Hospital Passport for people with a learning disability launched

A new Regional Hospital Passport has been launched to help improve the experience of hospital visits for people with a learning disability. The Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with the Regional General Hospital Forum for Learning Disabilities, health and social care trusts, and people with a learning disability and their carers, developed the passport folder which holds details about the patient’s likes, dislikes, how best to communicate with them and other helpful information.

HSC Hospital Passport and Guidance notes

This HSC Hospital Passport has been developed by the PHA and the Regional General Hospital Forum for Learning Disability for people with a learning disability to complete (with or without help) and present to staff every time they have cont

This HSC Hospital Passport has been developed by the PHA and the Regional General Hospital Forum for Learning Disability for people with a learning disability to complete (with or without help) and present to staff every time they have contact with a general hospital. It gives staff important information on the person and how they prefer to communicate, their medical history and any support they might need while in hospital. Staff can then make any reasonable adjustments in order to provide the best possible care for people with a learning disability.

Mental Health Awareness Week – Take 5

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to use Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14 May) to take time out to think about mental health and steps we can take to improve it. Fiona Teague, Health Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “We are encouraging people to use Mental Health Awareness Week as an opportunity to think about how they can improve their mental health. We all know that it is important to look after our physical health but it is also really important that we don’t neglect our mental health.

Clean hands save lives: Global Hand Hygiene Day

Each year, millions of infections are prevented through the simple act of washing your hands. So today [Friday 5 May], on the World Health Organization’s global Hand Hygiene Day, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone that washing your hands regularly and thoroughly can save lives and avoid the need to use antibiotics to treat these infections. The theme for Hand Hygiene Day is ‘Fight antibiotic resistance – it’s in your hands’.

Awareness campaign launched to combat prescription medicine abuse

The Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency have launched a Safe Medicines campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of misusing prescription medication. It’s estimated that the misuse of prescription medication such as Tramadol, Diazepam and antidepressants was responsible for 27 times more deaths than illicit drugs such as cocaine in 2015*.

10,000 Voices Regional Report: Experience of Paediatric Autism and CAMHS Project

The 10,000 Voices initiative is designed to capture the lived experience of people who use services and affords them an opportunity to tell their story in a way that enables services to change and improve.

The survey was undertaken in partnership with the PHA and this report represents the first time the 10,000 Voices initiative has surveyed any aspect of children’s services.

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