Here - Health Promotion Agency

Annual report 

2005 -- 2006

Mission: 

To make health a top 

priority for everyone 

in Northern Ireland. 

Getting in touch 

Our address: 

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland 

18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS 

Tel: 028 9031 1611 (voice/minicom) 

Fax: 028 9031 1711 

Media line: 

028 9031 1514 (office hours) 

Press and broadcast media enquiries only 

Email: 

info@hpani.org.uk 

Normal business hours: 

8.45am – 5.00pm Monday to Thursday 

8.45am – 4.30pm Friday 

Websites: 

www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk 

www.breastfedbabies.org 

www.drugsalcohol.info 

www.getalifegetactive.com 

www.smokefreenorthernireland.com 

www.thesnackpack.net 

www.up-2-you.net 

The Board: 

The Board of the Health Promotion Agency for 

Northern Ireland (HPA) meets four times each 

year and members of the public may attend 

these meetings. The dates, times and locations 

of these meetings are advertised in advance in 

the press and on our website.

Contents 

P 2 Chair’s statement 

P 3 Chief Executive’s report 

P 4 The role of the HPA 

P 5 Investing for Health 

P 6 The settings approach 

Health in the community 

P 7 Health promoting health service 

P 8 Healthy schools 

P 9 Health promoting workplaces 

P 10 Health promoting prisons 

P 11 Smoking 

P 12 Drugs and alcohol 

P 13 Nutrition and oral health 

P 14 Physical activity 

P 15 Breastfeeding 

P 16 Maternal and child health - CEMACH 

P 17 Sexual health 

P 18 Mental health 

P 19 Research and evaluation 

P 20 Health protection 

P 21 Communications 

P 22 International collaboration 

P 23 Corporate services 

P 24 Operating and financial review 

P 31 HPA Board 

P 32 HPA staff and directors 

P 33 References 

Using this report 

This report highlights the broad range of work 

carried out by the HPA and shows how this 

work has contributed to meeting our objectives 

detailed in our business plan for 2005–2006. 

Where relevant, we have included an 

information sign - i - to other websites that 

offer more information on specific issues. The 

online Portable Document Format (PDF) file of 

this report also has live web addresses that 

you can click for direct access to the relevant 

website. 

This report is intended to be an overview of the 

year’s main accomplishments. For more 

detailed information on our work, please 

visit our corporate website at 


Many of our publications can be downloaded 

as PDF files from this website. It also provides 

links to the HPA’s other health-related 

websites and to many other relevant sources of 

information on health and health promotion. 

Other formats 

Copies of this Annual report may be produced 

in alternative formats on request. A PDF file of 

this document is also available to download 

from our corporate website at 


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i 

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland | Annual report 2005 - 2006 | 1

Chair’s statement 

This year has been of 

special significance for 

those of us who work in 

public health, particularly 

since Health Minister 

Shaun Woodward 

announced the 

government’s intention to 

end smoking in all 

workplaces and enclosed public places from 

April 2007 – an historic decision. 

The HPA has been foremost among the many 

organisations that have called for workers and 

members of the public to be protected from the 

damaging effects of second-hand smoke. With 

partners in the ‘Smokefree’ coalition, we thank 

the Minister, celebrate this decision and look 

forward to all workplaces going smokefree. 

Although overall smoking rates have fallen over 

the past 15 years, tobacco is still the single 

greatest cause of premature death and avoidable 

illness here – claiming up to 3,000 lives annually. 

We will continue to work to highlight the 

dangerous effects of tobacco. 

We further contributed to work on another 

Ministerial priority through representation on the 

suicide taskforce that led the development of a 

regional suicide prevention strategy. 1,2 We 

facilitated much of the wide-ranging consultation 

process including hosting a major international 

conference on suicide prevention that helped to 

inform the development of the draft strategy. We 

now look forward to playing a leading role in its 

implementation. 

The HPA’s role in the development and 

implementation of programmes of support and 

action in a range of settings, as part of the 

implementation of Investing for Health (IfH), the 

regional public health strategy, has seen much 

progress, with the areas of health promoting 

hospitals, schools, workplaces and communities 

now starting to see positive changes. 

Important international work as a World Health 

Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre 

continued, including membership of the WHO 

Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable 

Diseases Intervention (CINDI) Programme. 

We continue to actively support the sharing of 

best practice with colleagues locally, nationally 

and internationally. 

During the year the findings and 

recommendations of the Review of Public 

Administration (RPA) with regard to the HPSS 

were announced. 3 As a special agency of the 

Department of Health, Social Services and 

Public Safety (DHSSPS), the HPA will be 

incorporated into the new regional Health and 

Social Services Authority (HSSA). We look 

forward to the implementation of the RPA and 

the improved coordination of public health 

programmes that should result, and are confident 

that we will play our part in helping deliver the 

anticipated outcomes. In looking forward to the 

integration of the HPA with the HSSA, we do 

recognise that effective management of these 

change processes will be crucial to ensure 

continuity of the work that the HPA is tasked to 

deliver. 

This year the HPA was one of the first 

organisations to be re-accredited under the 

Investors in People new profile framework and on 

behalf of the Board I congratulate the Chief 

Executive and staff for this considerable 

achievement. I also extend thanks on behalf of 

the Board to all members of staff who have 

remained focused, dedicated and productive, 

and who consistently deliver high quality work. In 

addition, I would like to welcome staff from the 

Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child 

Health (CEMACH), recently integrated into the 

HPA, and wish them well in this important area of 

public health work. 

My thanks go to our dedicated Board members 

for their invaluable input, knowledge, direction 

and patience, and to our colleagues at the 

DHSSPS for their continued advice and support. 

Alice Quinn 

Chair 

2 | Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland | Annual report 2005 - 2006

Chief Executive’s report 

The HPA continues to work 

to promote health and to 

tackle the determinants of 

disease – poverty, isolation, 

poor social support and 

reduced access to 

education and employment. 

We achieve this through 

interventions ranging from 

policy development at government and 

organisational levels, to implementing innovative 

and effective programmes with partners in the 

community, voluntary and statutory sectors. 

This year’s Annual report contains examples of 

our responses to major public health challenges. 

In tobacco control, the ‘Smokefree’ coalition, 

formed and led by the HPA to advocate for 

legislation for smokefree work and public places, 

has become a major voice for action on smoking 

and now includes over 50 organisations from the 

community, voluntary and private sectors. 

We have also been involved in a range of policy 

and programme initiatives to help tackle the 

important issue of obesity. The Fit futures report, 

which we helped to develop, highlights the need 

for action with children and young people to help 

them make the right health choices around 

nutrition and physical activity. 4 These are 

complemented by initiatives such as 

Breastfeeding Welcome Here, Cook it! and 

Fresh Fruit in Schools. 

To promote mental health and wellbeing we 

continued to collaborate with a number of 

community-based partnerships, especially on 

suicide prevention, which was highlighted this 

year as a ministerial priority. This important work 

indicates not only the role we play in cooperative 

relationships at community level, but also 

advising the DHSSPS on important health policy 

issues. We look forward to contributing to the 

implementation of the strategy, meeting the 

challenges and promoting opportunities for 

further partnership working. 2 

CEMACH has been integrated into the work of 

the HPA. This has meant development of new 

processes and procedures to ensure that the 

important role of this, and other confidential 

enquiries, is maintained and developed in 

partnership with other Health and Personal 

Social Services (HPSS) bodies and patient 

representative organisations. 

The settings approach to improving, protecting 

and promoting health acknowledges the 

importance of promoting health where people 

live, work or learn. We continued work in this 

area through Work Well, further development of 

healthy schools and hospitals, and development 

of other healthy settings. 

We have an important role in ensuring 

information is accessible for everyone to make 

better informed decisions about all health issues, 

especially for specific audiences supporting 

health protection initiatives such as immunisation 

and screening. Our electronic information base is 

already one of the most accessible ways for the 

public and professionals to achieve this. 

All of our work is underpinned by evidence and 

research, and the HPA has worked hard to 

develop the necessary skills and capacity to 

collate and process a wide range of information, 

and to disseminate it to others. 

Following the announcement that the HPA is to 

be incorporated into the HSSA, we have begun 

working to ensure that our major public health 

role is not disrupted during the period of 

transition to new structures. There is some 

uncertainty about the future but, as is evident in 

this report, staff continue to perform to the 

highest quality standards and are ready to meet 

future challenges. 

In preparation for these, I want to thank all staff 

and the Board for their commitment and hard 

work during the year, and look forward to our 

continued success in promoting public health. 

