The Health Minister, Simon Hamilton, today welcomed the findings of an audit report which examines the quality of dementia care in hospitals from the patient’s admission to discharge. Minister Hamilton said: “Dementia has a huge impact on families and on society as a whole and there are currently 20,000 people living with dementia in Northern Ireland. The recommendations from this audit highlight the importance of understanding the care needs of patients with dementia when they are admitted to an acute hospital ward.

Parliament Buildings, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has become the latest venue to sign up to the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. There are now more than 400 businesses, council facilities and popular local attractions part of the scheme, which aims to help make breastfeeding mums feel comfortable about feeding their baby in public.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are on the rise in Northern Ireland, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching a major new campaign aimed at improving and protecting people’s sexual health and wellbeing.

A new initiative giving people the opportunity to refer themselves for physiotherapy treatment without having to see a GP or other healthcare professional has been established on a pilot basis in the South Eastern Area. The Public Health Agency (PHA), Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and South Eastern Trust (SET) have launched a pilot programme of Direct Access physiotherapy in the SET for patients over the age of 16 who have a musculoskeletal problem. Self-referral through the scheme is now available.

This week is Men’s Health Week (15-21 June), which aims to raise awareness of preventable health issues among men of all ages and also encourage them to seek professional advice for health-related problems.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is leading a review on support for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and is asking for views on the services they use. The survey will ask parents and carers what their opinions and experiences are on Allied Health Professions (AHP) support services for children with a statement of special educational needs.

Being empowered to improve your health now can give you a better quality of life as you get older. That’s the message from the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) sixth annual Director of Public Health report. The theme of the report is ‘Making Life Better – Improving Health and Care for Adults’ and it highlights how empowering adults to take control of their wellbeing can reduce health inequalities in our society.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding all people aged 70, 78 and 79 years old that they are still able to receive the shingles vaccine. The vaccine will help protect them against the common and painful skin disease and its complications. However, with just over half of people eligible for the jab actually choosing to receive it, time is running out before their age moves them out of the target groups, which turn over on 1 September each year.