Health

Community transport, health transformation and public service collapse

29 Mar 2023Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Health Reform, Bengoa, Community Transport, Stormont

Stormont was rarely good and never perfect but the current zombie version is leading us to disaster. Our elected representatives must get back to work.

You won’t address economic inactivity if you misdiagnose the problem

23 Feb 2023Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Mental Health, Economic Inactivity, Carers, Disability, Social Security

The Chancellor has flagged up economic inactivity as an urgent issue. If he looks at this complex challenge and attempts a simple fix, he won’t get the results he wants.

Tough times can bring out the best in people

25 Jan 2023Ryan Miller undefinedMental Health, Health, Cost of Living, Poverty, Sector Issue, Social Policy, Funding

Two new pieces of research lay out two sides of the cost-of-living crisis: poor mental health, and communities rising to meet the problems we all face.

Poverty isn’t just for Christmas

18 Jan 2023Ryan Miller undefinedPoverty, Health, Mental Health, Loneliness, Older People

Distribution of the £600 home energy payment has begun. However, for some older people in Northern Ireland, huge challenges remain as they struggle both with the cost of living and the risk of loneliness.

Data is growing. How it grows is up to us.

6 Jan 2023Ryan Miller undefinedData, Human Rights, Health, Big Data, Sector Issues, Social Policy, Privacy

Does big data provide an opportunity to improve the world? Can our personal info be used for nefarious ends? The answer to both is yes, potentially. Everyone should have an educated say in how we, as a society, use data.

Eating disorders in Northern Ireland: a problem of unknown scale

16 Dec 2022Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Mental Health, Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can devastate lives – but, here in NI, treatment services are not comprehensive and we simply don’t know how many people need help.

The link between loneliness and caring

30 Nov 2022Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Mental Health, Loneliness, Carers, Caring

In Northern Ireland, carers are over four times more likely to be chronically lonely than people in general. Loneliness can be devastating - carers need more support.

Schools are vital, but we can all help increase children’s physical activity

9 Nov 2022Ryan Miller undefinedHealth, Mental Health, Children, Young People, Education, Physical Activity, Play

A new report from the Education and Training Inspectorate found that most schools are falling short of targets for PE. That needs to change, along with many other things, to halt the decline in kids’ physical play.

Why your health really is your wealth

23 Jun 2022Nick Garbutt CommunicationsHealth, Poverty

Whenever we discuss how to improve health we invariably neglect the biggest factor of all in making us ill: poverty.

How to die well

17 Sep 2021Nick Garbutt Department of HealthHealth

Everyone wants to live well. It is also important to die well.