Dr Brian Gaffney 

Chief Executive 


The role of the HPA 

The HPA is working to maintain, improve and 

promote the good health of everyone in Northern 

Ireland, and to reduce inequalities in health. It is a 

special agency of the DHSSPS, operating under 

the direction of a management Board. 

The HPA is responsible for providing regional 

leadership and direction and is a major regional 

provider of health promotion services. The IfH 

strategy has set priorities and goals for improving 

public health, and the HPA is committed to 

playing its part in both influencing and 

implementing the values outlined in the strategy. 1 

Partnerships 

An important element of our work is the 

development of alliances with statutory, voluntary 

and community groups that have a role to play in 

promoting health and empowering individuals, 

groups and communities to become actively 

involved in decision making that impacts on their 

health and environment. 

The HPA places great importance on the 

integration of all facets of its work, which is 

planned and delivered through a combination of 

business areas: 

• policy development and advice – providing 

policy advice on issues related to public health 

and health promotion to the Minister for Health 

via the DHSSPS, and to other Government 

departments; 

• research and evaluation – undertaking primary 

and secondary research to inform, test and 

evaluate health promotion policy development 

and practical interventions; 

• the provision of information to the public and 

professionals – the design and implementation 

of integrated communications targeted at 

professionals or members of the general 

public; 

• training and professional development – 

developing and supporting the knowledge and 

skills of staff in the voluntary, community or 

statutory sectors to improve health; 

• corporate business services – undertaking 

work to fulfil corporate responsibilities and 

objectives. 

Review of Public Administration 

The HPA welcomes the opportunity to further 

embed the culture of health improvement within 

the broader HPSS that is presented by the 

Northern Ireland Executive’s RPA and, to a lesser 

extent, the DHSSPS Review of the Public Health 

Function in Northern Ireland. 3,5 

It was announced that the HPA would be 

incorporated within a new regional HSSA. 

Overall the reorganisation should improve the 

efficiency and effectiveness of the health service. 

The HPA is confident, however, that its role in 

public health will continue. 

CEMACH 

The Northern Ireland regional office of CEMACH 

moved during the year from Castle Buildings, 

Stormont, to the HPA. CEMACH Northern 

Ireland is part of the UK-wide enquiry that aims 

to improve the health of mothers, babies and 

children by applying lessons to be learned 

through this work. We welcome its contribution 

to the wider work of the agency. 

Future developments 

The future promises to be challenging for the 

HPA, with an increasing health improvement 

agenda set against competing resources and the 

change management processes required for the 

new role of the HPA. In particular, the HPA will 

continue to develop the environment to allow the 

introduction of the smokefree legislation in April 

2007. 


Investing for Health 

The IfH strategy sets priorities and goals for 

improving public health and wellbeing and 

reducing health inequalities in Northern Ireland. 1 

The purpose of IfH is to ensure the long-term 

process of health improvement brings our health 

status up to those of the best regions in Europe. 

The HPA is committed to playing its part in 

ensuring the strategy is taken forward. We 

continued to fulfil business commitments by 

influencing and implementing the strategy’s 

agenda at a regional level and collaborating with 

programmes and initiatives at a local level. 

Second biennial conference 

Working alongside the DHSSPS and the four IfH 

partnerships, we facilitated the planning and 

organisation of the second biennial IfH 

conference in November. Almost 400 delegates 

attended the conference, entitled ‘Challenges 

and opportunities’. This highlighted the extensive 

range of work contributing to improving health 

and reducing inequalities within Northern Ireland. 

A range of speakers addressed the conference, 

highlighting the importance of engagement, 

partnership working, and measuring and 

demonstrating impact. Local examples of action 

reflecting the goals and objectives of IfH were 

presented during workshop sessions as well as 

27 papers. 

Update 2005 

In collaboration with the DHSSPS, we produced 

the second annual IfH report. Launched at the 

IfH conference, Investing for Health update 2005 

highlights progress over the year in implementing 

the IfH strategy. It includes articles from all 

sectors, highlighting their important contributions 

toward achieving the goals and objectives of the 

IfH strategy. 

Thematic workshops 

The HPA organised workshops under two 

themes focusing on local IfH partnership issues: 

• ‘Achieving smoke freedom’, organised with IfH 

and the Chartered Institute of Environmental 

Health, aimed to explore opportunities for joint 

working to support workplaces wanting to 

implement smokefree policies. 

• ‘Social capital and its relationship to health’ 

was organised to satisfy increasing interest in 

the concept of social capital. The seminar 

sought to define social capital and provide an 

opportunity to consider its relevance and 

potential application for health improvement. 

Training 

During the year there was a high level of demand 

for all courses, with most oversubscribed. 

Delegates from many backgrounds and all 

sectors attended events on ‘Changing health 

behaviour: principles and practice of motivational 

interviewing’, and ‘Working with groups: 

facilitation and group work skills’. 

Attending the social capital workshop are, from left: Dr 

Leslie Boydell, Institute of Public Health in Ireland; Aodhan 

O’Donnell, Senior Manager: Public Health, HPA; Elma 

Greer, Age Concern; Laurie Lumsden, Trinity College, 

Dublin; and Geoff Beattie, Voluntary and Community Unit. 


The HPA will facilitate the organisation of the 

third IfH conference in 2007. The planning 

process will commence in late 2006 and reflect 

feedback and evaluation from previous events. 

A proposal on the themes and focus for future 

IfH workshops will set the direction and content 

for forthcoming events aimed at supporting the 

local IfH partnerships and reviewing progress 

against objectives. 

We will also be working with some local 

authorities to explore opportunities to improve 

public health through community planning 

processes. Through the RPA, local authorities 

will assume responsibility for undertaking 

community planning. 


The settings 

approach 

Many factors that affect public health are 

interrelated and can be best tackled through 

comprehensive, integrated programmes in 

appropriate settings where people live, work, 

learn and spend their leisure time. 

The IfH strategy highlights the potential for 

promoting health in settings such as 

communities, schools, workplaces and hospitals. 1 

It advocates the creation of healthy environments 

that support good health by changing risk 

conditions rather than focusing on risk factors. 

The settings approach supports people to make 

decisions about their own health and wellbeing. 

Through organisational change, employers can 

engage with their employers and their 

organisations and take responsibility to become 

healthy. 

The approach uses whole systems thinking to 

ensure that ways to enhance health are 

embedded in the culture, corporate planning and 

outcome evaluation of organisations, and is 

therefore seen to be a sustainable long-term 

approach. 

Participation, empowerment and equity are the 

values central to this approach and there must 

be commitment to these at all levels before we 

see an impact on the wider determinants of 

health across our communities and individuals. 

Settings seminars 

In support of this approach, the HPA, along with 

the Health Development Directorate of the 

DHSSPS, brought together policy makers, 

planners and commissioners in March for the first 

of two seminars to consider how the settings 

approach can best be commissioned, 

implemented and evaluated. 

The following reports detail how the HPA has 

worked to promote health in these settings. 

Health in the community 

IfH acknowledges that community involvement is 

crucial to the future success of the strategy. 1 The 

‘Health in the community’ setting depends on 

commitment and coordinated action from a 

wide range of statutory, voluntary and social 

partners. 

As part of our commitment to this setting, we 

work with a number of partnerships and 

programmes with a role in the development of 

health initiatives in the community. 

Fuel poverty 

The HPA undertook follow-up work on the fuel 

poverty pilot programme and the potential role of 

primary care health professionals in helping 

address fuel poverty. The pilot programme 

involved National Energy Action, the four Health 

Action Zones (HAZs), the General Consumer 

Council, the Department for Social Development 

(DSD) and the DHSSPS. 

Resources and training were developed to 

support primary care health professionals in 

identifying the signs of fuel poverty and signpost 

their clients to appropriate sources of help. An 

evaluation of this approach, including the 

resources and training developed, was 

undertaken. 

Recommendations from the evaluation have 

resulted in further work with key senior Health 

and Social Service Trust (HSST) personnel to 

identify how health professionals can best be 

supported to help identify and address fuel 

poverty. This work, which will be submitted to the 

Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group 

and others, together with the evaluation, will help 

inform the direction of future work to help meet 

the targets within Ending fuel poverty: a strategy 

for Northern Ireland. 6 

Healthy Living Centres (HLCs) 

The HPA manages a three year support and 

development programme for Northern Ireland’s 

19 HLCs, which is funded by the Big Lottery 

Fund and began in September 2004. 

HLCs target the most disadvantaged sections of 

the population and address the wider 

determinants of health and inequalities such as 

social exclusion, access to services and 

socioeconomic deprivation. 


The HPA’s support activities have focused both 

on the individual and collective needs of HLCs. 

Individually, HLCs have received mentoring 

support and assistance with business and 

sustainability planning. 

