New initiative to build capacity in evidence informed decision making

The health service, policy makers and the public will benefit from a €2 million, all-island, investment to improve ways of gathering and combining evidence (known as evidence synthesis) and using it effectively to inform health and health care decisions. Evidence synthesis is a structured process where relevant information on a topic is gathered, reviewed, assessed and brought together to support evidence-informed policy and/or practice decisions. This new initiative, Evidence Synthesis Ireland, will be funded for three years by the Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency

Seven in 10 people want to discuss palliative care if it could help them

Research carried out on behalf of the All Ireland Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) has shown that seven in ten people believe that if palliative care could help them they would like a health care professional to discuss it with them. Today marks the start of Palliative Care Week (9 to 15 September 2018) and AIIHPC surveyed people across Northern Ireland about their understanding of palliative care.* Karen Charnley, AIIHPC Director, said: “Our survey shows that many people would like to begin a conversation about a topic often considered too difficult and too frightening to

PHA increasing understanding of mental health through training

As World Suicide Prevention Day approaches the Public Health Agency (PHA) is raising awareness of the training opportunities available in mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention. Almost 15,000 participants [1] received PHA-funded training in mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention last year. The PHA commissions a range of training programmes which are delivered across Northern Ireland, which range from raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing to providing advice on crisis intervention. “Improving mental health and reducing the prevalence of suicide are very

Mental Emotional Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Training Monitoring Report for 2017/18

The Public Health Agency (PHA) commissions a range of Mental Emotional Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention training programmes which are delivered across Northern Ireland. Training can range from increasing an individual’s awareness of mental health and wellbeing through to skills training in mental health and crisis intervention.
This monitoring report provides and overview of training delivered from April 2017 – March 2018. All information provided has been collated from the submission of training monitoring returns provided by programme facilitators working in the mental emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention area.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) commissions a range of Mental Emotional Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention training programmes which are delivered across Northern Ireland.

Tips on avoiding back-to-school germs

As the first week of the new school year gets under way, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is raising awareness with parents about the importance of good hygiene – both in school and at home. “Schools can be a common breeding ground for germs and bugs so it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading germs to others,” said Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA. Parents and schools can help reduce the spread of germs by encouraging kids to practise good personal hygiene by: Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet

PHA encourages girls to get the HPV vaccine

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents to take up the offer of the HPV vaccine for their daughters aged 12-13. As the new school year gets under way, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer, will again be routinely offered to girls in years 9 and 10 in schools across Northern Ireland. Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “We urge parents of girls who are eligible to receive the HPV vaccine to make sure that they get it to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are older. “Our latest figures

Public urged to save lives by talking about organ donation

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on people to get talking about organ donation and share their donation decision with their loved ones this Organ Donation Week (3 – 9 September). The ‘Words save lives’ campaign highlights the need to tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation. More and more people are supporting organ donation, but there is still an urgent shortage. “People are dying every day in Northern Ireland because some families are not talking about donation. Recent statistics here reveal that 14 people died last year waiting for an organ,” said Dr Catherine

Protect Life 2 Service Stakeholder Engagement Report

The Public Health Agency (PHA) commissioned Insight Solutions to deliver a number of stakeholder engagement events, to seek views that would inform the future procurement of services in order to implement the pending Protect Life 2 strategy.  Public engagement events were held in each of the Trust areas and a total of 12 meetings were held across Northern Ireland (at least two in each Trust area with a third in the Belfast area, due to population density and a number of interested stakeholders, and three in the western area due to the geographical spread of residents and services).

The Public Health Agency (PHA) commissioned Insight Solutions to deliver a number of stakeholder engagement events, to seek views that would inform t

Safer sleeping - Reducing the risk of sudden infant death

This updated version of the poster provides information on the risks of sudden infant death. The leaflet has also been updated to highlight the risk of co-sleeping.

This updated version of the poster provides information on the risks of sudden infant death. The leaflet has also been updated to highlight the risk of co-sleeping.

Provision of Youth Engagement Service for Young People aged 11-25 in NI

Submitted by Lynda Kernohan on

Name of Contract : Provision of Youth Engagement Service for Young People aged 11-25 in NI

Contract Duration: 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2021 (with the possibility of two, twelve month period extensions)

Organisations awarded:

Lot 1 Ballymena - Start 360

Lot 2 Banbridge - Futureproof Inc Ltd

Lot 3 Bangor - Extern

Lot 4 Belfast - Extern

Lot 5 Carrickfergus - Carrickfergus YMCA

Lot 6 Derry/Londonderry - to be retendered

Lot 7 Enniskillen - FUEL

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