The Public Health Agency’s (PHA’s) Drug and Alcohol Monitoring and Information System (DAMIS) has been receiving reports of people across Northern Ireland experiencing unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects after smoking synthetic cannabinoids, with a number of users having been hospitalised.The PHA is using its early warning system to raise awareness of the risks of this specific group of new emerging substances and is urging those who feel unwell after taking these drugs to seek medical help urgently.

An innovative learning programme is teaching parents that nursery rhymes aren’t just fun to sing with children but also have a positive impact on improving language skills. Developed by speech and language therapists in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA), the ‘2 Rhymes by 2’ project aims to encourage parents and carers to use rhymes like ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ and ‘Round and Round the Garden’ as a way of interacting with their children to develop language skills.

The Public Health Agency and partners will be hosting the fourth Public Health Annual Scientific Conference on Wednesday 10 June 2015 at Riddel Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Arts Care are launching an exhibition of arts and craft by older people as part of the third Here and Now Older People’s Arts and Wellbeing Festival. The gala showpiece, ‘RIPE 2’ exhibition at the Ulster Hall, Belfast features artwork by older people over the age of 60 who have never had a solo exhibition. The Here & Now Arts & Wellbeing Festival aims to enhance the health and wellbeing of older people by involving them in a wide range of high quality arts programmes in health and social care and community settings.

Register for our engagement workshop on 1 May The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are currently working on the development of the Commissioning Plan for 2015-16. This plan sets out the key areas where money will be invested over the coming year. Service users, carers and members of the public, have already helped shape and inform six key themes (listed below) that will be the focus during 2015-16:

A public engagement programme is underway inviting patients, carers and families to share their experiences of care to help improve services for people with non-curable and serious illnesses. During the month of April the ‘Let’s Talk About’ care programme is calling on people across Northern Ireland to share their experiences by completing an open survey at www.caresurvey.org

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has produced a video to explain how bowel cancer screening works to encourage more people to avail of the simple home test which can help detect the illness.

The Regional Service User Network (RSUN), with support from Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland (CHNI) and the Public Health Agency (PHA), hosted a conference yesterday [Thursday 26 March] to look at service user involvement and harm reduction. People who use substance misuse services had an opportunity to share their experiences to help improve services and to tackle and reduce the harm associated with substance misuse.