Mater Hospital (Hansard, 21 November 1995)

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will outline the subsequent changes to the 1971 deed of arrangement which brought the Mater hospital into the national health service. [68]

§ Mr. Moss
There has been only one subsequent change to the original deed of arrangement. On 30 August 1984, the Department and the trustees of the Mater infirmorum 83W hospital signed a "supplemental deed of arrangement", specifically designed to permit them jointly to fund the major scheme of reconstruction and modernisation which was officially opened in 1991,

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the current Roman Catholic Church trustees of the Mater hospital. [66]

§ Mr. Moss
No. Appointment of Roman Catholic Church trustees for the Mater infirmorum hospital is not a matter for my Department and a list of trustees is not held.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the remit of the Mater hospital trust board's joint consultative committee with the trustees. [65]

§ Mr. Moss
Under the terms of the deed of arrangement with the trustees which brought the Mater infirmorum hospital into the Health and Personal Social Services in 1971, the joint consultative committee shall consider any proposals by the body responsible for the management of the hospital relating to:

the appointment of senior medical staff;

the appointment of heads of service departments'

ethical practices, particularly in obstetrics, gynaecology, geriatrics and psychiatry;

the use of endowments and trust funds; and

the use of any part of the hospital as accommodation for a nurses training school.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Mater hospital Church trustees have(a) representation on the hospital's trust board and (b) consultation rights with hospital's trust board. [67]

§ Mr. Moss
The trustees of the Mater infirmorum hospital are not represented on its trust board. Under the provisions of article 96 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, the deed of arrangement between the Department of Health and Social Services and the hospital trustees requires regard to be had in the general administration of the hospital to the preservation of its Roman Catholic character and association. I have already set out areas specifically affected by these consultation rights in the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman earlier today.