The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) have awarded their first accolades for Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care. Four awards were handed out in categories for Quality and Safety, Service Improvement, Innovation and Involvement, and Best Involvement Story. The winners were:

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard and Health Minister Michelle O’Neill announced joint funding of £2.25million to extend the Active School Travel Programme until 2021. Sustrans has been awarded the contract to deliver the programme for the next five years which is jointly funded by the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

A new resource aimed at improving the mental health of the clergy is being distributed throughout Northern Ireland. The practical and helpful toolkit to promote emotional wellbeing amongst clergy has been produced by the suicide prevention group Flourish! The Flourish! group includes Lighthouse Ireland, clergy from across the Christian churches in Northern Ireland, the Churches Community Work Alliance NI and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill attended the Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) conference ‘Involving you Improving Care: Our Involvement Story’. PPI is about involving ordinary people and local communities in the planning, commissioning, delivery and evaluation of the services they receive. It is about putting the service user first, enhancing service user choice, meeting demands and expectations, and ensuring views are heard and listened to.

Diabetes Physical Activity Referral Pathway- Expression of Interest The pilot programme for the Diabetes Physical Activity Referral Pathway is now ready to commence and requires the use of appropriate community facilities in areas with a high prevalence of Diabetes. There will be four pilot programmes located within North, South, East and West of the city.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to keep an eye on their alcohol intake as they kick start Alcohol Awareness Week (20–26 June), emphasising the importance of knowing your limits and the effects that excess alcohol can have on your health and your safety. This is the first Alcohol Awareness Week to be led by the PHA and Northern Ireland’s Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams (NIDACTs).

During Breastfeeding Celebration Week (20–27 June) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging mothers and breastfeeding supporters to tell others their positive stories about breastfeeding. Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Lead for the PHA, said: “Information and support is key to helping mums breastfeed and hearing positive stories of others’ experiences can add that extra bit of encouragement that mums need.

With an average of 105 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and 24 women dying from the disease each year in Northern Ireland, it is important for women to accept their invitation for a screening test. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is therefore reminding women during Cervical Screening Awareness Week (13-19 June 2016) to take up the invitation and have a regular cervical screening test – it could literally save your life.