This World Immunisation Week, Dr Jillian Johnston Consultant in Health Protection at the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone that vaccines work by protecting society against many lethal diseases, but warns that we cannot become complacent. “Many childhood diseases that were common in the UK prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether. However, once a disease fades from prominence’, it is easy to forget how serious they could be. Unfortunately, unless vaccine uptake remains high in Northern Ireland, many of these deadly

The Northern Ireland Frailty Network has been launched by Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer and Robert Ferguson, a Service User and Information Ambassador/Peer Facilitator for Age NI. Frailty is where someone is less able to cope and recover from accidents, physical illness or other stressful events. Speaking at the launch, Robert told the audience of his personal experience of living with frailty and gave his wholehearted support for the NI Frailty Network. Robert is confident that through good service user involvement we can work together to improve the lives of people who are frail

While most people’s spring cleaning to-do lists have more to do with mops and brooms than safety precautions, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and local councils in Northern Ireland are urging people to take steps to improve home safety when carrying out the spring clean. Hilary Johnston, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else, so this year we are calling on people to consider adding a few tasks to the spring cleaning regimen that are aimed at keeping your home not only tidy but safe also.” To help you on your way

Report reveals legacy of public health research centres By building capacity and capability in public health research, a report shows how the legacy of a UK-wide network of centres of excellence has helped fuel future public health and prevention research. Since 2008, partners in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration * (UKCRC) have invested £37 million in a network of six Public Health Research Centres of Excellence ** (UKCRC centres) to increase infrastructure, build academic capacity in public health research in the UK and provide a platform to engage with policy and practice. The report

On Friday 29 March, more than 80 delegates attended the launch of the findings from HSC R&D Division’s Dementia Care Research Programme, funded in partnership with The Atlantic Philanthropies. Seven projects were funded as part of this programme and led by teams from both universities in collaboration with partners and co-investigators from over 30 organisations. Topics included pain assessment at the end of life, advance care planning, communication of risk, facilitated reminiscence, technology enriched housing, the prescription of medication in primary care and the evaluation of a healthcare

A new social media video launched today by the Public Health Agency (PHA) highlights the importance of getting the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, particularly given recent measles outbreaks in continental Europe. Dr Jenny Mack, Specialty Registrar in Public Health at the Public Health Agency, said: “Measles is one of the most infectious viral diseases known. It spreads either through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when the patient coughs or sneezes. “It causes high fever and rash that usually passes in about seven to ten days without causing further

A new programme to tackle the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been launched by PHA. The programme has been developed as part of Northern Ireland’s approach to providing innovative services which have a focus on prevention and has been supported by investment from the transformation fund. Approximately 96,000 people are living with diabetes in Northern Ireland, a startling 69.3% increase since 2007 [1]. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all cases of diabetes and is a serious and progressive condition. The disease can lead to early loss of life, cause preventable sight loss in