Collectively, they have benefited from 

networking opportunities and activities that 

support their strategic planning, monitoring and 

evaluation. 

The HPA maintains regular communication with 

HLCs through email bulletins and contributes to 

lobbying on their behalf through the Northern 

Ireland HLC advisory board and UK HLC 

coordination group. Alongside the Institute of 

Public Health, North and West Belfast HAZ and 

LOCUS, we have facilitated the introduction of 

the SPEAK tool to support HLCs through 

strategic planning, evaluation and knowledge 

management. 


The HPA will continue to work on delivering the 

HLC support programme across Northern 

Ireland. With many HLCs coming to the end of 

their lottery funding, a key focus of support is on 

sustainability and business planning, building 

support and helping to demonstrate impact. 

We will continue to support networking and 

training and will be facilitating the development of 

a regional HLC forum to contribute to lobbying 

and awareness raising. 

Empowering for health 

WHO, the two networks of HPH in the Republic 

of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the HPA 

were among the organisers of the 13 th 

international conference on health promoting 

hospitals in Dublin in May. ‘Empowering for 

health: practicing the principles’ focused on 

empowering hospital staff and patients to better 

manage their health. Over 600 delegates 

attended from 40 countries. 

Towards smokefree hospitals 

In June the HPA held a workshop at Loughry 

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural 

Enterprise, located near Cookstown, to facilitate 

senior staff from the hospital setting in facing the 

challenges of a smokefree environment. The 

presentations included ‘Implementing a smoking 

cessation service in the acute setting’. 


Membership of the European planning group, 

through our role as regional coordinating centre, 

will continue to bring opportunities for hospitals 

here to participate in international research. 

The relaunch of the Northern Ireland HPH 

Network will make a significant contribution to 

the public health agenda. There are 13 hospitals 

in the local network willing to share their 

experiences and play a major role in preventing 

illness, managing chronic diseases and 

promoting health for patients and staff. 

Health promoting health 

service (supporting health in 

hospitals) 

In 2005 the HPA, as a WHO Collaborating 

Centre, took on the role of coordination centre 

for WHO Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) in 

Northern Ireland for a four year period. 

The HPH initiative provides an opportunity for our 

hospitals to use their resources and expertise to 

improve health in the widest sense for their staff, 

patients and the wider community. Through our 

involvement, we aim to embed the initiative within 

our hospitals and extend this approach across 

HPSS. 

Attending the ‘Health improvement through organisational 

development’ seminar are, from left: Barbara Porter, 

Coordinator: Health Promoting Health Service programme, 

HPA; Cathy Wynne, North West Public Health Team, 

Manchester; Mark Dooris, University of Central Lancashire, 

and Deirdre Kenny, Director of Health Development, 

DHSSPS. 


Further meetings of the newly appointed 

DHSSPS steering group for HPH are also 

planned. 

We will be piloting ‘A healthy service: supporting 

health in hospital programme’. The objectives 

of the programme will include the development 

of: 

• a framework to embed the process of 

becoming a healthy setting; 

• a set of quality criteria; 

• a self-assessment tool to measure current 

strengths and areas for improvement as part of 

the action planning process. 

Healthy schools 

The organisational development of schools to 

enable them to support and protect the health of 

pupils, staff and the local community has been 

the central focus of the Northern Ireland pilot of 

the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) initiative, 

which is managed by the HPA with funding from 

the DHSSPS. 

The initiative adopts an approach that focuses on 

three strands of activity to improve health. These 

are interdependent and aim to improve: 

• the ethos and environment of the school; 

• the quality of learning and teaching; 

• the quality of management practices for health. 

These are in line with, and add value to, current 

regional education policy for general school 

improvement. 

During the year, we undertook regional 

coordination and supporting actions that have 

contributed to partnership and capacity building, 

and that have helped further development and 

implementation of the pilot programme in the 

schools setting. 

Evaluation 

The pilot initiative has now reached its final year, 

with the regional evaluation commissioned by the 

HPA confirming its success in meeting the aims, 

objectives and expected outcomes. 

The key themes from the evaluation report 

confirmed that Healthy Schools: 

• is a timely and important initiative, which is 

effectively managed and continuing to evolve 

successfully against a background of review in 

education and health; 

• provides a framework to address many 

health-related issues for pupils and staff, and 

to deliver and add value to the new curriculum 

in personal and social development; 

• has made a significant contribution to the 

promotion of school improvement through 

self-evaluation and school development 

planning. 

Recognition certificates 

Funding secured by the DHSSPS for the 

2005–2006 financial year has allowed the five 

local coordinators, supported by their 

management partnerships, to consolidate work 

with the 128 schools that received recognition 

certificates in 2004, and begin work with a 

further 5% of schools across Northern Ireland. 

Good practice in action: pupils from health promoting school Armoy Primary participating in the ‘Living willows for shade 

project’ with teacher Marina McKeown and Conservation Volunteer Mark Horton.* 


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Resources 

The HPA has continued to develop information 

and guidance materials to support this 

programme of work. December 2005 saw the 

launch of a searchable database of case studies 

under the Healthy Schools programme. ‘Health 

promoting schools: sharing good practice’ can 

be located on the HPA corporate website 



In partnership with the Health and Education 

Liaison Group, the HPA first proposed a HPS 

initiative in 2002. Its vision then was for the 

outcomes achieved by the initiative to form the 

basis for long-term funding and sustainability. 

The HPA will continue to advise the DHSSPS on 

the possibility of incorporating the Healthy 

Schools framework into mainstream education, 

and contribute to the planning and development 

of related policy and practice. 

Healthy Schools and the new initiative, Extended 

Schools, share the common aim of supporting 

children’s health, safety and wellbeing. They also 

recognise that this aim can best be delivered 

through a process that involves pupils, staff, local 

communities and partner agencies. Extended 

Schools could have a key role in delivering a new 

Healthy Schools policy by working with schools 

in areas of disadvantage to establish a 

whole-school approach to health and wellbeing. 

The HPA is discussing collaborative approaches 

and structures with the Department of Education 

and the Extended Schools team. ‘Creating 

healthy schools’ is one of six strategic priorities 

for action, recommended in the Fit futures report, 

and the HPA will play a role in the development 

of policy, practice and implementation of the 

recommendations. 4 

Health promoting workplaces 

As the workplace is a setting where many people 

spend the largest proportion of their time, 

employers can play a key role in contributing to 

the health of their employees and, in turn, the 

health of their organisation. Most workplace 

health and safety policies used to be primarily 

concerned with physical safety issues and 

accident prevention. Now, however, many 

employers realise they need to surpass basic 

statutory obligations of safety and occupational 

health to improve business itself. 

Receiving the award for BBC Big Challenge healthy 

workplaces NI and UK are, from left: Julie Hill, Coordinator, 

Health Promoting Workplaces, HPA; Paddy O’Connell, 

presenter, BBC Working Lunch; and Doreen McKenzie, 

proprietor, Knock Travel, Belfast. 

Work Well 

The HPA continued to manage and develop its 

pilot healthy workplace programme Work Well in 

partnership with the Health and Safety Executive 

for Northern Ireland (HSENI), under the Working 

for health strategy, and with the DHSSPS, under 

the IfH strategy. 7,1 The initiative supports small 

businesses (ie those with 10–50 employees) to 

assess their organisational and employee health 

needs, write a health action plan and implement 

this plan over a one year period. 

The pilot programme helped organisations to: 

• develop management practices and policies 

that support health and promote a positive 

working environment; 

• provide opportunities and activities to promote 

health and wellbeing; 

• implement improvements to the workplace 

that protect the safety and health of 

employees. 

The pilot stage of Work Well has ended and the 

evaluation has shown that the initiative has led to 

positive changes in organisational policy and 

ways of working, brought tangible improvements 

to employees’ health and generally improved the 

overall working environment. The initiative has 

resulted in the following outcomes: 

• a healthy workplace ‘model’ that small 

businesses can use to develop their own 

healthy workplace programmes; 

• a user friendly needs assessment process 

leading to a tailored health action plan that 

meets the needs of the individual organisation 

and its employees; 


• eighteen ‘champion’ businesses that can 

demonstrate good practice in developing 

workplace health programmes; 

• knowledge that will impact on the future 

development of a healthy workplace training 

course. 

New employers guides 

The HPA has published three guides for 

employers on promoting health in the workplace: 

Promoting healthy eating at work, Promoting 

physical activity at work, and Promoting 

breastfeeding for mothers returning to work. In 

addition, a summary evaluation of the Work Well 

initiative is available. 


A healthy workplace training course will be 

designed and piloted later in 2006. It is aimed at 

people working to support businesses to develop 

healthy workplace programmes or address 

workplace health issues. The training course will 

incorporate the learning from the Work Well 

initiative. 

