Steps to deal with stress - A simple guide to stressing less and enjoying life more

The Steps to deal with stress booklet provides tips and practical advice on coping with stress in your life and covers recognizing stress, getting ready, coping better, learning from bad experiences and taking action now. Simple steps such as relaxation exercises and talking to someone can help you feel better and put you in a better frame of mind for dealing with your problems.

Biological threats: A Health Response for Ireland

In the light of recent worldwide events it is clear that there is a need in this and every country for preparedness for dealing with people who have been exposed to or infected with agents associated with bioterrorism. It seems unlikely that a country such as Ireland would be the target of a primary bioterrorist attack. It is more likely that those who have been covertly exposed to bioterrorist agents abroad could enter this country before they develop signs of illness and could have their illness diagnosed in this country. Due to the high infectivity of many of the diseases associated with these bioterrorist agents it is necessary to have protocols in place to deal with all contingencies. Download document here

Report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals 1999

The report details some general matters affecting the psychiatric services at the time of inspection and highlights the main developments envisaged in the psychiatric services in each health board. The report then proceeds to deal with each individual service. Each health board is allocated a separate chapter, with a chapter also being devoted to registered psychiatric hospitals. Finally there is a presentation of the latest statistical information on the psychiatric services Download the Report here

A Framework for Major Emergency Management

Major emergency management is a key challenge and a priority issue for Government. Clearly, the world in which we live is constantly changing and we need to develop our major emergency management architecture to enable us to deal effectively with the possibility of new risks and threats. In the last few years most European Countries have engaged in review and development of their major emergency or civil protection arrangements. This new Framework for Major Emergency Management moves in line with international trends in this field. Read the document (PDF, 1.9mb) Read the Appendices document (PDF, 1.3mb) A series of additional Framework Guidance Documents designed to support specific areas of major emergency management are currently under development. These documents will initially be posted here as Working Drafts for comment by practitioners involved in the implementation process. The first two guides: A Guide to Risk Assessment in Major Emergency Management and A Guide to Preparing a Major Emergency Plan are now available and further guides will emerge at intervals during the development programme. A Guide to Risk Assessment in Major Emergency Management (PDF, 387kb) A Guide to Preparing a Major Emergency Plan (PDF, 158kb)

Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists to the Minister for Health and Children

The focus of this report is the regulation of complementary therapists and, as such, does not deal directly with the efficacy of such therapies. It is for the consumer to make the choice of which therapy they intend to use. Whether they wish to consult a qualified therapist such as a homeopath or an acupuncturist, a healer, the seventh son of a seventh son, a person reputed to have a cure for a particular ailment or a person with a special skill with bones; the choice is theirs. Read the report (PDF 607kb) Download the accompanying leaflet (PDF 300kb) Note – Re: Page 70. ASK Ireland wish to clarify that the Kinesiology Association of Ireland do not represent the Association of Systematic Kinesiology in Ireland, in any way.

Standards for the Assessment of Need process under Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005Consultation Process

Standards for the Assessment of Need process under Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 In 2004, the Irish Government launched the National Disability Strategy as a framework of positive action measures to support the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society. Two new pieces of legislation â?" the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act, 2004 (EPSEN Act 2004 hereafter) and the Disability Act, 2005 â?" form an integral part of this strategy and deal with the special education and/or health needs of persons. Click here to download PDF 279kb The Report on the Consultation Process on Standards for the Assessment of Need process as referred to on page 6 of the Standards document above. Click here to download PDF 369kb

Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Long Term Care, 2006

Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Long Term Care, 2006 This report was finalised by the working group at the end of 2005 and submitted to Government in January 2006. While the reportâ?Ts proposals were not formally endorsed by Government, its analysis and recommendations have informed subsequent decisions, including the Fair Deal policy on Long-Term Nursing Home Care.The principles underpinning the report formed the basis for discussions about long term care with the Social Partners prior to the new national programme negotiations leading to a clear vision articulated in Towards 2016 on a number of priority actions to support older people to participate in society in a full and meaningful way. Click here to download PDF 693kb

Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme - Summary of Submissions

When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, was introduced in October 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The reason for allowing this period to elapse was to ensure that the Scheme had bedded in and that established and validated trends and statistics would be available in order to inform the work. Public consultation is a key component.   Click here to download PDF 743kb

Health Sector Children First Strategic Implementation Plan

Health Sector Children First Strategic Implementation Plan Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011) (referred to as Children First hereafter), is intended to assist people in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect and deal effectively with concerns. It emphasises that the needs of children and families must be at the centre of child protection and welfare services, and that the welfare of children is of paramount importance. Click here to download PDF 73KB

