2011

Mrs Reid and her family from Portadown recently donated a cheque for £1205 to the Craigavon and Banbridge Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Team in memory of her late husband John Reid.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust would like to alert clients and families to a recent incident involving a bogus Occupational Therapist in the Newry area.

Dr David Morgan, Consultant Cardiologist at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, recently became the first cardiologist on the island of Ireland to implant a new type of pacemaker which makes it much it easier for patients to have MRI scans.

A unique art exhibition involving service users at St Luke’s Hospital, Appleby Social Education Centre, Station Road Resource Centre and Coalisland Day Centre has opened at the Market Place Theatre in Armagh.

An exhibition of cross border art work has highlighted the mutual benefits of working together and the importance of raising self esteem for adults with a learning disability.

Staff from JD Hunter in Markethill have raised £325 from a staff raffle for Gillis Memory Centre at Mullinure Health and Wellbeing Centre in Armagh.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has hosted the 2011 Research Methods in Social Work Awards in association with the University of Ulster.

A celebration of the Physical Disability Community Access Service has been organised by the Southern Trust to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s 16+ Service User Group have been Highly Commended in the 2011 Children’s Commissioner’s 2011 Participation Awards.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust looks after some 400 children and young people in a range of settings including foster and residential care.

A Pilot Scheme is running at Emergency Departments in Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital which aims to assess patients arriving at Emergency Departments and redirect those patients assessed as non emergencies to more appropriate services.

The acting talents of young people from the South Armagh area were put on display recently, when the South Armagh youth drama group staged two specially commissioned drama productions as part of Cavan Social Inclusion Week.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a three month public consultation on the future organisation of the Minor Injuries Service in Armagh and Dungannon.

A staggering 40,000 outpatient appointments were not attended by patients in 2010 in hospitals and clinics across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.

During recent months, people with physical and/or sensory disabilities from across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, have been participating in a range of leisure based respite activities, including Off Road Driving, Zip Lining and Archery at Todds Leap Activity Centre, Ballygawley, Gliding at the Ulster Gliding Club, Bellarena and Team Building Events, at local Leisure Centres.

The Physical Disability Team in Newry and Mourne has raised £383 for the Southern Area Hospice by organising a coffee morning for users, staff and guests.

The Southern Domestic Violence Partnership has hosted a Masterclass Risk Training Day on Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH).

New signs have been put up at Daisy Hill Hospital in a drive to raise awareness that Hospital Emergency Departments are only for people who are seriously ill or injured and need to be treated immediately.

Norma and Ivor White from Omagh have donated a total of £4,972 to the Neonatal Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital in memory of their son Joel.

The Promoting Wellbeing Team of the Southern Trust is issuing a timely reminder about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a new policy for dealing with cases of Domestic Abuse.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s MRI team have been awarded with the prestigious title of Northern Ireland Radiography Team of the Year by the Society of Radiographers.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Patient and Client Council invited people to share their views on infection prevention and control in hospitals at a recent workshop Craigavon Area Hospital.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has introduced the Patient Support Service to Daisy Hill Hospital.

The Millennium Arts Centre in Portadown hosted a very special art exhibition recently under the title 'Artistically Autistic.’

Cathy and Jason Laverty have donated £3,100 to the Neonatal Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital.

A group of young care leavers, from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust have produced a DVD to help support their peers.

Minister for Health, Mr Edwin Poots, today unveiled new ‘Emergency Department’ signs at Craigavon Area Hospital as part of an initiative to raise awareness that Hospital emergency departments are only for people who are seriously ill or injured and need to be treated immediately.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a new hospital visiting campaign.

The paediatric allergy service has been set up at Daisy Hill Hospital to support families of children with allergies.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is hosting an “Evening of Remembrance and Reflection” for people of any, or no religion or faith.

The Craigavon and Banbridge Home Accident Prevention Group in partnership with the Promoting Wellbeing Team of the Southern Trust hosted an information event on Falls Prevention and Improving Bone Health at the Bannville Hotel, Banbridge on Thursday 3rd November.

The family of the late Sean Daly from Derryloughan, Co. Tyrone presented a cheque to the Southern Trust’s Memory Service for a total of £435.00.

Daisy Hill Hospital is now officially a ‘University Teaching Hospital.’

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is hosting its annual services of remembrance and thanksgiving.

Oaklands Respite Unit has officially opened their new sensory room and refurbished outdoor play area which will benefit the 41 children who use the facility.

