Health Minister Robin Swann welcomes the announcement today that the anti-viral drug Remdesivir will be available for the treatment of Covid-19. Remdesivir is an innovative drug that is currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, including the UK. International studies show the drug can shorten recovery time from Covid-19 by about four days. The Minister [...]
The Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI, Gerard Greene, has said that the community pharmacy network here can provide significant support in getting the health and social care system back on its feet after COVID-19 surge plans have been downgraded. The call comes as the Health Minister Robin Swann has announced that he will [...]
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents to be kind to themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in turn they will be helping to protect their infant’s mental health. Infant mental health is the term used to describe the capacity of a child, during the first three years of life. It is the capacity [...]
The Public Health Agency (PHA), Diabetes UK and the Diabetes Network are urging parents and carers not to ignore the signs of type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are reassuring them that help and support is available for those who need medical attention. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and occurs when the [...]
Health Minister Robin Swann has published the Mental Health Action Plan as part of his commitment to improve the mental health of the population in Northern Ireland. The Action Plan contains 38 actions, including a commitment to produce a mental health strategy, which will include a comprehensive funding plan for mental health. There is also [...]
The PDA and Usdaw (Union of shop, Distributive and allied workers) have written a joint letter to Health & Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, calling on him to facilitate tripartite discussion between government, community pharmacy employer representatives and the trade unions to agree safe working practices across the sector. With increasing strains on PPE supplies [...]
To mark ‘Dying Matters’ Awareness week Dr. Frances Duffy, Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the Northern Health & Social Care Trust and Joanne Ballentine, a Northern Ireland Hospice Nurse Specialist for Dementia have collaborated on a special project during COVID-19. Together, they have developed the resource, ‘Supporting a person with Dementia following Bereavement during the COVID-19 [...]
Health Minister Robin Swann today spelt out a wide range of measures being deployed in Northern Ireland to protect care home residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Minister also underlined the Executive’s intention to significantly expand testing across care homes. He said: “Covid-19 is a cruel virus that targets the most frail and vulnerable members of [...]
Brendan Kerr leaves the post of Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society NI on 30th April 2020, after 14 years service to take up a new role with HSCB. The Council and staff wish him well in his new challenge. There is a current recruitment exercise underway to fill the role. Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive, will be [...]
Health Minister Robin Swann has thanked Northern Ireland’s ‘courageous’ nurses and midwives for their ongoing contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s International Nurses’ Day, the Health Minister recognised the critical role of the profession: “The COVID-19 pandemic is testing all of us, but nurses are on the front line. They are working tirelessly [...]
