Making palliative care everyone’s business

Improving palliative care services for everyone living with an advanced progressive condition in Northern Ireland was in the spotlight at Stormont with the announcement of the Regional Palliative Care Programme Priorities for the next 12 months. The event, hosted by the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and supported by Marie Curie, outlined the key priorities and processes proposed to advance the delivery and understanding of palliative care.

New PHA research launched on suicide and alcohol misuse

The Public Health Agency (PHA) today [Tuesday 08 March] launched three new research studies which aim to reduce suicide and parental alcohol misuse. The studies are part of the PHA’s Research and Development (R&D) Division’s commissioned programmes and were carried out by researchers in the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing at Ulster University and at Queen’s University Belfast.

Commissioning Plan 2015/16

This Commissioning Plan describes the actions that will be taken across health and social care during 2015/16 to ensure continued improvement in the health and wellbeing of the people of Northern Ireland.

The plan, developed in partnership by the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency outlines a range of actions that have been developed in partnership with patients and the public which are driven by need, clear goals and budgetary transparency.

Commissioning Plan 2014/15

This Commissioning Plan describes the actions that will be taken across health and social care during 2014/15 to ensure continued improvement in the health and wellbeing of the people of Northern Ireland.

The plan, developed in partnership by the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency outlines a range of actions that have been developed in partnership with patients and the public which are driven by need, clear goals and budgetary transparency.

PHA encourages people who self-harm to seek help

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Self-Harm Awareness Day (1 March) as an opportunity to encourage people who are affected by self-harm to seek help. Self-harm is when a person harms themselves through injury or poisoning. People self-harm for various reasons and are usually experiencing severe emotional distress. For some people, self-harm is a way of coping with and communicating their distress but for others it can be associated with a wish to end their lives and therefore it should always be taken seriously.

New campaign: eating extra will add extra on

On this extra day of the leap year, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching a new obesity prevention campaign making people aware of the consequences of eating ‘extras’. A new TV ad will be on our screens from tonight showing how eating just an extra 100 Calories each day more than your body needs – around one and a half digestive biscuits or just six extra chips – could add up to 10lb of weight gain per year, impacting on your health and wellbeing.

Smoking and your health and wellbeing

This leaflet outlines the effects of smoking on mental wellbeing; shows how quitting will make you feel better; describes how you can quit; and highlights where to get help and support. It is available from health promotion/improvement departments at local Health and Social Care Trusts.

S. aureus surveillance quarterly report: October- December 2015

C. difficle surveillance quarterly report: October-December 2015

This quarterly report provides epidemiological data on C. difficile in Northern Ireland, and includes key points, a comprehensive overview of all C. diff infections, rates, trends, age-specific information and statistical process control charts.

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