In 2017 the Public Health Agency (PHA) was successful in securing a significant grant for ‘Project RETAIN’ from the Burdett Trust for Nursing. The funding supported an innovative regional initiative in partnership with local Health and Social Care Trusts, the Department of Health, Age NI and nurse education providers. The aim of Project RETAIN was to improve nurse retention and recruitment in care of older people’s settings in Northern Ireland. On Wednesday 24th October the project’s successes will be showcased and celebrated at an event in Antrim. The event will have contributions from a

Joint statement from the Department of Health, Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Board, NI General Practitioners Committee of the BMA, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of General Practitioners. With this year’s flu vaccination programme in full progress, the Department of Health, Health and Social Care and professional bodies are reassuring members of the public that they will be receiving the most effective flu vaccine for their age group. Due to manufacturing constraints beyond our control, one of the flu vaccines being used in this year’s vaccination programme

“Engaging with the arts can transform communities and have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals.” That’s the key message from a symposium of specially-invited guests from the arts, health, business and government sectors taking place today, [24 October], in The MAC, Belfast. Arts Care NI, with support from the Public Health Agency (PHA), organised this one-day event, entitled Fusion , to bring together key innovators and experts from the UK and Ireland to strategically enhance health and wellbeing through creative partnerships. Dr Jenny Elliott, Chief Executive of Arts

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED - ALL PLACES ALLOCATED The Joint Public Health Annual Conference entitled ‘Early Intervention for Life’, will take place this year on Thursday 8 November 2018 in Riddel Hall, Belfast. Registration for this event is free and is now CLOSED. The programme is attached below. Please note, registration closed on Friday 2 November 2018. This annual event, organised by the Public Health Agency, is a collaborative partnership conference in conjunction with The Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Northern Ireland; The Institute of Public Health; the Department of Health

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all eligible people whose health could be seriously affected by flu to get the free flu vaccine. GPs across Northern Ireland are offering flu vaccination to everyone over 65, pregnant women, and people under 65 with underlying health conditions. Last year, seasonal flu activity was the highest seen since the 2009 pandemic, with 119 cases of flu in intensive care/ high dependency units (ICU/HDU) – more than twice as many as the previous year – and a total of 22 deaths in ICU/ HDU in which a diagnosis of influenza was confirmed. This year sees two new and