World Mental Health Day has seen 16 participants from a range of organisations and groups complete Mental Health First Aid training in the Newry area.

Early Years – the organisation for young children has launched ‘UP4IT!,’ a family health initiative which will also be known locally as ‘Healthier Choices Healthier Families.’

100 people from the community and statutory sectors from both sides of the border, attended a community question time event in the North West, to address social exclusion among a number of vulnerable groups.

The Newry and Mourne Home Accident Prevention Group in partnership with the Promoting Wellbeing Team of the Southern Trust hosted an information event on Falls Prevention and Improving Bone Health at the Canal Court Hotel, Newry on Tuesday 25th October.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust and Orana Children and Family Centre in Newry are delighted that Carrickore respite unit will become fully operational on 3 November 2011.

Two year olds, Alex Annett from Kilkeel and Mia Pherson from Portadown and their parents have donated £4,255 the Neonatal Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area this Autumn.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is looking for volunteers in the Newry & Mourne area who can spare a few hours per week to help people with disabilities to get involved in physical activities at the local leisure centre.

Seven Southern Trust Pharmacy assistant technical officers who work in Craigavon Area Hospital recently collected their NVQ level 2 certificates after passing NVQ Edexcel Level 2 in Pharmacy Services.

The latest intake of Junior Doctors at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are setting a good example by going ‘bare below the elbow’ to prevent the spread of infection.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has given its approval to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Equality Scheme which details how the Trust promotes equality of opportunity and good relations.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Patient and Client Council are inviting people to share their views on infection prevention and control in hospitals at a workshop on Tuesday 8 November 2011, from 10am to 12noon in the Boardroom, Craigavon Area Hospital.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is appealing to the public to comply with its hospital visiting guidance.

The Southern Health & Social Care Trust, Armagh and Dungannon locality has been awarded the prestigious Baby Friendly Award and is the latest UK health care area to win international recognition from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).

Essential Part of Hospital Network

Daisy Hill Hospital is an essential part of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s hospital network, which serves a population of over 360,000.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust and UNISON are working together to ensure safe service provision during the industrial action scheduled for Wednesday 5 October 2011.

Mrs Mollie Maguire celebrated her 100th Birthday on Thursday 22 September surrounded by her family and friends.

A new regional uniform has been introduced at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to ensure easy recognition of healthcare staff by patients, users and members of the public.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust hosted an information event on Bone Health and Osteoporosis at Armagh Council today.

Jeanie Purdy celebrates her 90th birthday with staff and service user Freda Perry in Slieve Roe House on 22nd September.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the casualties are people aged over 60 years.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the casualties are people aged over 60 years.

Health professionals and voluntary organisation representatives from across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland attended a 2-day workshop in Omagh, Co. Tyrone to learn about the latest techniques in the treatment of eating disorders.

“Not just growing vegetables but growing the community” that’s the message from residents at Callan Street, Armagh who now grow their own fruit and vegetables thanks to a new Community Food Garden set up in the local area.

Lymphoedema is a swelling that occurs as a result of a blocked or damaged lymphatic system.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the casualties are people aged over 60 years.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust in partnership with Southern Regional College and South West College is running Youth Health Advice drop-in clinics for young people under 25 in campuses across the Southern area.

Representatives of Primary Schools in Armagh, Banbridge and Dungannon recently attended a Roots of Empathy School Information Seminar in Armagh.

The Southern Trust’s Child Protection Nurse Specialists facilitated a training programme for a group of school nurses.

This year’s Deaf Awareness Week is taking place from Monday 2 May to Sunday 8 May 2011 when the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and organisations working with deaf people across the country are inviting everyone to 'Look At Me'.

Banbridge SEC recently held a fundraising disco in support of Red Nose Day 2011.

Representatives from the Young at Heart group in Lurgan recently attended the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £535.

Local woman Roisin Donnelly recently attended the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £620.

The installation, recently, of a second bus shelter outside Daisy Hill Hospital marks the official launch of the improved bus service which has been operating at the hospital since November.

The Think Child, Think Parent, Think Family survey has been launched across the Southern Trust at www.hscboard.hscni.net/thinkfamily

A relay team of medical staff from the Intensive Care Unit, Craigavon Hospital are preparing to run the Belfast Marathon to increase awareness of the importance and benefit of Organ Donation.

After recently suffering a stroke, Eileen Murphy (85) was admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital Stroke Unit.

