Committee for Health

Minutes of Proceedings - 16 October 2025

Committee for Health - 9 October 2025.pdf (208.14 kb)

Meeting Location: NICON Conference, La Mon Hotel.

 

Present:

Philip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)

Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Alan Chambers MLA

Diane Dodds MLA

Órlaithí Flynn MLA

Nuala McAllister MLA

Alan Robinson MLA.

 

Apologies:

Linda Dillon MLA

Colin McGrath MLA

 

In Attendance:

Keith McBride, Clerk

Shannen Lofthouse, Assistant Clerk

Angela McParland, Assistant Clerk

Jonathan Lamont, Clerical Supervisor

Noel Gallagher, Clerical Officer

The meeting commenced at 2.31pm in public session.

 

1. Oral Briefing - Alan Milburn

Mr Alan Millburn, Lead DHSC Non-Executive Director joined the meeting at 2.31pm:

Mr Milburn briefed the Committee in relation to reform in the NHS.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Milburn for his briefing.

 

2. Oral Briefing from the Department- UK Winter Preparedness Plan.

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.10pm:

  • Prof. Sir Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer; and
  • Ms Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Officer; and
  • Mr Jim Wilkinson, Deputy Secretary, Healthcare & Policy Group; and
  • Ms Tracey McCaig, Chief Operating Officer Strategic Planning & Performance Group.

 

The officials briefed the Committee on Winter Preparedness Plan.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Diane Dodds MLA left the meeting at 4:34pm.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their briefing.

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

  • Details of additional funding provided to GPs in previous years;
  • Details of each Trust's winter preparedness plan; and
  • A written briefing outlining the full details of the funding shortfall.

 

3. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to take place in Room 29 at 2.00pm on 23 October 2025.

The meeting was adjourned at 5.14pm.

 

Phillip McGuigan MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Health

23 October 2025