Health FS JC - 16 November 2001
Health and Food Safety Sectors
Belfast, Friday 16 November 2001
Joint Communiqué
1. The third meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in its Food Safety and Health Sectors was held in the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Friday 16 November 2001. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB), which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies, and with Health, which is one of the six areas for enhanced North/South Co-operation.
2. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Ms Bairbre de Brún, MLA, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Minister Nesbitt, MLA, Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The Irish Government was represented by Mr Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Health and Children and Dr Tom Moffatt, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Food Safety and Older People.
Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB)
3. The NSMC received a progress report on the work of the FSPB The Council welcomed the establishment of the new Cork headquarters which is to be officially opened on 24 November 2001 and agreed to the establishment of a sub- office in Dublin. The Council also noted the good progress made on several other important areas. These included resourcing issues, development of the FSPB website, awareness campaigns, proposals for research, and the establishment of a Nutrition Forum.
4. The Council also considered and approved the Corporate Strategy and Interim Plan for the 2001 year. The FSPB will shortly commence work on a three year Corporate Plan covering the period January 2002-2005 which will be submitted to the NSMC for approval when complete.
5. At the last NSMC meeting in Food Safety and Health Sectoral Format the Council approved, in principle, a management structure and outline staffing arrangements for the FSPB. At today's meeting the Council approved the FSPB's detailed staffing proposals.
6. FSPB governing legislation provides for an Advisory Committee comprising of scientific experts and representatives of broader food safety interests and also requires the FSPB to draw upon a pool of scientific and technical expertise available separately to food safety regimes in both jurisdictions. The Council approved the FSPB's proposals to establish an Advisory Committee of 16 representatives covering a wide variety of interests and disciplines, including the consumer and food industry. The Committee will be chaired by Professor Sean Strain a member of the Advisory Board.
7. The FSPB has a statutory obligation to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity. The Council approved the issue of the FSPB draft Equality Scheme for public consultation - this being the next stage in the process leading to final approval by the Equality Commission.
8. Under the New Targeting Social Need (New TSN) policy, Departments and relevant Non-Departmental Public Bodies in the North are required to develop and consult upon the New TSN Action Plan which set out targets and actions to implement the policy. This also applies to North/South Implementation Bodies. The Council considered the FSPB's draft New TSN Action Plan and approved its issue for public consultation - the next stage in the process leading to final approval.
9. The Council agreed in principle that the candidate recommended following a selection process for the post of Chief Executive to the FSPB, was acceptable.
Areas for Co-operation - Health
10. The Council received further reports on progress on implementing the programme of work it had approved at earlier meetings in the Health sector. The priorities identified for co-operation were Accident and Emergency Services, Planning for Major Emergencies, Co-operation on High Technology Equipment, Cancer Research and Health Promotion.
Accident and Emergency Services
11. Co-operation in the area of Accident and Emergency Services covers acute hospital services generally as well as Accident and Emergency Departments. Cross border co-operation, covering hospital services in the border areas, and wider co-operation on a regional basis, covering specialist services which are, or could be only viable where delivered on an all-island basis have been identified as two broad areas for co-operation. A North/South Regional Hospital Services Group (NSRHSG) has been established to consider the opportunities for developing partnerships covering the wider regional services. The Council noted the proposal to expand the membership of the NSRHSG to include a senior official from each of the border Health Boards.
12. The Council noted co-operation between both Departments, North and South, on their respective reviews of renal services, information on which will be exchanged. The reviews will take account of the potential benefits of North/South linkages.
13. The Council, noted progress on joint training, staff development and exchange opportunities in radiotherapy services.
14. The Council requested the NSRHSG to consider the report of the Acute Hospitals Review Group in the North, whose remit included the scope for co-operation in the provision of services with hospitals in the South. The report suggests that there is considerable potential to develop existing cross-border initiatives for the benefit of patients.
Planning for Major Emergencies
15.The Council noted the existence of a programme for cross border emergency planning training courses covering the medical response to a major incident, and the proposals for the development of integrated communication protocols to activate hospital and community response in a major emergency. The Council also noted the proposals for the introduction of "First Responder" schemes in border areas, and the development of a Road Traffic Accident Response Strategy for Fire Brigades in Border areas.
16. The Council endorsed the work so far and the plans for further work on the area of Planning for Major Emergencies. It also approved a joint commissioning and shared costs approach for an evaluation of a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service to include options for the location of such a service.
Co-operation on High Technology Health Equipment
17. The Council endorsed the membership of a Joint Health Technology Group, charged with drawing up protocols for the assessment and evaluation of emerging and new technology.
18. The Council also agreed the following work programme for the group:
- the feasibility of the introduction and utilisation of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technology within a joint framework.
- the potential for the future development and distribution of specialised radio therapy treatments for cancer
- the potential for development of acute facilities support services, to see if there could be greater centralisation of essential support services, such as laboratory facilities, etc.
- joint access to European Union Health Technology Assessment Networks and Expertise, to ensure the effective dissemination of the work of these groups to the maximum benefit of each administration.
- the undertaking of a North/South Radiotherapy Physics Audit Scheme, of particular importance for the treatment of people with cancer, half of whom are treated by radiotherapy.
Cancer Research
19. The Council noted the present co-operation on cancer research, in particular the launch of the All Ireland Cancer Incidence Report. A Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Cancer Consortium between the National Cancer Institute in the USA, and the Departments of Health, North and South, has created a framework within which an all Ireland infrastructure for joint programmes in clinical cancer research will be developed. Present co-operation within the tripartite agreement includes the investigation of breast cancer to compare incidence and mortality throughout Ireland, North and South. The Council also noted the establishment of cancer epidemiology fellowships.
20. The Council noted the steps taken to develop the infrastructure of hospitals to conduct high quality cancer clinical trials and the planned developments to co-ordinate all-island clinical trial activity. The intention is to fund a number of centres to carry out high quality clinical trials, and to fund an all-island clinical trials group to co-ordinate the trial activity of funded hospitals, North and South.
21. The Council also noted the development of telesynergy communications links, which will be of great benefit in supporting clinical trial activity, in consulting on rare and difficult cancers, and in postgraduate medical training.
22. Finally, the Council noted the scholar exchange programme and the proposals to extend it under the aegis of the Cancer Consortium
Health Promotion
23. The Council noted developments in a collaborative health promotion work programme, including:
- the evaluation of the folic acid campaign
- the public information campaign for physical activity
- collaboration on smoking, targeting young smokers in particular.
- all-island initiatives for improvement in nutrition.
24. The Council also noted the launch of the leaflet, "Concerned about Suicide". This was originally produced by the Western Health and Social Services Board in the North, and subsequently adopted by the Irish Association of Suicidology, which agreed to launch it on an all-island basis. The leaflet aims to raise awareness, and provide information.
25. Finally, the Council noted that the two Health Departments are working together to develop a joint strategically planned health promotion programme and training resource.
Date of Next Meeting
26. The Council agreed that its next meeting in these Sectoral Formats would take place in the South in Feb 2002.
Joint Secretariat
16 November 2001
