Committee for Health
Minutes of Proceedings - 27 January 2026
Committee for Health - 27 January 2026.pdf (176.37 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Phillip McGuigan MLA (Chairperson)
Danny Donnelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Alan Chambers MLA
Linda Dillon MLA.
Colin McGrath MLA
Alan Robinson MLA.
Apologies:
Diane Dodds MLA
Orlaithi Flynn MLA
Nuala McAllister MLA
In Attendance:
Keith McBride, Clerk
Shannen Lofthouse, Assistant Clerk
Angela McParland, Assistant Clerk
Jonathan Lamont, Clerical Supervisor
Caroline Devlin, Clerical Officer
The meeting commenced at 10.01am in public session.
1. Apologies
Diane Dodds MLA
Orlaithi Flynn MLA
Nuala McAllister MLA
2. Oral Briefing from Independent Healthcare Providers - Community Care and Patient Flow in Hospitals.
The following representatives joined the meeting at 10.01am.
- Ms Pauline Shepherd, Chief Executive, Independent Health and Care Providers; and
- Mr Ryan Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Health; and
- Ms Joanne Neill, Executive Director, Bryson Care; and
- Ms Carol Cousins, Strategic Director, Healthcare Ireland.
The representatives briefed the Committee on community care and patient flow in hospitals.
Alan Robinson MLA joined the meeting at 10.07am.
Alan Chambers MLA joined the meeting at 10.15am.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their briefing.
Danny Donnelly MLA declared an interest as a nurse working for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
Colin McGrath MLA left the meeting at 10.30am.
Linda Dillon MLA left the meeting at 10.55am.
3. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
4. 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 29 January.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.56am.
Phillip McGuigan MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Health
5 February 2026
