressures on in-patient beds;
Waiting times for mental health services;
Resourcing to support the College’s ‘Time to Bridge the Gaps’ Strategy; and
Resourcing for the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ policy.

6. Oral Briefing - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust: Capital Costs Projects

The following officials from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust joined the meeting at 3.05 pm:

Ms Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive; and
Mr David Porter, Director of Strategic Development.

The officials briefed the Committee on Belfast Trust’s Capital Cost Projects.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.

The briefing session was reported by Hansard.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Trust on the BISRA audit and handover outlet testing figures, a copy of the Stage 1 report with early occupation details for the Maternity Hospital, the timescale for Changing Places facilities, updates on work in relation to respite and residential services for under 18s and over 18s, and further information on the reported woodlice infestation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on the governance framework, the role of the estates team in governance, and the role undertaken by the Department of Health Estates team during design, construction and handover.

7. Written Briefing - Patient and Client Council: Waiting Lists

The Committee noted a written briefing from the Patient and Client Council on Waiting Lists.

8. Written Briefing - Patient and Client Council: Serious Adverse Incidents

The Committee noted a written briefing from the Patient Client Council regarding Serious Adverse Incidents.

9. Correspondence

i. The Committee noted a response from the Department of Health regarding an event on eating disorders.

ii. The Committee noted a response from the Department of Health regarding the recruitment of a Chief Executive for Western Health and Social Care Trust.

iii. The Committee considered a response from the Department of Health regarding changing places in hospitals.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to the individual for information.

iv. The Committee considered a response from the Department of Health regarding Law Society NI on Mental Health (NI) Order 2016.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Law Society.

v. The Committee noted a response from the Department of Health regarding a proposed indemnity in relation to a centre for digital healthcare technology city deal collaboration.

vi. The Committee considered a response from the Department of Health regarding serious adverse incident procedure redesign.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider in conjunction with Patient and Client Council written briefing agenda item.

vii. The Committee noted a response from the Department of Health with a copy reply to Committee for Justice regarding the Extern's Prisoner Support Project.

viii. The Committee considered a response from the Department of Health regarding continuing healthcare assessments and related correspondence.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to the individual for information.

ix. The Committee considered a response from the Department regarding special schools summer schemes.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a written briefing from the Education Authority and to copy the request to the Committee for Education.

x. The Committee considered responses from the Belfast Trust, Northern Trust, South Eastern Trust, Southern Trust and Western Trust regarding changing places in hospitals.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from the Trusts to the individual who had raised this matter with the Committee for their information.

xi. The Committee noted correspondence Department of Health regarding Department for Communities Statutory Instrument proposal for debt respite scheme for NI via UK.

xii. The Committee considered correspondence Department of Health regarding a consultation on justification of non-medical use of DEXA.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a summary of responses when available.

xiii. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the Outturn and forecast Outturn- February 26.

xiv. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Communities with a copy of a letter to the Department of Health regarding Inspire Wellbeing Supported Housing.