The HPA also plans to publish: 

• a healthy workplace handbook; 

• an organisational health assessment tool; 

• an employee questionnaire; 

• further guides on health-related workplace 

issues. 

Health promoting prisons 

In December 2005, the HPA formed a 

partnership with the Northern Ireland Prison 

Service (NIPS) to highlight prison health. 

Prisoners are more likely to come from lower 

socioeconomic groups and have poor levels of 

education, factors which are inextricably linked 

with ill health. 

Prison based health promotion therefore gives 

access to a population that is normally hard to 

reach, offering a unique opportunity to tackle 

issues of social exclusion and inequalities in 

health, and to increase the capacity of prisoners 

to fulfil their potential on release. 

Prison is also an important workplace and offers 

a prime opportunity to promote the health of 

staff. 


NIPS and the HPA are combining with other 

stakeholders to hold a conference in September 

2006 to influence the development of a 

framework for taking healthy prisons forward. 


Smoking 

Annually, 3,000 lives are lost here as a result of 

tobacco-related illnesses - most are preventable. 

Our broad range of work this year helped us to 

contribute to meeting specific targets on 

smoking. 

Smoking legislation 

Minister for Health Shaun Woodward announced 

that from April 2007, Northern Ireland would go 

smokefree. The HPA had advocated for 

legislation to protect workers from second-hand 

smoke through various activities, including a one 

year follow-up to 2004 research into attitudes 

towards smoking in public. This showed a 7% 

increase in the number of people who said they 

would support a law to make workplaces 

smokefree. Press releases, a seminar and 

factsheets ensured wide exposure. 

Dr Brian Gaffney, back row left, Chief Executive, HPA, and 

Health Minister Shaun Woodward MP celebrate the 

smoking ban announcement with pupils from Belfast 

primary schools Seaview and St Joseph’s. 

Following the announcement, the Smokefree 

Northern Ireland Coalition, which the HPA 

facilitates and chairs, continued to lobby over 

exemptions. During the public consultation on the 

Draft smoking (NI) order, members of the 

coalition developed a collaborative response. 8 

The HPA also submitted a response. 

Campaigns 

Throughout the year we continued to raise 

awareness about the health effects of passive 

smoking and encourage support for the ban on 

smoking in public places through the television 

campaign, ‘Passive smoking: there’s nothing 

passive about it’. An evaluation of this campaign 

found that nearly half of smokers who had seen 

the ads said they would encourage them not to 

smoke in front of others. To encourage and 

support smokers to stop, ads highlighting the 

health effects of smoking and promoting the help 

and support available to smokers were 

broadcast. A competition was also launched to 

encourage young people to go to the HPA 

website www.up-2-you.net and find out about 

the dangers of passive smoking. The competition 

received over 3,000 entries. 

No Smoking Day 

The HPA supported the annual No Smoking Day 

(NSD) campaign through membership of the UK 

and Northern Ireland NSD committees. To help 

raise awareness and encourage smokers to make 

NSD their quit date, a TV ad campaign was 

broadcast, which promoted our Smokers’ 

Helpline. We also carried out an evaluation of 

the 2005 campaign, which showed that 82% of 

the public were aware of the campaign, and 16% 

of smokers aware of the day made a quit attempt. 

Smoking cessation 

We continued work in the area of smoking 

cessation and in March held a seminar with 

young people to consider UK-wide research on 

effective smoking cessation. This highlighted the 

need for more evaluation of young people’s 

projects. Information was also produced to 

encourage primary care staff to offer advice. 

Supporting work 

In support of professional development in smoking 

cessation, we carried out a needs assessment with 

healthcare professionals to identify preferred 

methods for receiving information and training. We 

continued development of smoking cessation 

e-learning for professionals and were on the panel 

of judges for the ‘Smoking cessation project of the 

year’ award. 


We will continue to work collaboratively with 

others to support the implementation of the Draft 

smoking (NI) order, and will continue our 

provision of support to smokers who want to 

quit. The Up-2-You website will also continue to 

be developed. 

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Drugs and alcohol 

Alcohol and substance misuse are two major 

public health issues in Northern Ireland. To 

contribute to meeting our targets in this area, we 

were involved in many projects, including the 

development of the New strategic direction for 

alcohol and drugs (2006–2011) strategy, 

through membership of the strategy development 

team and steering group. 9 

Working together 

We participated in many working groups and 

special interest groups during the year. Our 

involvement at a strategic level is important to 

help ensure that this work is integrated with work 

in other HPA core areas, including mental and 

sexual health. 

We also submitted a written response to the 

Department for Social Development’s 

consultation on liquor licensing, welcoming the 

review of current licensing laws and highlighting 

the need for improved mechanisms to enforce 

laws on underage drinking. 10 

The Regional Alcohol and Drug Forum, which the 

HPA chairs and facilitates, was also re-established 

during 2005. 

Drinking habits of young people 

Work to tackle underage drinking included a 

report identifying changes in the drinking trends 

of young people aged 11 to 16, published by the 

HPA in collaboration with the Irish Temperance 

League. The report presented secondary 

analyses from the 1997 Health behaviour of 

school children in Northern Ireland survey and 

the 2000 and 2003 Young persons’ behaviour 

and attitudes surveys. 11, 12 

The HPA also organised a breakfast seminar 

entitled ‘Adolescent drinking in Northern Ireland’, 

which attracted almost 90 delegates. 

Campaigns and resources 

In March the HPA, in conjunction with the Drug 

and Alcohol Strategy Team, launched an alcohol 

campaign to highlight the risks associated with 

binge drinking. A range of materials with 

information about alcohol and health was 

developed, including beer mats and paper wine 

bottle bags. A new information leaflet and a unit 

calculator ‘wheel’ were also developed and 

distributed through regional newspapers. The 

campaign was supported by off-sales across 

Northern Ireland as well as the Northern Ireland 

Drinks Industry Group. An information pack 

Solvent abuse: a guide for retailers, which was 

first produced by the HPA several years ago, was 

reprinted and distributed. Re-Solv, a charity 

involved in tackling solvent abuse, distributed the 

pack to local retailers. 

A new series of drug awareness posters was 

displayed in pubs and nightclubs popular with 

18 to 30 year olds. The posters deal with drugs 

such as cannabis, cocaine and Ecstasy, as well 

as drink spiking, mixing drugs and alcohol, and 

personal safety. They were developed following 

qualitative research with the target group. 

DrugsAlcohol.info 

The HPA is funded by the DHSSPS’s Drug and 

Alcohol Strategy Team to develop and maintain 

www.drugsalcohol.info The site has been 

redeveloped to be more user friendly and 

updated more easily. Throughout the year, the 

website was updated with news items, statistics 

and links to new research. 

i 

Victoria Creasy, left, Senior Manager: Public Health, HPA, 

and Shelly Cooke, Wineflair, Lisburn Road, Belfast, with 

off-sales material highlighting the binge drinking campaign. 


We will continue to work collaboratively with 

many organisations and agencies in support of 

the New strategic direction for alcohol and drugs 

(2006–2011), and work to increase public 

awareness of the risks of alcohol misuse and 

illicit drug use. 9 


Nutrition and oral health 

i 

Good nutrition is vital in promoting good health 

and wellbeing, protecting against serious 

illnesses and health problems such as heart 

disease, some cancers, obesity, diabetes and 

oral disease. This year, strategic activity 

continued with the provision of expert advice 

throughout the development of the Fit futures 

initiative. 4 On a practical level we achieved 

objectives through a wide range of activities. 

Child nutrition conference 

Over 200 professionals from health and 

education were updated on new guidance on 

maternal and child nutrition at our ‘Start healthy, 

stay healthy’ conference in October. 

Fit Futures process 

We continued to provide detailed, up-to-date 

information on the Fit futures obesity initiative, 

compiling a research and information baseline 

that details sources of local data on overweight 

and obesity and its causes. This was published 

at: www.investingforhealthni.gov.uk/fitfutures.asp 

NIORG obesity conference 

We contributed to the planning of the Northern 

Ireland Obesity Research Group’s (NIORG) first 

annual conference at Queen’s University, Belfast, 

which informed health professionals and 

academics of current research on obesity and 

provided an update of local work. 

Weight Wise at work 

In support of the UK-wide Weight Wise 

campaign, we updated the leaflet Small changes, 

big benefits, which aims to raise employees’ 

awareness of the effects of eating patterns on 

health. We developed Promoting healthy eating at 

work, which provides information on the benefits 

to business of promoting healthy eating in the 

workplace. We also worked with the Men’s Health 

Forum to support Men’s Health Week, highlighting 

the issues of being overweight or obese. 

