Audit review of fit testing for respiratory masks

“We can confirm that an audit review of fit testing for respiratory masks is ongoing within the HSC system. “This is being done on a precautionary basis. “It has emerged that one independent contractor, which conducted Fit Testing of masks during the pandemic, had inadvertently applied on some occasions a fit-testing setting not normally used in Northern Ireland. This should have been readjusted to the UK Fit Testing requirements. “We are advised that any risk to staff is likely to be low. “The HSC system is now carrying out a validation and audit exercise of all fit-tests conducted by this

Tick Season: protect yourself against tick bites and what to do if you've been bitten

As lockdown measures are eased and more of us venture outdoors over the summer months, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone to take steps to help protect themselves from tick bites. Tick bites can cause Lyme disease, a serious and debilitating illness which can be transmitted to humans through a tick’s bite. Dr Gerry Waldron, Head of Health Protection at the PHA, explained: “Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which is transmitted by tick bites. The earliest and most common symptom of Lyme disease is a pink or red circular rash that develops around the area of the bite, three to

NI Alcohol Awareness Week – give yourself an MOT

With the pubs shut, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Northern Ireland Alcohol Awareness Week (15-21 June) to encourage drinkers to take a closer look at their drinking habits at home and give themselves an “Alcohol MOT”. Over three-quarters (79%) of adults here drink alcohol so the PHA and Northern Ireland’s five Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams (DACTs) are asking people, in the absence of pub measures, to check how much they have been drinking at home with the Alcohol MOT on www.drugsandalcoholni.info/mot Michael Owen, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “Many of

Eating well to boost our mood during the pandemic

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to eat healthily in order to boost both our physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Feeling good comes from a variety of lifestyle factors including taking exercise, the food we eat and how much sleep we are getting,” said Laura Taylor, Health Improvement and Wellbeing Senior Officer with the PHA. “Getting the balance right can help us cope a little bit better with the everyday stresses we face.” Serotonin, the feel good hormone, is partly made from a protein found in foods called tryptophan. Tryptophan is present in a
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