First Steps on health for young people

This project will promote health awareness and encourage a more pro-active approach to looking after your health for12-16 year olds. Although focusing on young people, the approach being used hopes to cascade the information- the young people will take what their understanding into the home and the wider community. In order to reach their objectives they will carry out workshops with the youth in ways that will grab their attention and encourage a ‘change of lifestyles’ for example; painting murals relating to health issues etc. An information day was held as was an art project and several workshops, 1 of which allowed students to make a video on the role of the pharmacist. Results showed teenagers found it beneficial to get information on areas of health that they wanted to increase their awareness in. The project also identified a determination amongst staff to become more aware of the dangers of smoking and the project gave them a means of empowerment to help students who smoke to stop. All those involved in the project either through the information day, workshops or the art project felt it was tangible and was a sensitive wasy to deal with teenge health problems. The project created an understanding of why there is a need to take a communtiy response to such problems.

Rasharkin Health Initiative

This project will build on previous work carried out over the last 3 years. There are 4 main aspects: - intergenerational work focusing on the development of a vegetable garden with pharmacy input on health advice - develop and promote the lunch club which has been very successful to date and has targeted people previously not accessing support or community services in the village - annual health fair - local carer’s advice centre to provide practice information and signposting services. This last aspect is the result of ongoing identification of the need to support carers over the last 2 years of the BCPP project. This project will be driven forward by a lay health worker working closely with the pharmacist Outcome: The project built on previous work. Some of the work included: health fayre, intergenerational garden, and luncheon club. Results from questionnaires showed that the project increased people's awareness of the causes of ill-health and how they might deal with them. People now see the pharmacist as a local and not just as someone dispensing medicine.

Your body, your life, your choice

This booklet provides information about different drugs, their effects, their risks and how to deal with problems, whether they happen to you or a friend.

Getting a good start: healthy eating from one to five

This booklet outlines advice on many key nutritional issues for children aged one to five. It includes information on how to provide a healthy, balanced diet for this age group, guidance on suitable snacks and drinks, feeding a vegetarian child, vitamin supplements and iron, making the most of mealtimes and how to deal with fussy eaters.

Diagnosing poisoning: Carbon monoxide (CO)

Guidance for primarycareon how to deal withpatients presenting with possible symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Produced by the Health Protection Agency and adapted by the Public Health Agency.

Eye screening for diabetics - prevents blindness

Diabetes is a common condition affecting around 69,000 people in Northern Ireland. One of the possible complications of diabetes is a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which can cause sight loss and blindness. Retinopathy causes damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissues in the back of the eye that deal with light. This can seriously affect vision.Research shows that if retinopathy is identified early, for example through retinal screening, and treated appropriately, blindness can be prevented in the majority of people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2.Screening programmeIn Northern Ireland, a diabetic retinopathy screening programme (DRSP), run by the Public Health Agency, has been put in place to screen all eligible people with diabetes aged 12 years and over. Dr Bernadette Cullen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, PHA, said: "Screening detects problems early and allows appropriate treatment to be offered. It is vital that everyone with diabetes attends diabetic retinopathy screening when it is offered. Early detection of potential problems offers a very real opportunity to intervene and, with appropriate treatment, can prevent blindness in the majority of those at risk."The screening testThe screening test involves photographs being taken of the back of each eye, using a special camera. The test is painless and takes about 15 minutes. If the person is over 50 years of age, they will need to have drops put in their eyes about 15 minutes before the test to dilate their pupils.The photographs are sent to the regional screening centre for analysis by trained graders. Results will show whether patients require further referral for assessment or treatment by hospital eye services (HES). If this is not required, screening will be offered again the following year.GPs are informed of all results and if the patient is under the care of a diabetologist, they too will be informed. Patients are informed of results by their GP and if they need an urgent referral, protocols are in place to ensure this happens.Many people with diabetes attend their optometrist (optician) on a regular basis to have a sight test for glasses. It is important they continue to do this - this test is free to people with diabetes. It is also vital that people with diabetes attend for diabetic retinopathy screening when invited, regardless of how or where their diabetes is treated, or whether they visit a hospital consultant/GP for their diabetic care.Patients are invited to screening via their GP practice. An information leaflet to help patients make an informed decision to attend for screening is also sent. This can be accessed via the PHA website: www.publichealth.hscni.net.