An exhibition entitled ‘The Creative Trust in Arts Care’ will be officially opened on Friday 15th April at 2pm at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre in Newry and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Roberta Brownlee, newly appointed Chair of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, made her first visit as Chair to South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon to meet with staff and patients this week.

The GP Out of Hours service deals with an exceptionally high volume of calls over holiday periods which places severe demands on doctors and other staff who provide the service.

St Luke’s Social and Recreational Club has hosted an historical exhibition in the Hospital Recreation Hall charting the history of St Luke’s from its foundation in 1821.

The achievements of social workers across Northern Ireland have been marked at a celebratory lunch and awards ceremony, at the first ever Regional Social Work Awards.

Eight service users with a physical disability, recruited by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Physical Disability Social Work team, have participated in a creative arts project at Newry Arts Centre.

The Southern Health & Social Care Trust in partnership with Newry Neighbourhood Renewal area has launched a DVD entitled “Emotional Overeating.” The DVD will be used as an innovative education tool.

Sandra and Keith Emerson from Portadown have kindly donated £12,785 to the Southern Trust’s neonatal unit in Craigavon Area Hospital for the purchase of a resuscitation simulation doll.

Come Dance With Me, a project involving a series of dance workshops facilitated by professional dance coach Lynda Wright in association with the BEAM Centre, has presented a showcase of its work.

An exhibition of self-portraits created by participants from the Tuesday Art Club at The Arc, Divernagh, Bessbrook, Newry, opens in Dundalk Museum today [until 11 April].

Dungannon Breastfeeding Support Group – Bosom Buddies has relocated to Thomas Street Clinic, Dungannon.

An exhibition of drawings and paintings by service users of St Luke’s Hospital in Armagh and Sterkfontein Hospital near Johannesburg opens at the Millennium Court Arts Centre on 8 April.

Are you happy with what your children are eating? How much time do they spend exercising? Do you think as a family you could be more active and would like some help and support to achieve this? Then come along to an information session about a new, exciting course called ‘Move It, Change It’ at the Vineyard Storehouse, Dungannon on Tuesday 12th April from 2.30 – 4.30pm.

Two Breast Care Nurse Specialists from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are playing a leading role on the new online government tv channel, launched recently by the First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.

Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Mrs Mairead McAlinden has welcomed the announcement from Health Minister Michael McGimpsey confirming the construction of new operating theatres at Craigavon Area Hospital.

Slieve Roe Residential Care Home in Kilkeel has been the venue for an exciting intergenerational project bringing both the young and older generations together.

Forty young people aged 15+ from across South Armagh came together recently in Mullaghbane for the annual youth conference.

Four Pharmacists working for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are celebrating after they each recently graduated with a Postgraduate Master degree (with Distinction) in Clinical Pharmacy from Queen’s University, Belfast.

Collone Young Farmers Club recently donated a flat screen television to the patients of Longstone Hospital.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust today welcomed a new contract for the health service to bring remote telehealth monitoring technology to patients in their own homes.

Members of Friends of Slieve Roe House in Kilkeel recently displayed their beautifully handmade quilt.

Over 180 people from, Craigavon Borough Council, Banbridge District Council, Community Groups and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust completed a six week health and wellbeing challenge.

Over 100 people from Armagh City and District Council, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council, Community Groups and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust completed a six week health and wellbeing challenge.

A new guide of contacts for mental and emotional wellbeing has been published by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

To celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness week (20-25 June 2011), the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in partnership with the Public Health Agency, CAWT and community breast feeding support groups is promoting breastfeeding awareness by highlighting events across the Southern Trust area for mums to be and breast feeding mothers.

The Southern Trust has launched a new ‘back to basics’ campaign as part of its ongoing drive to reduce healthcare associated infections.

An event to mark the official launch of University Teaching Hospital status was held recently at Craigavon Hospital and was attended by a number of senior staff from Queen’s University Belfast.

Rene Black, her daughter Jennie, son Andrew and Mr Alec McCartney from Battlehill Social Club recently visited the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital to present a cheque for £2,500.

The Southern Trust has published a Coping with Bereavement information booklet for relatives following the death of a patient.

A mobile laboratory used to carry out diagnostic tests on heart patients will be visiting the Craigavon Area Hospital site for the next six weeks.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust sees over 300,000 outpatients a year.

Mr David Simpson MP and some of his DUP colleagues from Craigavon Borough Council recently visited the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £1,200 which was raised during the local MP’s annual Christmas sit out.

