The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) have been made aware of possible shortcomings in the technique used to take cervical screening tests (commonly referred to as cervical smears) at two GP practices. This issue affects a small number of women whose tests were taken by one particular healthcare worker.

With less than a week to go to the start of the World Cup in Russia, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to use the competition as inspiration to kick off some healthy habits. Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement at the PHA, said: “The World Cup will see many sporting heroes take to the field in peak condition and it’s a good opportunity for us to think about our own levels of activity.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging smokers to think about making use of the tailored, free, one-to-one support that community pharmacies can offer to help them stop smoking. The call comes on World No Tobacco Day as the agency highlights over 600 PHA-funded stop smoking services that are available free to current smokers across Northern Ireland.