Consultation Responses: Health and Social Care

2017

Continuing Healthcare September 2017

We urge the Department to commit to developing standalone guidance and an assessment checklist. The Law Centre’s view is that the Department’s proposed approach is not feasible and will effectively end the policy of Continuing Healthcare.

2016

The Executive Office - programme for government 2016-2021 July 2016

We commend the department for what this draft Programme for Government is trying to achieve.

We make a number of suggestions for additional indicators and measures.

We look forward to the publication of the action plans, which are essential in order to make these ideas real and meaningful.

2015

Response to DHSSPS consultation on regulations for independent guardians for separated children in the immigration system November 2015

We agree with DHSSPS that Independent Guardians should be experts in their work but believe that the proposed social worker criterion would be too restrictive and may unnecessarily restrict the pool of potentially qualified applicants.

Written evidence to the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on the Mental Capacity Bill July 2015

The Law Centre is content with the Bill's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are concerned that the Bill as it stands may not be fully compliant with article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in its requirements of respect for private and family life.

Written evidence to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the Health and Social Care (Control of Data Processing) Bill July 2015

The Law Centre welcomes the introduction of this important legislation and is supportive of its general principles. We have some concerns about achieving the right balance which needs to be struck in the details between the public interest in the protection of confidentiality and the public interest in the efficient and effective provision of health and social care.

2014

DHSSPS consultation on independent guardians for separated children in the immigration system November 2015

Health and Social Care (Control of data processing) Bill October 2014

DHSSPS: Mental Capacity Bill September 2014

The Law Centre welcomes the publication of the draft Mental Capacity Bill as a key milestone to achieving progressive and rights-based reform of mental health legislation. We have provided a clause-by-clause response to the draft Bill and a response to both of the policy proposals for children and young people and for the criminal justice system.

HSCB: Future accommodation needs of older people March 2014

The HSCB have consulted on criteria by which the future of statutory care homes is proposed to be assessed against. Law Centre NI believes that the criteria suggested by the HSCB is too blunt, that residents should be fully involved in the decision making process and that appropriate alternative accommodation must be available to all residents of a care home that if it is to be considered for closure.

2013

DHSSPS: Access to healthcare for overseas visitors April 2013

Urgent action is needed to address the current framework that bars some migrant groups from accessing primary healthcare. We also recommend that DHSSPS extends access to secondary care for some groups.

DHSSP: Transforming your careJanuary 2013

DHSSP: Service framework for older people January 2013

Law Centre NI welcomes the publication of a Service Framework for Older People particularly at this time when health and social care is undergoing significant change arising from the proposals in Transforming Your Care and in light of the outcomes that may emerge from the current DHSSPS consultation on Who Cares?, The Future of Adult Care and Support in NI.

2012

Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations January 2012

Law Centre (NI) would welcome further, more in-depth consultation on this issue. Our response is based on the principle that there must be consistent standards for children and young people accessing services in the NHS and in the private sector.

2011

DHSSPS: Department’s policy proposals on overseas visitors entitlement to healthcare October 2011

NHSCT: Carers strategy September 2011

DHSSPS: RICC Response to draft health budget 2011-2015 February 2011

2010

DHSSPS EQIA Consultation on the Mental Capacity (Health, Welfare & Finance) Bill October 2010

The Law Centre strongly supports the introduction of a statutory presumption of capacity. This is likely to have a positive impact on all section 75 groups. We also support the introduction of a functional approach to the assessment of capacity. In our response, we note a number of issues that will need to be addressed.

Northern Ireland dementia strategy consultation response August 2010

The Bamford Action Plan 2009-2011 announced in October 2009, included a commitment to develop a dementia services strategy. This consultation outlines DHSSPS proposals for the establishment of a Northern Irish Dementia Strategy. Law Centre NI welcomes this development as a positive step in recognising the individual needs of people with dementia and their carers, however, our response highlights the importance of maintaining consistency with the new mental capacity legislation.

Northern Ireland Law Commission: Vulnerable Witnesses in Civil Proceedings June 2010

The NILC considers whether law and practice for witnesses in civil proceedings is adequate or whether a more radical departure, such as the one taken in criminal law, is required to offer protection to witnesses. LCNI’s response highlights the importance of offering adequate protections to those civil witnesses with mental health issues.

OFMDFM: A Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland January 2010

The consultation sets out the current proposals for establishing a Commissioner for Older People in NI. While LCNI supports the move to establish a Commissioner our response calls for a wider range of powers to be available to the Commissioner than those proposed by OFMDFM to ensure that older people have a strong independent voice to represent their interests and to directly influence policy and service delivery.