Daisy Hill Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital are two of seven acute hospitals in Northern Ireland that have been designated as a ‘Queen’s University teaching hospital’. In partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, the designation specifically recognises the important contribution acute hospitals here make in providing high quality clinical placements to medical students

Thousands of smokers prepare to make No Smoking Day their ‘Time to Quit’. No Smoking Day on Wednesday 9th March is an annual health awareness campaign which aims to help smokers who want to stop smoking.

Rev Kenneth Hall and representatives from Coalisland Charity Shop recently attended Craigavon Area Hospital to present a sleep machine to Dr Raeburn Forbes, Dr Rory Convery and Dawn Allen from the Sleep Clinic in Craigavon Area Hospital.

75 Southern Trust Domestic Services Staff were awarded British Institute of Cleaning Science (Bids) Cleaning Operators Proficiency Certificates at a recent event in Craigavon Area Hospital.

25 Southern Trust Domestic Services Staff from Newry and Mourne region were awarded British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) Cleaning Operators Proficiency Certificates at a recent event in Daisy Hill Hospital. The British Institute of Cleaning Science is the professional body for the cleaning industry.

Caroline Parkes, proprietor of Beauty by Caroline, Irish Street, Dungannon recently visited the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £1,755.

Participants from a Gender Studies programme have been guests of Cllr Michelle O’Neill MLA at Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.

Amelia Smith and Patricia McQuaid from Ulster Bank in Portadown recently visited the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £685.84.

Mrs Roberta Brownlee, the new Chair of the Southern Trust, says the views of patients and clients are crucial in shaping health and care services.

Hylda Patterson, Manager of Slieve Roe House in Kilkeel, recently organised a fashion show for Service Users and Staff to celebrate winning the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Excellence Award in 2010 when the Managers across the Trust’s Residential Care Homes were awarded first prize for ‘Best Care, Best Value’ and runner up in all the overall categories.

The Southern Trust has provided a brief update on work on the latest phase of the redevelopment of Daisy Hill Hospital site.

Portadown Health and Care Centre has celebrated its first year in service; and what a successful year it has been.

The five Health and Social Care Trusts are hosting NI’s biggest fostering coffee morning during Foster Care Fortnight in a bid to recruit more urgently needed foster carers for children across the province.

Craigavon Area Hospital is hosting a special service to give thanks for and remember babies and children who have died.

The Southern Trust can confirm that discussions are taking place with staff on how services at Daisy Hill Hospital can be improved and developed.

As part of National Smile Month 2011 the Southern Trust’s Community Dental Service is launching a poster and leaflet campaign in nursing and residential homes within the Trust’s area to promote good oral health for older people.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s newly appointed Chair, Roberta Brownlee, has made her first visit to Newry, Bessbrook and Mullaghbawn to meet with staff and service users.

Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), the cross border health and social care partnership, highlighted at the recent launch of their 2010 annual report, that to date almost 7,000 people in total have benefitted from cross border health and social care services under their current work programme.

A new breastfeeding room in Daisy Hill Hospital was officially launched during Breastfeeding awareness week, which took place recently.

Buttonmoon Pre School organised a fundraising abseil at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, and raised £600 for Gillis Memory Centre at Mullinure Health and Wellbeing Centre, Armagh.

The Lynch family from Hilltown recently attended Daisy Hill Hospital to donate a cot to Sister Anne Stanfield from the Children’s Ward.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust recently launched a Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) toolkit for staff.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust recently held a “Volunteer Recognition Event” to acknowledge and celebrate the valuable contribution that its ‘long serving’ volunteers make to the Trust and the wider community.

Representatives from the local Parish of Cill Chluana recently visited the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer outpatient facility at Craigavon Area Hospital to present a cheque for £7,649.

The Health Visiting Team based in Lurgan recently held a coffee morning in memory of their friend and colleague Maxine McKeown.

A range of exciting summer programmes is being rolled out for children and young people living in the South Armagh area of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, with the assistance of the European Union’s INTERREG IVA programme.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust recently held a Boost Better Break award event in Armagh Fire Station for pre-schools in the Southern Trust area.

Cardiology patients in the Southern Trust area are being given access to new treatments and interventions as a result of staff involvement in a range of on-going, national, international and world-wide research studies.

Local woman Kathryn McCrory and her mother Betty, recently visited Ward 1 South in Craigavon Area Hospital to donate £700 to the staff there as a thank you to staff for the treatment and care of the late Mr David McLernon.