Fresh Fruit in Schools 

Work on the Fresh Fruit in Schools pilot project 

continued in partnership with the IfH team and 

the HAZs. A summary interim report from 

evaluation of the first two years of the initiative is 

available from the HPA and local HAZ websites. 

Cook it! 

We continued to support Cook it! – a community 

nutrition education programme – at a regional level 

and worked with, and provided support for, the Big 

Lottery-funded Cook it! teams. We continued to 

manage evaluation, develop resources, update and 

reprint the Cook it! manual, and coordinate 

regional groups. The programme was developed in 

partnership with community dietitians from several 

Health and Social Service Boards (HSSBs). 

Food 4 Play 

Commitment to the Food 4 Play programme 

continued, which aims to bring the nutritional 

needs of children aged 4–14 years to the 

attention of those involved in play projects. 

Training on the resource pack for the play workers 

was coordinated by PlayBoard in association with 

the HPA and community dietitians. 


Collaborative work with a wide range of 

organisations and agencies will be developed to 

contribute to the development of an environment 

that enables people in Northern Ireland to 

prevent diet-related diseases, enhance health 

and take forward the recommendations outlined 

in Fit futures. 

The winner of the Fresh Fruit in Schools competition, Helen 

Jameson, left, with her son John; Paula Tally, Armagh and 

Dungannon Health Action Zone Manager; and Laura 

Donnelly, Health Development Officer: Nutrition, HPA. 

New guidelines for childminders 

We revised our publication on nutrition for the 

early years to include new weaning advice and 

guidance for childminders. The updated document, 

Nutrition matters for the early years: healthy eating 

for the under fives in childcare, will be distributed 

through training seminars for childcare providers.

Physical activity 

Physical activity improves our health and helps to 

prevent disease. Being active even for short 

periods can provide a range of health benefits to 

everyone, regardless of age, weight, health 

condition or disability. 

We continued our important role in this area by 

supporting the Northern Ireland physical activity 

strategy and action plan through facilitating the 

strategy implementation group (NIPAIG), regional 

public information campaign work and 

collaborative projects. 

Physical activity campaign 

The latest phase in the HPA public information 

campaign was launched in March. ‘Every small 

step is a forward step’ targets women, 

particularly those with small children, and 

promotes the message that 30 minutes of 

moderate physical activity on five or more days of 

the week helps to protect your health. The 

campaign involved the development of a TV 

advert, the New you magazine, and a website 

www.getalifegetactive.com 

Get Active in the Community 

The Get Active in the Community Cash Grant 

Awards scheme continued for the seventh year. 

The scheme, which supports the physical activity 

campaign of the regional strategy through grant 

aid, has helped hundreds of groups to improve 

health in their local communities through 

increased physical activity. 

This year, a total of 173 of the 264 applicants 

received grants up to the value of £500 each for 

activities such as walking and rambling, dancing 

including hip hop, salsa and set, armchair 

aerobics, yoga and swimming. 

Actively Ageing Well 

In 2005, the Actively Ageing Well (AAW) 

partnership of the HPA and Age Concern, with 

Big Lottery funding, launched the year of dance 

as an incentive to help older people keep active. 

Over 34 groups took part in activities including 

salsa, old time, line, circle, Irish and Scottish 

dancing. A ‘dancefest’ in the Northern Board 

area in October was attended by over 140 

people aged 50+. 

Actively launching the Actively Ageing Well poster are 

Lurgan ladies Maureen McVeigh, Sadie Hamill, Theresa 

O’Neill, Joan Fineton, Geraldine Doran, Pat Lawlor, Una 

Cassidy, Marie Fox and Marie French. 

The AAW partnership also produced a report, 

Connections for health, which summarises 

research reviewing the impact of the initiative on 

social capital in the participating communities. 

The research applied the new social capital 

outcome indicators developed by the Department 

of Social Development, through Community 

Evaluation Northern Ireland. 

An exhibition of positive, inclusive and 

challenging images of older people engaged in 

physical activity through the AAW initiative went 

on display at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and 

other council premises throughout Northern 

Ireland. To support the exhibition, the HPA 

produced a poster and calendar and reprinted 

its leaflet on physical activity for older people, 

called Make the first move. 


The HPA will continue to work in partnership with 

other organisations and agencies to deliver on 

shared objectives. We will continue to provide 

advice at a strategic level, working to increase 

awareness of the benefits of regular, moderate 

physical activity, and encouraging increased 

participation in physical activity at community and 

individual level. 

The AAW partnership will be in its final year in 

2006–2007. The HPA will review its plans for 

the continuing support of older people’s health 

as part of the ‘Ageing in an inclusive society’ 

agenda. 


Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding is increasingly recognised as a 

significant public health issue as it provides many 

health benefits to both mother and baby. Our 

commitment to supporting ongoing 

implementation of the Breastfeeding strategy for 

Northern Ireland is evident through the work 

undertaken. 13 

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All-island conference 

In May 2005 the HPA organised the first 

all-island breastfeeding conference in association 

with the Health Promotion Unit of the Department 

of Health and Children, Republic of Ireland (RoI). 

The conference, entitled ‘Breastfeeding really 

matters’ was held in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. 

Over 320 delegates from across the island of 

Ireland attended, including health care 

professionals, educationalists, voluntary support 

organisations and peer support mothers. The 

keynote speaker was Dr Nils Bergman, Senior 

Medical Superintendent, Mowbray Maternity 

Hospital, Cape Town. 

Breastfeeding welcome here 

A mother-led initiative for breastfeeding was also 

launched. The ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ 

initiative aims to improve social acceptability of 

breastfeeding and help mothers identify places 

where they can breastfeed their baby when they 

are out and about. The scheme has attracted 

interest from several district councils and almost 

40 full members have signed up. Full details of 

the scheme and an up-to-date list of members 

can be viewed on www.breastfedbabies.org 

Breastfeeding Awareness Week 

New resources were produced to help support 

the welcome scheme and National Breastfeeding 

Awareness Week. These included a poster 

featuring a mum breastfeeding in a bus station 

and a leaflet entitled Breastfeeding out and 

about. The leaflet provides information and 

advice for mothers on making breastfeeding part 

of their everyday life. 

UK Baby Friendly Initiative 

During the year we held two United Nations 

Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UK Baby Friendly 

Initiative workshops entitled ‘Auditing practices to 

support breastfeeding’ and ‘Delivering in-house 

Clare Kelly and baby Jorja enjoy the all-island 

breastfeeding conference with Janet Calvert, Regional 

Breastfeeding Coordinator, HPA, and Dr Nils Bergman, 

Senior Medical Superintendent, Mowbray Maternity 

Hospital, Cape Town. 

breastfeeding education’. These were delivered 

by Sue Ashmore and Carmel Duffy of UNICEF. 

Several members of the breastfeeding 

coordinators forum, audit personnel and 

educationalists from throughout Northern Ireland 

benefited from the expertise of the UNICEF 

facilitators. 


Next year the HPA and UNICEF will be 

collaborating to enable the regional 

breastfeeding coordinator to provide support for 

HSSTs that are seeking Baby Friendly 

accreditation. This will be the first collaboration 

of this kind in the UK. We will also be aiming to 

meet the breastfeeding targets outlined in A 

healthier future. 14 This will require significant 

changes and improvements in breastfeeding 

promotion and support, and a commitment to 

build on recent progress through the continued 

implementation of the recommendations 

contained in the Breastfeeding strategy for 

Northern Ireland. 


Maternal and child health 

(including CEMACH) 

Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child 

Health (CEMACH) aims to improve the health of 

mothers, babies and children by carrying out 

confidential enquiries on a nationwide basis and 

widely disseminating the findings and 

recommendations. 

reviews conducted on a subset of deaths, with a 

focus on identifying preventable and avoidable 

factors. We hope that the work we contribute in 

Northern Ireland will help inform a future national 

review of child death. 

The Northern Ireland office of CEMACH 

transferred from Castle Buildings, Stormont, to 

the HPA in January 2006. It oversees the 

Northern Ireland input of the enquiry and 

develops the enquiry within a broader approach 

to maternal and child health information. 

Maternal enquiry 

This covers all maternal deaths in the UK 

occurring during pregnancy and up to 12 months 

after delivery. A Why mothers die report is 

produced, identifying clinical lessons and wider 

policy issues. 15 Data collection for the new 

triennium commenced on 1 January 2006. 

