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Diabetic Eye Screening provision looking for your comments

Diabetic eye disease is one of the leading causes of blindness in people of working age in the UK. The Northern Ireland Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NIDESP)aims to detect diabetic eye disease at an early stage and prevent sight loss in those with diabetes aged 12 years and over in Northern Ireland. It is important for patients with diabetes to attend a diabetic eye screening test as this is not routinely covered as part of a normal eye test with an optometrist.

Campaign encourages correct use of antibiotics

A campaign encouraging people to use antibiotics correctly is to be introduced into Northern Ireland.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) will be running the mass media campaign ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ from 24 December until the middle of February. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the risks of antibiotic resistance and urges people to take their doctor’s advice about antibiotics.

Connect with family and friends during the festivities

As Christmas approaches, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to use the festive period to connect with family and use this time as an opportunity to improve your overall health and wellbeing

Enjoying Christmas with a loved one who has dementia

Christmas is a special time for family and friends. Here are some tips to help those with dementia and their carers have a great time at Christmas.

Button cell battery danger warning ahead of Christmas

As Christmas approaches, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning parents and guardians of the danger of lithium button cell batteries. Button cell batteries are used to power many children’s toys, but are highly dangerous if accidentally swallowed.

The festive period can typically see a rise in the number of these small, button-shaped batteries introduced to the home as they are contained in toys, musical Christmas cards, remote controls and a host of other electronic items.

The switchboard number for the PHA’s Headquarters at Linenhall Street, Belfast has changed to 0300 555 0114. Click here for more information.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) was established in April 2009 as part of the reforms to Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland. We are the major regional organisation for health protection and health and social wellbeing improvement. Our role also commits us to addressing the causes and associated inequalities of preventable ill-health and lack of wellbeing. We are a multi-disciplinary, multi-professional body with a strong regional and local presence.

Directorates

In fulfilling our mandate to protect public health, improve public health and social wellbeing, and reduce inequalities in health and social wellbeing, the PHA works within an operational framework of three areas: Public Health, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, and Operations. Our corporate and business plans reflect these arrangements and our purpose as an organisation.

Latest

Notifications of Infectious Diseases
Friday, 18 January 2019 - Publication
Notification of Infectious Diseases (NOIDS) (Current weekly total of notifications of infectious diseases in the past four weeks along with the cumulative total for the current year compared with corresponding periods).
Advice about dummies
Thursday, 17 January 2019 - Publication
Developed by speech and language therapists, this leaflet will give you ideas on how to manage your child's use of the dummy so that it doesn't affect his or her speech.
Influenza Weekly Surveillance Bulletin, Northern Ireland, 2018/19
Thursday, 17 January 2019 - Publication
The Influenza Weekly Surveillance Bulletin is produced by the PHA and covers statistics for Northern Ireland. The bulletin is produced during the flu season.
Northern Ireland Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2018
Thursday, 17 January 2019 - Publication
The Northern Ireland Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NI CPES) 2018 follows on from the successful delivery of the survey in Northern Ireland in 2015, and similar surveys in England, Scotland and Wales.