A stay in hospital is about to get a little bit easier for local patients following the launch, this week, of a Hospital Information Booklet by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is hosting an Information Evening at Craigavon Area Hospital for people affected by cancer.

For many people in our community sight loss is a daily reality. Rathfriland woman Madeline Maginn lost her sight at the age of 21 through Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma and tells her story.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has appealed to the public to keep buildings and entrances at Craigavon Area Hospital smoke free.

Debt can lead to mental illness and mental illness can lead to debt, creating a vicious cycle, according to a mental health specialist at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

An exhibition charting the history of St Luke’s Hospital from its foundation in 1821 has opened in St Patrick’s Trian.

To mark the World Health Organization’s recent Hand Hygiene Day (5 May), the Southern Trust Infection Prevention Control Team hosted information events in Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospitals to help raise awareness of infection prevention and to test the hand hygiene skills of patients, visitors and staff.

The Patient and Client Council listens and acts on people’s views and is currently working to inform the Southern Health and Social Care Trust on older people’s experiences of domiciliary/home care services.

An evaluation report of a ‘Carers Support Project’ is being launched in Armagh City Hotel on Wednesday 30 March at 9.30 am. The Carers Support Project worked with GPs in the Crossmaglen and Clogher Valley areas to identify carers and signpost them to local support services from statutory, voluntary and community organisations. The project aimed to promote Carer’s Assessments and registration on the GP Carer’s Register.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust provides a comprehensive x-ray service that includes MRI, CT Scans, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, vascular and non-vascular interventional procedures, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and are involved in cancer diagnostics and colonic cancer stenting, as well as approximately 170,000 simple plain film x-rays a year.

A new cross border project is delivering health-focused education and training programmes to vulnerable and ‘at risk’ groups across the border counties. Funding totalling £1.75 million has been secured from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA programme by Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), the cross border health services partnership. The funding has enabled this 3-year project to get off the ground, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of groups such as vulnerable women and Travellers right across the border corridor.

Representatives from the Housing Executive in Dungannon recently attended the Air Lab in South Tyrone Hospital to present a cheque for £520 to Dr Rory Convery.

“Never Give up – The Sun will Shine Again” is the title of a book by Breea Ross on her experience of volunteering with those suffering from anorexia and bulimia.

A new poster which will help people with a brain injury access support has been developed by the Brain Injury Service User Group in the Southern Trust.

A new Breastfeeding Support Group is being launched on 14th February 2011 at 11.00am – 1.00pm in The Pavilion, Armagh Road, Keady. This is part of the CAWT (Cooperation and Working Together) Social Inclusion Project

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the casualties are people aged over 60 years.

Jackie McNally and Kieron Murphy recently presented a cheque for £1,200 to the Glenanne Breast Cancer Unit in Craigavon Area Hospital.

Mr Anthony McArdle recently visited the Glennane Breast Cancer Unit in Craigavon Area Hospital to present a cheque for £800.

To mark Tinnitus Awareness Week, the Sensory Disability Team from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust will host a Tinnitus Awareness morning at Conifers Resource Centre on Tuesday 8 February from 8.15am to 2pm.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s innovative approach to driving down hospital acquired infections in the Intensive Care Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital is being used to develop good practice guidelines for hospitals throughout Europe.

Work on the next phase of the redevelopment of Daisy Hill Hospital site is about to begin and is expected to take several months to complete, according to a Southern Trust spokesperson.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is appealing to the public to consider whether they could make time and space in their lives to help vulnerable children in their local area. If you would like to find out more about fostering please drop in for an informal chat with a Social Worker at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, 1A Bank Parade, Newry on Friday 28 January from 4.00pm to 7.00pm.

A series of free ‘Electric Blanket Testing’ road shows are being held across the Southern area. Electric blankets cause over 800 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the casualties are people aged over 60 years.

Demand for all health and social services has risen in recent weeks with an increase in patients with flu and other winter viruses. The Southern Health Trust’s Medical Director, Dr Patrick Loughran is asking staff, visitors and patients to help prevent spreading flu and other viral infections.

Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People has presented foster carers from across Northern Ireland with an award for completing the ‘Core Issues in Fostering’ training course at an event held in Antrim.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust held its second Excellence Awards event to celebrate and recognise the commitment, innovation and achievements of staff and volunteers.

Mairead McAlinden, Chief Executive of the Southern Health Trust, has thanked the local community for helping the health service during the recent water supply problems and adverse weather conditions.