Ards and North Down Borough Council has become the latest organisation to join the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme – a programme to increase the number of premises which welcome breastfeeding mums. There are 27 council-run facilities signed up including community and leisure centres, which brings the total number of popular local attractions, businesses and council venues signed up to the initiative across Northern Ireland to over 400.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to keep an eye on their alcohol intake ahead of St Patrick’s Day, emphasising the dangers of binge drinking and the effects that excess alcohol can have on your health and your safety. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Owen O’Neill said: “A lot of people will be making plans to meet up with their friends and family to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and we are encouraging them to keep an eye on their alcohol intake should they choose to drink.”

Spring has sprung and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people in Fermanagh to explore new ways of looking after their health and wellbeing using the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach. “Spring is a great opportunity to take a fresh approach to looking after your mental health,” said Brendan Bonner. Head of Health and Wellbeing Improvement with the PHA in the Western area. “With the brighter nights coming in, there is more opportunity to get out and about, whether that be exercising, meeting up with friends or taking up a new hobby.”

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA), is warning that sunbeds are a surefire way to damage and age your skin. The alert comes at the start of a new poster, social media and radio campaign - using the hashtag #theuglyside - highlighting the dangers of sunbed use, particularly for young people. Research shows that using a sunbed can increase your chances of developing skin cancer, and starting sunbed use before the age of 35 can double that risk.

A new service launched today (9 March 2016) will improve the treatment of people with cancer. The new Acute Oncology Service will focus on the care of people with cancer who need to attend hospital, often at night or at the weekend, because of complications of their illness or its treatment. All Trusts in Northern Ireland are introducing the service at the same time and this is the first area in the UK to establish acute oncology services on a regional basis.

From tomorrow, Wednesday 9 March, Health and Social Care (HSC) sites across Northern Ireland will go smoke free. The move coincides with No Smoking Day, and means that smoking will not be allowed by staff, patients, contractors or visitors on any HSC premises. This major step by the Health and Social Care system is leading the way, helping to change the culture and highlight where smoking is unacceptable.

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.

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.