While many of us will be focusing on having a great time over the Christmas period, minds will soon be turning to New Year’s resolutions, and once again quitting smoking will be at the top of many people’s ‘to-do’ list come the 1 January 2017.

With the Christmas party season in full swing the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to be mindful of their alcohol intake. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Michael Owen said: “Christmas is a great time to relax and meet up with family, friends and work colleagues to celebrate, but it is very easy to overindulge. Excess alcohol can spoil the holiday for not only you but also for your family. We are asking that people set limits for themselves and keep an eye on how many drinks they are having.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging those who have used a hospital eye care service in the past two years to share their experience through the 10,000 Voices programme to help shape how care is delivered in Northern Ireland. 10,000 Voices is a PHA initiative which gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services by asking them to ‘tell us their story’.

Christmas is a very busy time for most people, from parties to presents, so everyday tasks can easily be forgotten about, including ordering essential repeat prescriptions in plenty of time before GP surgeries and pharmacists close over the Christmas holidays.

In the run up to Christmas, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the importance of looking after their own mental health and that of their family and friends over the holiday period. Christmas is traditionally seen as a time of joy and celebration, but for some people it can be a stressful and lonely time.

Coughs and colds are among the most common reasons for people feeling poorly over the winter period, but these minor ailments don’t have to lead to a visit to your GP or out-of-hours services, says pharmacist Shauneen Ward. Shauneen, who features in this year’s ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign, is encouraging people to visit their pharmacist for minor ailments such as a cough or a cold before contacting their GP.