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Health

Health Minister Announces Vital Package of Support for GPs

The Health Minister Robin Swann has announced that the Department of Health is making up to £5.5m available to support general practice in Northern Ireland over the challenging winter period. £3.8m has been committed to support additional patient care through the winter and up to £1.7m is being made available to further improve telephony infrastructure […]

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Community Health

Plans to Tackle the Harms Caused By Tobacco and Second-Hand Smoking.

Health Minister Robin Swann has outlined plans that will continue to tackle the harms caused to children and young people by tobacco and second-hand smoking. The Health Minister laid out his plans to prioritise and progress regulations on smoking in cars when children are present, as well as preventing the sale of nicotine inhaling products […]

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Health Uncategorized

Flu Vaccination Programme Now Underway

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride, and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison, officially launched this year’s community pharmacy flu vaccination programme and received their flu jab in Belfast. The seasonal influenza programme officially began on 1 October 2021, this year the programme is being expanded to help protect the most vulnerable people in our […]

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Health

Progress on the Adoption and Children Bill

Speaking following the second reading of the Adoption and Children Bill, Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the progress on the Bill. The Bill will modernise the legal framework for adoption in Northern Ireland and improve outcomes for children and families in need, children in care and those who have left care. The Minister said: “The […]

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Health

HSC staff across Northern Ireland urge the UK Chancellor to do the right thing and fund a pay rise.

Health workers in Northern Ireland are joining staff across the NHS calling on Rishi Sunak to recognise the work they’ve done to protect lives and fund a decent pay rise in this week’s Budget, says UNISON today (Monday). More than 60,000 health care assistants, porters, operating theatre staff, nurses, caterers, ambulance staff, cleaners and members […]

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Health

UPDATED VISITING ARRANGEMENTS CONFIRMED

The Department of Health has confirmed changes to visiting arrangements for all care settings from Monday 1 March. The four UK Chief Medical Officers have recommended that the Regional Alert Level should move back from Level 5 to Level 4 with immediate effect. As a result, the visiting restrictions for all care settings across Northern […]

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Health

MINISTER HAILS CARE HOME VACCINATION PROGRAMME

The drive to administer first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine across all of Northern Ireland’s care homes has been completed, Health Minister Robin Swann has confirmed. Trust vaccination teams have been visiting care homes since the vaccination programme commenced in December. The last remaining homes have now been visited, the programme schedule has allowed […]

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Health

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN EDUCATION FRAMEWORK LAUNCHED

Education Minister, Peter Weir and Health Minister, Robin Swann have jointly launched the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework. An investment of £6.5million annually will be provided to support mental health and wellbeing within the education sector. The Framework will be supported by a number of initiatives including: REACH Programme […]

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Health Politics Uncategorized

MURPHY ALLOCATES £74 MILLION INCLUDING £25 MILLION FOR HEALTH WORKERS

The Executive has agreed further funding allocations of £74 million including £25 million towards the health workers recognition payment. Announcing the allocations, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “The Executive has agreed to provide £25 million to offset the impact of National Insurance and tax deductions to the £500 recognition payment. This will ensure our dedicated […]

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Health

HEALTH MINISTER ANNOUNCES GRANT FUNDING TO IMPROVE DENTAL PATIENT THROUGHPUT

Health Minister Robin Swann has announced funding of £1.5million to help improve patient throughput at dental surgeries in Northern Ireland. The risk of Coronavirus transmission in dental practices has been minimised using strict infection control measures but these have significantly reduced the number of patients that dentists can see each day. The new grant scheme […]

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Health

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FOSTER CARERS

The Health Minister has announced further funding of £754,800 for foster carers bringing the total support provided to them to £1.39million since the start of pandemic. Foster carers provide care for children looked after by social services teams when they are unable to live with their parent/s. There are currently around 2,600 children and young […]

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Health

VACCINATION PROGRAMME IS FURTHER EXTENDED

A major extension of Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme has been announced. The programme will continue to be based on a twin track approach, with responsibilities divided between GP practices and the seven regional vaccination centres run by health trusts. The latest extension will see the start of a major vaccination drive for carers, with […]