Health FS JC - 27 February 2002

1. The fourth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in its Food Safety Promotion and Health Sectors was held in the Conrad Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday, 27 February 2002. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB), which is one of the six North/South 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 Mr James Leslie, MLA, Minister in the Office of the 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.

3. The NSMC received a progress report on the work of the FSPB. The Council received updates on a range of issues, including staff recruitment, the opening of the Board's new Headquarters in Cork, and its Draft Equality Scheme and New TSN Action Plan. The NSMC also approved adjustments in remuneration arrangements for staff below the level of CEO.

4. The NSMC was also informed of the Board's intention to award a number of postgraduate fellowships, progress on scientific research into the health effects of stimulant drinks, laboratory linkages, and liaison with other agencies in the Food Safety industry. Details were also provided on a number of promotional and educational initiatives in food safety and nutritional skills, and on the launch of the Board's website(www.safefoodonline.com).

5. The NSMC noted progress on the FSPB's Corporate Plan for 2002-2004, and also noted the contents of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2000, which will shortly be published.

6. The NSMC also approved the appointment of two additional members to the FSPB's Scientific Advisory Committee to include representation from the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) and the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI).

Presentation : "Quality and Fairness" - the Department of Health and Children Health Strategy

8. A presentation was made to the Council by the Department of Health and Children on the Health Strategy in the South.

9. 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.

10. The Council heard progress on the development of co-operation in this area. They endorsed the continuing cross-border co-operation in hospital services overseen by the North/South Regional Hospital Services Group (NSRHSG), which was established in 2000. Progress was also reported on local cross-border initiatives being developed by CAWT (Co-operation and Working Together), which has been exploring opportunities for building greater cross-border collaboration between hospitals. The Council noted co-operation on assessing the potential for the development of organ transplantation services on an all-island basis, and on the regular exchange of information during the current reviews of Renal Services, North and South.

11. The NSMC endorsed progress to date by Working Groups in the area of Emergency Planning. The NSMC was informed that a programme of cross-border emergency planning training courses, covering the medical response to a major incident, was already in place. Ministers were also advised that an advertisement inviting tenders for the undertaking of a feasibility study and report on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an all-island Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, as endorsed by the NSMC at its meeting on 16 November 2001, has been placed in the national newspapers, North and South.

Detailed recommendations have been developed in relation to the practical issues surrounding joint responses to Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) in Border areas. The Council noted that, as a first step to resolving a variety of issues with regard to communications, compatibility of equipment and coordinated responses, a phased programme of familiarisation and joint training among Fire Brigades located along the Border is being developed. The Council also noted that further work is planned in the area of fire prevention awareness campaigns, joint training for RTA responses and the further development of an RTA response strategy.

12. The Council reviewed progress on Co-operation on High Technology Equipment. The Council approved a proposal to establish a North/South radiotherapy physics audit scheme. The Council also noted that a framework for assessing the operation of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technology on an all-island basis is still being developed, and that a joint workshop on emerging high technology developments is being organised by the Joint Health Technology Group.

13. In relation to Cancer Research, the Council reviewed on-going co-operation within the Tripartite Agreement (which had resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Cancer Consortium between the National Cancer Institute of the USA and the Health Departments, North and South). The Council was informed that regular meetings have been held to standardise data collection between registries to facilitate projects throughout the island. Stimulated by the Cancer Consortium, consideration has been given to the most appropriate model for the development of a clinical trials infrastructure throughout the island. The Council noted the on-going co-operation within the Memorandum of Understanding and in particular the work being carried out by the joint research registries group in setting out priorities for collaborative research. The Council also noted the announcement of significant funding for cancer therapy research and the developments to date in co-ordinating all-island clinical trial activity.

14. The Council noted progress to date in a range of Health Promotion initiatives, including an evaluation of the folic acid campaign, anti-smoking initiatives, and nutrition. The Council also noted progress in developing a collaborative health promotion work programme, including the plans to hold a major cross-border conference on physical activity, considering the potential for developing an all-island workplace health initiative and the proposed appointment of Programme Managers, North and South, to take this work forward.

15. The Council agreed that its next meeting in these Sectoral formats would take place in the North in June 2002.

Joint Secretariat

27 February 2002