The issue of death and dying is one which we often, as a society find difficult to talk about, particularly with our frail and elderly loved ones. Few of us want to consider the end. With the pandemic sweeping across the world this year, this issue has been brought into sharp focus for many. A recent survey found that 74% of people had never prepared a statement of their end of life wishes or preferences and only 11% had discussed this with family and friends. Paul Turley, Commissioning lead for Palliative and End of Life Care, Health and Social Care Board said, “Talking about dying, death and

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on parents of children aged 2-12 to get them vaccinated against flu. This will help protect not only them but also those around them, particularly older grandparents or relations with an underlying health condition. Children in particular can increase the spread of the flu virus in the community, but vaccination helps curb this. This year, given the impact COVID-19, the childhood flu vaccination programme has been extended. Not only will pre-school and primary school children be offered the vaccine, but those in Year 8 of secondary school will also be

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone who falls into an eligible group to get the free flu vaccine. The calls comes as the agency launches this year’s flu vaccination programme, offering vaccines which are specially formulated to tackle the strains of the virus which are expected to be circulating this winter. The flu vaccine campaign has been expanded to help reduce the spread of flu and lower flu-related hospital admissions at a time when the health service is under strain as a result of COVID-19. It’ll also help reduce the risk of contracting flu and coronavirus at the same time

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the importance of booking a COVID-19 test if they develop any of the symptoms of the illness, but is also emphasising that those who are not displaying any of these symptoms should avoid booking a test, as they could be taking the place of someone who needs one. The symptoms of COVID-19 are: a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature); OR a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you

Will you give someone the Second Chance for a Second Dance? This week (7-13 September 2020) is Organ Donation Week and to mark the initiative, a powerful music video has been released: A Second Dance. It was first performed in 2019 at the Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Organ Donation and Transplantation, to celebrate and give thanks to organ donors and their families who allowed others a second precious chance at life. At present, there are around 115 people in Northern Ireland on the transplant waiting list, and last year 11 people in Northern Ireland died while awaiting an organ