Perinatal enquiry 

Information is collected from every hospital on 

perinatal and infant deaths from 22 weeks of 

gestation up to 28 days of life. The report for 

2004 was published in March 2006 and was 

distributed to 150 health planners and providers 

in Northern Ireland. 16 Trusts were also sent 

individual Trust-specific reports to enable them to 

compare their results with other providers 

regionally and nationally on a confidential basis. 

Child health 

The overall aim of this new area for CEMACH is 

to improve the health of children older than 28 

days by identifying patterns of practice or service 

provision related to adverse outcomes, which 

could include death or morbidity. 

Northern Ireland is one of five regions selected to 

contribute to the first CEMACH pilot study in this 

area. This will seek to obtain an overview of all 

child deaths from 28 days to 18 years over a one 

year period from January 2006. Core data on all 

child deaths identified in these regions will be 

collected and detailed local multidisciplinary 

Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of the 

work of CEMACH. The confidentiality of not only 

the patients, but also the clinicians and providers, 

is strictly safeguarded. All enquiries are 

conducted on notes and data that have already 

been anonymised to ensure that confidentiality is 

maintained. 

All CEMACH projects rely on the contribution of 

health professionals, by providing data, 

participating as assessors and implementing 

recommendations into HSST practice. We 

appreciate their continued support. 


The maternal and child health office will continue 

to collaborate and liaise with other perinatal and 

child health information systems to allow more 

comprehensive analysis of the health of mothers 

and babies, and to ensure that recommendations 

based on the enquiry are implemented across 

the HPSS. 


Sexual health 

The HPA encourages tolerance, understanding 

and responsibility in relation to sexual health. 

Sexual health promotion incorporates areas such 

as sex education, family planning, and the 

prevention of unplanned teenage pregnancies, 

sexually transmitted infections and the spread of 

HIV and AIDS. 

During the year we contributed to meeting the 

recommendations from the Teenage pregnancy 

and parenthood: strategy and action plan 

2002–2007, and the draft document A five year 

sexual health promotion strategy and action 

plan. 17, 18 This was achieved through activities 

such as the provision of information to 

professionals and the public through drama, 

factsheets, advertising in bars and clubs, and 

policy development and advice on sexual health 

issues. 

Teenage pregnancy and parenthood 

During the year the HPA provided funding for a 

production developed by educational theatre 

company Replay Productions. Aimed at pupils 

aged 14 and over, His ’n’ Hers was set in the 

context of the Teenage pregnancy and 

parenthood strategy and the Relationships and 

sexuality education guidelines for schools. 19 The 

project had input from teenagers, teachers and 

health professionals, and was extremely well 

received by participating schools. 

Parents and sex education 

Key messages on the importance of the bond 

between parent and adolescent, maintaining 

boundaries for behaviour, and fostering skills to 

reduce risk factors in the lives of young people 

were emphasised at a seminar organised by the 

HPA in partnership with the Sexual Health 

Information Exchange Group (SHIEG). 

Feedback from the seminar has helped inform 

the development of future events as part of the 

continued commitment from SHIEG to training 

on key issues relating to teenage pregnancy, 

parenthood and sexual health. 

Policy advice 

The HPA continued to contribute as a member of 

the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy 

Implementation Group. During the year, 

Attending the ‘Role of parents in sex education’ seminar 

are, from left, Janice Armstrong, Homefirst Community 

HSST; Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive, HPA; Dr Miriam 

McCarthy, DHSSPS; Dr Vincent Moloney, Dublin; Penny 

Hughes, Parents’ Advice Centre; Ed Sipler, Down Lisburn 

HSST; and Diana Gossrau-Breen, Health Development 

Officer: Sexual Health, HPA. 

responses to the consultation on the draft sexual 

health promotion strategy were provided by the 

HPA. 

SHI service 

The HPA continued its partnership with the family 

planning association (fpa) in Northern Ireland to 

provide accessible information through the 

Sexual Health Information (SHI) service. As part 

of this service, the series of factsheets were 

updated on the HPA website. During the year the 

helpline responded to over 6,300 queries and 

1,000 written responses were provided by the 

fpa. 

Analysis of the service shows that the greatest 

number of enquires relate to the locality and 

opening times of family planning clinics, and are 

from women faced with an unplanned pregnancy. 

Significantly, there has been an increase in 

enquiries on sexually transmitted infections, most 

notably from men. 


We will continue to work closely with the 

DHSSPS on the development of the regional 

sexual health promotion strategy, and work to 

meet the objectives of the Teenage pregnancy 

and parenthood strategy. We also aim to 

organise a regional sexual health conference. 


Mental health 

Good mental health is associated with a positive 

self-image, satisfying relationships, and skills and 

competencies in areas such as decision making, 

problem solving and self motivation. We 

continued to promote good mental health by 

contributing to meeting IfH targets and the 

regional Promoting mental health: strategy and 

action plan, 2003-2008. 1, 20 

Mental Health Promotion Network 

A Mental Health Promotion Network was 

established and facilitated by the HPA. It 

comprises 11 representatives from a range of 

agencies and acts as a forum for discussion, 

professional development and training. 

Mental Health First Aid 

The HPA has been working in partnership with 

the mental health sub-group of the Cooperation 

and Working Together (CAWT) group, and 

Aware Defeat Depression, to pilot Mental Health 

First Aid (MHFA) training. MHFA is the initial help 

given to someone experiencing a mental 

health problem before professional help is 

sought. The programme was adapted from the 

Scottish Executive’s national programme for 

mental health. 

The HPA provided funding for 15 instructors to 

be trained to deliver a 12 hour evidence-based 

programme. We are evaluating training that is 

targeting individuals and organisations working 

with 16–25 year olds. 

Clifford Beers 

We are a member of a five nations group that 

works in partnership with international charity The 

Clifford Beers Foundation to organise the annual 

mental health promotion conference. During the 

year we organised and attended the 2005 

conference in Dublin and helped plan the 2006 

conference in London. 

Mind your head 

We continued the partnership with the National 

Union of Students and the Union of Students in 

Ireland to relaunch the Mind your head resources 

at an event in Belfast to mark World Mental 

Health Day. These booklets were distributed to 

first year students throughout Northern Ireland. 

Deirdre McNamee, Senior Manager: Public Health, HPA, 

and Damien Kavanagh, Convenor of NUS-USI, at the 

relaunch of the Mind your head resource. 

R U right in the head? 

Two resources for young men and practitioners 

entitled R U right in the head? were disseminated 

at three training events organised by the HPA. 

Participants attended training on the themes of 

masculinity and the public and private lives of 

young men, and how these issues affect mental 

health and wellbeing. 

Suicide prevention 

The HPA was involved with the suicide task force 

in the consultation to shape the development of a 

suicide strategy and action plan. As part of this 

work, we organised a conference that was 

attended by over 350 people, including families 

bereaved by suicide. The draft suicide prevention 

strategy Protect life: a shared vision was 

launched on 30 March. 2 

Design for Living 

The Design for Living Partnership, comprising 

Action Mental Health, the Youth Council for 

Northern Ireland and the HPA, organised two 

seminars on building self-esteem and resilience 

in young people, and over 70 participants 

attended. 


Evaluation will help inform the future direction for 

MHFA within Northern Ireland, and the findings of 

an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Mind your 

head resources will shape development of future 

initiatives within education. We will undertake a 

number of projects as part of the response 

announced at the launch of the draft suicide 

prevention strategy. Due to continuing demand for 

Design for Living Partnership training, plans are in 

place to extend the number of seminars. 


Research and evaluation 

Research and evaluation remains central to the 

work of the HPA. This area informs policy and 

programme development, examines the process 

and measures the impact of interventions, and 

provides an evidence base for future work. 

The depth and scale of the research and 

evaluation input to our work is highlighted 

throughout this report – especially in the areas of 

smoking, alcohol, health protection, physical 

activity and breastfeeding. 

Dr Brian Gaffney, left, Chief Executive, HPA, with Jim 

Currie, Chairman of the Irish Temperance League, at the 

launch of Drinking behaviour among young people in 

Northern Ireland. 

Evaluation of health promotion 

interventions 

This year saw an expansion in larger scale 

evaluation work on behalf of partner 

organisations. We continued to take regional 

responsibility for evaluations of a number of 

major health promotion interventions, including 

the Fresh Fruit in Schools pilot, the Cook it! 

community nutrition programme, MHFA training, 

His ‘n’ Hers sexual health theatre production, and 

the Work Well project. 

We also provided the Department of Education 

with research advice on the Evaluation of the 

pilot of the catering for healthier lifestyles 

standards in Northern Ireland, which ended in 

June 2005. 21 

The Irish Temperance League provided funding 

to carry out secondary analysis of the 

Health behaviour of school children survey 

(1997) and the Young persons’ behaviour and 

attitudes surveys (2000, 2003). This was to 

examine changes in the levels of alcohol 

experimentation and analyse compared 

responses to various psychosocial questions 

between regular drinkers and others. 11, 12 

A seminar entitled ‘Using focus groups: a 

comprehensive introduction’ was also organised. 

