The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are urging people who have used an adult safeguarding service since January 2015 to share their experience through the 10,000 Voices programme and 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’.

November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone as the temperature drops and people turn up the heat to be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO poisoning can kill and in the winter months, when people use their heating appliances more frequently, there are often more incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women to get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine from week 16 or above of their pregnancy. So far this year there have been 114 cases of whooping cough in Northern Ireland reported to PHA, which is a slight increase on last year, when in the same time period there were 97 cases. Whooping cough is a disease that can cause long bouts of coughing and choking, which can make it hard to breathe. It can be very serious for young children, and even fatal for babies.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill has launched a major campaign, fronted by local health professionals, to help people ‘Stay Well This Winter’.

The PHA’s HSC R&D Division is helping to fund a new Clinical Doctoral Training Programme in Precision Cancer Medicine delivered by Queen’s University Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) along with the world renowned Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. This programme will allow clinicians in training in Northern Ireland to develop specialist skills through a three year programme which will include a two year fellowship in Toronto followed by a year immersed in cancer research at the CCRCB at Queen’s.

Churches across Northern Ireland are being invited to take part in information sessions hosted by suicide prevention group Flourish! in the coming months. Flourish! is a partnership between Lighthouse and clergy from across the Christian churches in Northern Ireland. The initiative has the support of the leaders of the four larger churches in Ireland and has been developed in partnership with and supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

On Global Handwashing Day on 15 October, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to stay well by maintaining good hand hygiene. This will help to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading winter viruses such as influenza and norovirus. Good hand washing with soap and warm water is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections which can be inconvenient, but more importantly can lead to serious illness.