Issued on 16 October by Sands UK Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, is introducing a National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) across Northern Ireland, to help improve care for people who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss. The introduction of NBCP in Northern Ireland has been made possible by funding from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and aims to reduce inequalities and improve the quality of bereavement care provided to parents and families. Good quality bereavement care is vital for parents who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, or whose baby has died. This

This Positive Ageing Month (October) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to recognise and celebrate the valuable role older people play in our society. Jeff Scroggie, Regional Lead for Ageing Well at the PHA, said: “Older people play an integral part in strengthening our communities and neighbourhoods – as workers, carers, volunteers, activists and community connectors. However, these vital contributions can often be overlooked.” To help address issues of health inequalities, encourage positive ageing and promote inter-generational connections, Age-Friendly Coordinators are

The Public Health Agency communications team were delighted to win Best Use of Social Media in Healthcare Award, and runner-up for Best Social Media Campaign in Public Sector/Charity/Education/Not For Profit at the 2024 NI Social Media Awards. The PHA was shortlisted in an impressive five categories, with the judges impressed by how the communications team successfully utilised social media to educate and empower individuals to make informed decisions about healthcare through the creation of impactful social media messages to promote health-related topics, including vaccinations, cancer

The PHA, in conjunction with CEC, is hosting a webinar to promote awareness amongst healthcare professionals of the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination programme for pregnant women. Uptake of pertussis vaccination has fallen over recent years. To find out more and register click here.

Over 450 people came together from across statutory, voluntary and community sectors yesterday to celebrate and share learnings from recent work to improve outcomes on infant mental health in Northern Ireland. Reflecting on progress made and on challenges still ahead, Speak Up For Babies: Giving our most vulnerable the best start emphasised the importance of encouraging and listening to the voice of babies, and their parents, to ensure services are most appropriate to meet their needs. The online conference was hosted by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) on behalf of the Public Health

Catherine Bell and Wendy Dalzell from Derry/ Londonderry have opened up about being diagnosed with breast cancer after attending screening for the first time. Wendy and Catherine were both invited to attend breast screening at the age of 50. Neither had any symptoms of breast cancer before their appointments. 53-year-old Catherine was invited for screening in January 2021. She wasn’t planning to attend her appointment as she felt healthy but she said for some reason she just felt she had to go. Catherine said: “Never in a million years did I think I would have breast cancer. I have no idea why

The Public Health Agency (PHA) recommends that everyone should consider taking a vitamin D supplement this autumn and winter to help keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that everyone needs to stay healthy, and we get it from three main sources – food, sunlight and supplements. Our bodies get some vitamin D from a healthy balanced diet that includes foods like oily fish (such as salmon, mackerel, trout, kippers and sardines), eggs, meat and dairy products, along with foods that have been fortified with vitamin D such as breakfast cereal. Dr Hannah McCourt

Winter is coming and so are the respiratory illnesses that circulate during this time of the year so the message from the Public Health Agency (PHA) is don’t let your protection fade and get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines if eligible. The life-saving vaccination programme, which will help protect the community against deadly viruses ahead of winter, commences on Monday 7 October. It will see flu and COVID-19 vaccines offered to over a million people in Northern Ireland before the end of the year, starting with those in care homes, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our community

A new Living Well campaign – ‘Looking after your sexual health’ – has been launched in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland, helping to raise awareness of the importance of practising good sexual health. Living Well is offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on public health issues. It is delivered in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), and the Department of Health (DoH). Dr Rachel Coyle, Consultant at the PHA, said: “Sexual health and wellbeing is important, and looking after it can have a