New research on children 

This year we carried out a survey to investigate 

children’s general health and wellbeing. The 

questionnaire was designed for self completion 

by 8--11 year olds and incorporated elements 

such as mental health, risk avoidance, levels of 

physical activity and daily eating habits. Given 

the recent focus on childhood obesity in the UK 

and development of the Fit Futures initiative in 

Northern Ireland by the DHSSPS, height and 

weight measurements were taken to determine 

the numbers of overweight or obese children 

within the study population. Results will be due in 

autumn 2006 on the 1,708 children from 32 

schools who took part. 

Research review 

The Research and evaluation review 2004–2005 

was produced and covered a broad range of 

research and evaluation work carried out during 

that year. This included summaries on tobacco 

research projects, and evaluations on alcohol, 

breastfeeding and antibiotics campaigns. 


We will continue to manage an extensive 

programme of primary and secondary research 

and evaluation, which will inform health 

promotion policy and programme development, 

and which measures the impact of a variety of 

health promotion interventions. 

We will continue to develop our information base 

and appraise work and publish research findings 

from other sources to ensure that we learn from 

best practice globally, and that our work is 

current and innovative. 


Health protection 

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Health protection involves the elimination or 

control of external threats to public health. In this 

area we provide information and encourage the 

uptake of appropriate interventions that will 

protect and maintain people’s health in a range 

of target groups. This has been achieved by 

working collaboratively with various organisations 

within the health and social services. 

Flu programme 

We supported 

the DHSSPS flu 

programme 

through a public 

information 

campaign to raise 

awareness of the 

benefits of the flu 

vaccination. The 

campaign 

focused primarily on the 

over 65s and those considered ‘at risk’ due to a 

serious medical condition. 

It included television and radio advertising, 

posters and leaflets. The main campaign leaflet 

was translated into five regional/ethnic minority 

languages and made available as PDF files on 

the HPA website and at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk 

Uptake rates for flu immunisation exceeded the 

targets set, with 76.8% of over 65s and 80.9% 

of those considered ‘at risk’ vaccinated. Targets 

set for these groups were 70% and 60% 

respectively. Materials were also developed to 

encourage healthcare workers and main carers 

for elderly or disabled people to get the flu 

vaccination. 

BCG and TB 

Following a change to the routine childhood 

immunisation policy, schoolchildren in Northern 

Ireland aged 10–14 are no longer tested for 

tuberculosis and, where necessary, given the 

BCG vaccine. The HPA revised the series of 

immunisation leaflets to reflect this. We sat on a 

regional group for the new policy, which targets 

young babies and others at risk, and developed 

support materials for professionals and members 

of the public. 

Antibiotics 

Following our public 

information campaign last 

year that aimed to increase 

understanding of the 

appropriate use of 

antibiotics, we carried out 

post-campaign research. 

This found that 67% of 

those who recalled the 

television advertisement or 

information leaflet said the 

campaign did or would discourage them from 

taking antibiotics for coughs, colds, sore throats 

or flu. Evaluation also indicated an increased 

awareness that not all infections required an 

antibiotic - a key campaign message. 

Breast screening 

The HPA updated and reprinted the series of 

information leaflets to support the Northern 

Ireland Breast Screening Programme. These are 

available from the local screening centres and 

the central health promotion resource services in 

Health and Social Services Board areas. Two of 

the four leaflets have been translated into a 

number of regional/ethnic minority languages and 

are available as PDF files from the websites 

listed on this page. 


We will continue to contribute to the ongoing 

development of immunisation materials with the 

production of a range of new information for the 

childhood immunisation programme. This should 

follow the anticipated introduction in 2006 of a 

new vaccine for babies and booster doses of 

some existing vaccines. 

Work in the area of communicable disease is set 

to continue with the development of information 

on TB control, on hand washing for the general 

public to control Methicillin Resistant 

Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and on 

hepatitis C for both the public and professionals. 

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Communications 

i 

i 

We are committed to achieving high quality 

standards in all aspects of our communications 

work and seek to improve the availability and 

accessibility of our information. During the year 

we undertook many different projects. 

Electronic communications 

Our seven websites, including our corporate 

website www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk 

which ranks first in a Google UK search for 

‘health promotion’, were further developed. A 

searchable database of case studies for Health 

Promoting Schools and a new section for the 

Health Promoting Health Service programme 

were also added. 

campaign featured in local retail outlets. 

Additional activities included the ‘Breastfeeding 

welcome here’ campaign, the DHSSPS flu 

programme through TV, radio and support 

materials, revision of immunisation leaflets and a 

sexual health poster campaign. 

Our passive smoking TV ad ‘Safety’, which 

focuses on passive smoking in the home, was 

awarded a finalist certificate in the 2005 Global 

advertising awards. 

Sharing communications 

We updated and reprinted more than 30 core 

publications including The Pregnancy book, 

which we adapt locally from the Department of 

Health original, and its follow-on publication, 

Birth to five. 

During the year we continued to share 

communications expertise, campaign ads and 

publications covering many different topics with 

other health organisations throughout the world. 

i 

i 

i 

DrugsAlcohol.info underwent major change and 

Up-2-You.net was updated with a competition, 

poll and new content. The website for the IfH 

conference was developed and a new section 

added to www.breastfedbabies.org Our intranet 

continued to be developed and four issues of our 

staff newsletter produced. 

Public information campaigns 

This year we undertook many major public 

information campaigns, notably ‘Passive smoking: 

there’s nothing passive about it’ and the 

campaign to raise awareness of the help and 

support available for smokers. A new alcohol 

campaign was launched using a range of 

promotional materials to encourage people to 

consider their consumption. 

An extensive physical activity campaign 

consisting of TV advertising, a magazine, leaflet, 

poster and the getalifegetactive.com website 

took place, and the ‘Solvent abuse can kill’ 

Corporate communications 

We produced six issues of Inform to keep 

colleagues up to date on HPA work. Other 

reports included the 11 th annual CINDI 

highlights, the IfH update 2005 and our Annual 

report. Our staff survey ‘Your views count’, 

conducted in 2004, which examined staff 

attitudes towards issues related to working for 

the HPA was readdressed during the year 

through a staff feedback day. 

Press and publicity 

The HPA press office continued to provide an 

efficient proactive service to both local and 

national media on a range of health promotion 

issues. Significant coverage was gained for a 

number of campaigns and enquiries about 

alcohol, drugs and mental health increased 

substantially. 


We will continue to look for innovative and 

effective ways of making our work more 

accessible to the wide range of groups that we 

serve, within the capacity and resources available 

to us and in accordance with our 

communications strategy and protocols. 


International collaboration 

During the year we contributed to the wider 

health promotion arenas through linking with 

organisations and agencies in the Republic of 

Ireland (RoI), the UK and internationally. 

Cross-border 

We met partners from the DHSSPS and the 

Health Promotion Unit in the Department of 

Health and Children (RoI) to address strategic 

issues. The first all-island breastfeeding 

conference, organised by the HPA and the 

Health Promotion Unit (RoI), took place in Belfast 

and we took on the role of coordination centre 

for WHO HPH in Northern Ireland for four years. 

We were also among the organisers, with WHO 

and the two cross-border networks of HPH, of 

the 13 th international HPH conference in Dublin. 

Work to develop joint initiatives on suicide 

prevention with the National Office of Suicide 

Prevention in RoI also began. 

East/west collaboration 

The HPA along with the DHSSPS, the 

Department of Health and Children (RoI), the 

Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly 

Government, and the National Institute for Mental 

Health (England) works with The Clifford Beers 

Foundation to organise an annual mental health 

promotion conference. Over 300 participants met 

in Dublin during 2005. 

We work in partnership with the mental health 

sub-group of Cooperation and Working Together 

and Aware Defeat Depression to pilot a Mental 

Health First Aid programme in the border regions 

of Ireland. This involved collaboration with the 

Scottish Executive. We also contributed to the 

UK mental health enquiry, hosted two UNICEF 

UK Baby Friendly Initiative workshops and jointly 

delivered a three day breastfeeding management 

course with UNICEF. We also facilitated the first 

meeting of the steering group for HPH as part of 

our Health Promoting Health Service programme. 

Further meetings and collaboration with England, 

Scotland and Wales are planned. 

