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Health

Booster Programme Extended to 40-49 Year Olds

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed the JCVI recommendation to extend the COVID-19 vaccine booster to the 40-49-year-old age group. The announcement comes with the number of booster/third doses delivered in Northern Ireland having passed the 200,000 mark. The JCVI has also recommended that 16-and-17 year olds be offered a second vaccination dose. The Health Minister […]

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Health

Update on £𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 for Independent Health

Important update on £𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 for Independent Health ▶️ The Health Minister has confirmed that his Department has written to every Independent Care Home and Domiciliary Care provider in Northern Ireland to receive a list of all qualifying employees. ▶️ The deadline for this information to be provided by the employers to the […]

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Health

Minister Spells out Health Service Winter Plans

Health Minister Robin Swann has updated the Assembly on the pressures facing health and social care services this winter and the planning being undertaken in preparation. The Minister issued a Written Ministerial Statement, accompanying the publication of Health Trusts’ integrated winter and surge delivery plans and Trust activity projections. He told MLAs the Health and […]

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Health

Care Home Visiting Restrictions Eased

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed an easing of care home visiting restrictions, taking effect from today. The arrangements for care home visiting are set out in the Department of Health’s ‘Visiting With Care – A Pathway’ document, originally issued in May 2021, and available at www.health-ni.gov.uk/Covid-19-visiting-guidance The Health Minister said: “Following the latest review, the restrictions […]

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Health

Paediatric Red Flags Raised

Health Minister Robin Swann provides an update on the child health waiting lists following publication of a report by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY). Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I welcome the review of Child Health Waiting Lists in Northern Ireland carried out by the Commissioner for Children and Young People.  Waiting times […]

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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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Uncategorized

Workforce Appeal Will Help Tackle Hospital Pressures

Health Minister Robin Swann has launched a new Workforce Appeal to help maintain important surgery this winter. As the health service in Northern Ireland struggles to cope with some of the worst pressures ever experienced, the appeal aims to recruit individuals with the vital skills necessary to address the workforce deficit in specific areas of […]

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Uncategorized

Boost Your Immunity This Winter By Getting The Free Flu Vaccine

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone who falls into an eligible group to get the free flu vaccine, with the aim of boosting your immunity this winter. The call comes as the agency launches this year’s flu vaccination programme, offering vaccines which are specially formulated to tackle the strains of the virus which […]

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Politics

McNulty Calls For Vaccine Passports

SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has reiterated his party leaders call for Covid 19 vaccine passports. SDLP leader Column Eastwood came under fire recently following his call for the use of vaccine passports for hospitality, bars and restaurants in order to help the North of Ireland exit the Covid 19 pandemic. Speaking on […]

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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 […]