Cook, cut and walk – top tips for Obesity Awareness Week

This Obesity Awareness Week (9-15 January) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to try to cook healthier recipes, cut out snacks and get a bit more active. Caroline Bloomfield, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Senior Manager at the PHA, said: “At this time of year, many of us are looking at what we can do to be that little bit healthier, so the PHA is offering top tips on how you can make a difference with some simple steps.

'GP out-of-hours is stretched for a reason,' says Dr Margaret O’Brien, Head of General Medical Services

As many of us celebrate and enjoy the holidays with our families and friends, we should remember that this is also a very busy period for our local GPs, nurses and other staff providing an out of hours service. GP out-of-hours is offered by five different providers to everyone registered with a GP practice in Northern Ireland, and functions 365 days of the year outside of normal GP working hours. The demand on these services also increases during the holidays when regular surgeries are closed.

Over 70? (Breast screening poster)

This poster provides encourages breast screening and breast awareness to women over 70. Although women over 70 are not routinely invited for breast screening, they are encouraged to call the local unit to request breast screening every three years.

This poster provides encourages breast screening and breast awareness to women over 70. Although women over 70 are not routinely invited for breast screening, they are encouraged to call the local unit to request breast screening every three years.

Vitamin D and you

This leaflet highlights the importance of vitamin D supplements for particular groups, including babies, children aged between 1 and 4 years, people whose exposure to sunlight is limited, and those with darker skins (eg those of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin). It also highlights the recommendations that all adults and children aged 5 years and over should consider taking vitamin D supplements of 10 micrograms during the autumn and winter months (October to late March/April).

The PDF of this leaflet has been updated following the publication of a review of the evidence on vitamin D and health by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). It highlights the importance of vitamin D supplements for particular groups, including babies, children aged between 1 and 4 years, people whose exposure to sunlight is limited, and those with darker skins (eg those of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin).

Annual Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Report for Northern Ireland 2015-16

This report aims to provide an overview of both adult and childhood immunisation programmes in Northern Ireland for 2015-16. It also provides information on vaccine preventable epidemiology in Northern Ireland in 2015.

What is hepatitis? (easy read)

This is an easy read booklet designed to explain hepatitis B and C risk factors, symptoms, treatment and prevention. produced by CHANGE.

This is an easy read booklet designed to explain hepatitis B and C risk factors, symptoms, treatment and prevention. produced by CHANGE.

CHANGE is a pioneer of easy read leaflets and they have been making information accessible for more than 20 years. They make information accessible so other people with learning disabilities can make informed choices about issues that affect their lives.  

Northern Ireland Hepatitis B and C Managed Clinical Network Annual Report 2016

This is the annual report from the Northern Ireland Hepatitis B and C Managed Clinical Network. This report aims to provide an overview of hepatitis B and C epidemiology in Northern Ireland and  although it reflects epidemiological trends over time, its main focus is on data collected in 2015. It also covers work done by the Network in 2015.

Know your alcohol limits during the festive season

With the Christmas party season in full swing the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to be mindful of their alcohol intake. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Michael Owen said: “Christmas is a great time to relax and meet up with family, friends and work colleagues to celebrate, but it is very easy to overindulge. Excess alcohol can spoil the holiday for not only you but also for your family. We are asking that people set limits for themselves and keep an eye on how many drinks they are having.

Views sought on hospital eye services

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging those who have used a hospital eye care service in the past two years to share their experience through the 10,000 Voices programme to help shape how care is delivered in Northern Ireland. 10,000 Voices is a PHA initiative which gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services by asking them to ‘tell us their story’.
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