Improving Patient Safety - Building Public Confidence (PDF 440 KB)

A response by the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety to the recommendations contained in the Shipman Inquiry Reports 3, 4 & 5.

Home Accident Prevention Strategy

The overall aim of the strategy is “To reduce the number of accidental deaths and injuries in the home.” OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGY The key objectives are: • to reduce home accidents, particularly in those most at risk; • to raise awareness of the causes of home accidents and promote effective preventative measures to reduce such accidents; • to promote and facilitate effective training, skills and knowledge in home accident prevention across all relevant organisations, groups and individuals. These objectives will be met through integrated and effective approaches including: • education and information programmes to promote home safety, and promote a change in public behaviour towards home accident prevention; and • the use of evidence based practice, models of good practice, and by evaluating home accident prevention initiatives. OUTCOMES If successful, implementation of this strategy will lead to a reduction in the number of home accidents and contribute to the outcome “reduction in preventable deaths and diseases and improvement in wellbeing” set out in the Northern Ireland Priorities and Budget 2004-2006.

Tackling Equality and Targeting Social Need - Improving the Infrastucture (PDF 101 KB)

This paper considers two recent initiatives in Northern Ireland relating to targeting social need and inequalities. While the paper deals with each separately they should be seen as complementary. Therefore, many of the points made in relation to one are also pertinent to the other. åÊ

Equality Programme for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (PDF 181KB)

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (HSSPS), like all public authorities, is required under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (‘the Act’) in carrying out its functions, powers and duties, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and good relations among 9 specific categories of people. In fulfilling these obligations, the Department is required to submit its policies and programmes to formal assessment of the equality implications arising from them through Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs). åÊ

A Five Year Home Accident Prevention Strategy and Action Plan (PDF 124KB)

The Executive in its Programme for Government under the theme “Working for a Healthier People” gave a commitment to promoting public safety by reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by accidents at home, at work and on the road. An overarching strategy for children and young people is also being developed, which will set out the vision, values and underlying principles, including general safety, for all children and young people and the long-term goals to make that vision a reality. Consultation Document

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) 2002-03. (PDF 80 KB)

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) 2002-03.

Tackling Equality and Targeting Social Need (PDF 80 KB)

Statistics Users Council Annual Conference This paper considers two recent initiatives in NI relating to targeting social need, and inequalities. While the paper deals with each separately they should be seen as complementary. Therefore, many of the points made in relation to one are also pertinent to the other. åÊ

European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System report for Ireland 2001

EHLASS provides a harmonised approach throughout the EU to facilitate the analyses of intercountry differences in modes and distributions of home and leisure accidents. EHLASS contributes to the formulation of EU policies and initiatives on accidents and product safety. EHLASS is the only source of detailed information on home and leisure accidents in Ireland. Some general information is available through the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) system but this concentrates on medical diagnoses rather than on specific causes of accidents.This report is the eleventh national EHLASS report for Ireland. Download document here

Efficacy and safety of various combination therapies based on a calcium antagonist in essential hypertension: results of a placebo-controlled randomized trial

We tested the efficacy and safety of different combination therapies in hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) on a monotherapy with a calcium antagonist: 1,647 hypertensive patients were enrolled to receive placebo for 4 weeks followed by isradipine (ISR) 2.5 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Nonresponders [diastolic BP (DBP) > 90 mm Hg] were randomly assigned to receive either the beta-blocker bopindolol 0.5 or 1 mg/day, the diuretic metolazone 1.25 or 2.5 mg/day, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril 10 or 20 mg/day, ISR 5 mg b.i.d., or placebo. One hundred seventy-five receiving placebo dropped out; 93% (n = 1,376) of the 1,472 patients finished 4-week monotherapy with ISR. Sixty percent (n = 826) reached target BP, and 40% (n = 550) remained uncontrolled and were randomized. Regardless of dosage, all drugs led to a comparable reduction in BP except for the lower dosage of bopindolol and ISR 5 mg b.i.d., which were less effective in lowering systolic BP (SBP). The BP decrease achieved by combination therapy ranged from 10 to 15 mm Hg SBP and from 7 to 11 mm Hg DBP but remained unchanged with placebo. Side effects were minor, and only 2.4% of patients discontinued therapy because of side effects. The side-effect score for edema was lower with ISR plus diuretics than with other combinations, whereas the ACE inhibitor was associated with a higher score for cough. Monotherapy with a calcium antagonist normalizes BP in about two-thirds of patients when used in general practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of pilot initiatives undertaken in the North Eastern and South Eastern Health Boards on the provision of General Practitioner out-of-hours services in those areas

To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the management, administrative and support structures for the General Practitioner out-of-hours pilot projects in the North Eastern and South Eastern Health Boards having regard to value for money and service enhancement considerations Download the Report here

The 2004 Healthy Ageing Conference - Safety and Older People: Conference Proceedings

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Study of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of attenuated and killed Leishmania (Leishmania) major vaccines in a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) model of the human disease

We have compared the efficacy of two Leishmania (Leishmania) major vaccines, one genetically attenuated (DHFR-TS deficient organisms), the other inactivated [autoclaved promastigotes (ALM) with bacillus Calmete-Guérin (BCG)], in protecting rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) against infection with virulent L. (L.) major. Positive antigen-specific recall proliferative response was observed in vaccinees (79% in attenuated parasite-vaccinated monkeys, versus 75% in ALM-plus-BCG-vaccinated animals), although none of these animals exhibited either augmented in vitro gamma interferon (IFN-g) production or positive delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to the leishmanin skin test prior to the challenge. Following challenge, there were significant differences in blastogenic responses (p < 0.05) between attenuated-vaccinated monkeys and naïve controls. In both vaccinated groups very low levels of antibody were found before challenge, which increased after infective challenge. Protective immunity did not follow vaccination, in that monkeys exhibited skin lesion at the site of challenge in all the groups. The most striking result was the lack of pathogenicity of the attenuated parasite, which persisted in infected animals for up to three months, but were incapable of causing disease under the conditions employed. We concluded that both vaccine protocols used in this study are safe in primates, but require further improvement for vaccine application.