The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone who is eligible to receive the free flu vaccine to make arrangements to get it to maximise their protection against the virus over winter. The call comes as the agency’s latest flu bulletin, [11 November—24 November 2019] published today, shows that there has been an increase in flu-like illnesses. The PHA is also highlighting the importance of hand hygiene and self-care when preventing and managing illness to reduce the spread of infection. The latest figures from the PHA, although low, do show that people consulting their GP with flu or flu

Community pharmacies across the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area are offering advice and support on a wide range of winter illnesses to help us stay well during the colder months. The ‘Living Well’ service provides information and advice on key public health issues and was launched earlier this year by the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI).‘Stay Well This Winter’ is the theme currently running in all pharmacies, and patients and customers can get help and support from their local pharmacist during the winter

Community pharmacies across the Western Health and Social Care Trust area are offering advice and support on a wide range of winter illnesses to help us stay well during the colder months. The ‘Living Well’ service provides information and advice on key public health issues and was launched earlier this year by the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI).‘Stay Well This Winter’ is the theme currently running in all pharmacies, and patients and customers can get help and support from their local pharmacist during the winter period for

The future of antibiotics depends on all of us to use them properly, so ahead of World Antibiotics Awareness Week (18-24 November) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking everyone to help keep antibiotics working. Research has shown that a continued rise in antibiotic resistance could, by 2050, lead to 10 million people dying every year as a result. Dr Jenny Mack, Public Health Doctor at the PHA, said: “If we continue to use antibiotics at the current rate, we could face a return to the days before they existed, when people died from simple infections and where the risk of infection made

Later this month the Public Health Agency (PHA) along with Health and Social Care (HSC) partners, service users and carers, as well as the community and voluntary sector, will host ‘Involve Fest’, a week-long celebration of involvement. Involvement, also known as Personal and Public Involvement (PPI), is the involvement of service users, carers and the public in the planning, commissioning, delivery and evaluation of HSC services, in ways that are relevant to them. Involve Fest will run from the 18 to 23 November and events for the week will showcase what involvement really means. Michelle

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging 70 and 78 year olds to get the free shingles vaccine when invited. The vaccine helps protect against this common and painful disease and its complications. Each year in Northern Ireland around 1,000 people in their seventies will get shingles. People who were aged 70 or 78 years of age on the 1 September 2019 are eligible to receive the vaccine. Dr Jillian Johnston, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “This year just under 30,000 70 and 78 years olds will be eligible for this vaccine. Those who were eligible for the vaccine in

This week is Stress Awareness Week (4th- 8th November). The Public Health Agency (PHA) has organised opportunities for those experiencing stress to participate in stress control classes. These classes are funded by the PHA and delivered by Health and Social Care Trusts across Northern Ireland. Stress is the feeling of being unable to cope as a result of too much mental or emotional pressure. Common signs of stress can include sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may feel anxious, irritable, experience racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over