WHO/CINDI 

We enhanced links with WHO through work as a 

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and 

Research in Communications and Information 

Technology in Health Promotion and Disease 

Prevention. This remit was further fulfilled through 

the WHO’s CINDI (Countrywide Integrated 

Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention) 

Programme, coordination of CINDI activities in 

Northern Ireland for the 16 th year, and compilation 

of the 11 th edition of CINDI highlights. 

Communications world-wide 

This year we continued to share communications 

expertise with other health organisations across 

the world. Campaign ads and publications 

covering passive smoking, breastfeeding, drugs 

awareness, and bottle feeding were adapted by 

health organisations in Australia, England, Iceland, 

Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia and Wales. 

Attending the HPH conference in Dublin are, from left: 

Chris Fitzgerald, Department of Health and Children; Sean 

Power TD, Minister of State, Department of Health and 

Children; Dr Mila Garcia-Barbero, WHO; and Dr Brian 

Gaffney, Chief Executive, HPA. 

International events 

Staff attended several major international 

conferences, training initiatives and national 

health network meetings including an exchange 

programme in Boston on public policy and 

advocacy. We were also part of the programme 

committee of the European conference on 

chronic disease prevention in Finland. 


We welcome the opportunity to further develop 

cross border collaboration through a partnership 

approach with the recently established Health 

Service Executive in RoI and will be developing 

closer links and collaboration around public 

health issues with the Centre for Public Health 

Excellence at the National Institute for Health and 

Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England. 


Corporate services 

Financial review 

The financial statements show that income 

decreased slightly to £4.05 million, a drop of 

7.2% on 2004–2005. This was due in large part 

to a review by our sponsoring department of the 

work required in support of the breastfeeding 

strategy and the public information requirements 

for health protection and smoking. 

As expected, there was also a drop in operating 

expenses from the 2004–2005 year. The total 

operating expenses were £4.05 million, with 

40% of this spent on salaries and wages (an 

increase from 31% on the previous year) and 

38% spent on public and professional information 

(49% of operating expenses 2004–2005). 

Investment in capital for the year was £39,000, 

primarily in IT and communications equipment. 

The largest short-term debtor is the DHSSPS, 

and the reduction in revenue funding is reflected 

in the lower level of short-term debt shown as a 

current asset in the balance sheet. 

Controls assurance 

A number of controls assurance standards have 

been identified by the DHSSPS to ensure all 

HPSS bodies put basic structures and 

processes in place to underpin a sound system 

of risk management. In the 2005–2006 year, 

HPA performance against the standards is 

shown in the table below. 

Investors in People (IiP) 

We are proud to have been re-accredited an 

Investor in People (IiP). We are one of the first 

organisations locally to have been assessed 

using the new profile framework. 

Premises 

The growth of the HPA has placed increased 

demand on accommodation. A longer-term solution 

will need to be found. 

Comments and complaints 

This year we received a number of formal 

positive comments in recognition of our work. No 

complaints were received. If you wish to make a 

formal comment or complaint, please write to: 

Les McLean, Director of Corporate Services and 

Organisational Development, Health Promotion 

Agency for Northern Ireland, 18 Ormeau Avenue, 

Belfast BT2 8HS. 


In terms of financial and human resource 

management, the challenge presented by Agenda 

for Change is likely to have a significant impact in 

2006–2007, as will the management of change 

required as a result of the RPA. 

A summary of the HPA’s business aims for 

2006–2007 is contained within our business 

plan, which is available from Les McLean at the 

above address. 

Standard Progress expected by Position recorded by 

DHSSPS in 2005/2006 HPA in 2005–2006 

Financial management Substantive Substantive 

Governance Substantive Substantive 

Risk management Substantive Substantive 

Buildings, land, plant and 

non-medical equipment Moderate Moderate 

Fire safety Substantive Substantive 

Health and safety Moderate Moderate 

Human resources Moderate Substantive 

Information and communication 

technology Moderate Substantive 

Environmental management Moderate Moderate 

Waste management Substantive Substantive 

Records management Moderate Moderate 

Purchase and supply Moderate Moderate 


Operating and financial review 

REVENUE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006 

2006 2005 

£ £ 

Income from activities 3,911,198 4,268,185 

Other operating income 141,610 102,676 

4,052,808 4,370,861 

Operating expenses 4,052,488 4,386,155 

Operating surplus/(deficit) 320 (15,294) 

Operating surplus/(deficit) before provisions 320 (15,294) 

Provisions for future obligations 0 0 

Retained surplus/(deficit) for the financial year 320 (15,294) 

Adjustment to add back: 

Notional cost of capital 4,642 4,676 

Other notional costs 35,568 47,927 

Retained surplus/(deficit) for the financial year 

excluding notional costs 40,530 37,309 

All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities. 

CAPITAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 


Income 

2006 2005 

£ £ 

Capital advances from DHSSPS 0 0 

Other capital income 0 0 

Total capital income 0 0 

Expenditure 

Equipment 39,644 36,414 

Total capital expenditure 39,644 36,414 

Surplus/(deficit) for the financial year (39,644) (36,414) 



BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2006 

2006 2005 

£ £ 

FIXED ASSETS 

Tangible assets 129,106 136,166 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Stock 4,163 3,911 

Debtors: amounts receivable within one year 462,414 596,902 

Debtors: amounts receivable after one year 19,220 2,453 

Cash at bank and in hand 2,190 6,208 

487,987 609,474 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (464,862) (602,211) 

Net current assets/(liabilities) 23,125 7,263 

Total assets less current liabilities 152,231 143,429 

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (19,000) (4,023) 

Provisions for liabilities and charges 0 0 

TOTAL ASSETS EMPLOYED 133,231 139,406 

FINANCED BY: 

Capital reserve: 

Capital account 129,106 136,166 

Income and expenditure reserve: 

Revenue 273,552 233,023 

Capital (269,427) (229,783) 

133,231 139,406 

STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND 

LOSSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006 

2006 2005 

£ £ 

Revenue surplus/(deficit) for the financial year 40,530 37,309 

Unrealised surplus/(deficit) on the revaluation and 

indexation of fixed assets (42,555) 981 

Total gains/(losses) recognised for the financial year (2,025) 38,290 



CASH FLOW STATEMENT 


2006 2005 

£ £ 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating 

activities 35,626 32,055 

Capital expenditure 

Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (39,644) (36,414) 

Proceeds from sales of tangible fixed assets 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital expenditure (39,644) (36,414) 

Management of liquid resources 

Purchase of current asset investment 0 0 

Sale of current asset investment 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from management 

of liquid resources 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing (4,018) (4,359) 

Financing 

Capital funding 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 

Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank balances (4,018) (4,359) 


Remuneration report 

The salary, pension entitlements, and the value of any taxable benefits in kind of the most senior 

member of the Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency (NIHPA) were as follows: 

Salary 

including 

performance 

pay 

Benefits in 

kind 

Real 

increase in 

pension and 

related lump 

sum at 

age 60 

Total 

accrued 

pension at 

age 60 and 

related 

lump sum 

CETV at 

31/3/05 

CETV at 

31/3/06 

Real 

increase in 

CETV after 

adjustment 

for inflation 

and 

changes in 

market 

investment 

factors 

£’000 £ £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 

Executive member – Dr Brian Gaffney 

115-120* 0 2 85 278 316 21 

*Includes payment for regularisation of Chief Executive contract backdated to 2001/2 financial year 

and amount payable in respect of new consultant contract. 

Non-executive member – Alice Quinn 

7-8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

The following non-executive members receive no remuneration: 

Tina Gallagher, Anthony Harbinson, Janet Leckey, Mary MacDonnell, Professor Stewart McNulty, Tom 

Moore, Valerie Owens, Dr Colin Sullivan 

The HPA’s remuneration committee is made up of the following board members: Alice Quinn, Janet 

Leckey and Professor Stewart McNulty. The committee advises the Board on remuneration and terms 

of service of the Chief Executive and senior managers, and any other matters concerning staff 

remuneration which are a matter for HPA determination. The advice provided and any 

recommendations made are based on current DHSSPS guidance and policy. 

As non-executive members do not receive pensionable remuneration, there will be no entries in 

respect of pensions for non-executive members. A Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) is the 

actuarially assessed capital value of the pension scheme benefits accrued by a member at a particular 

point in time. The benefits valued are the member’s accrued benefits and any contingent spouse’s 

pension payable from the scheme. 

A CETV is a payment made by a pension scheme, or arrangement to secure pension benefits in 

another pension scheme or arrangement when the member leaves the scheme and chooses to 

transfer the benefits accrued in their former scheme. The pension figures shown relate to the benefits 

that the individual has accrued as a consequence of their total membership of the pension scheme, 

not just their service in a senior capacity to which the disclosure applies. The CETV figures, and from 

2004/05 the other pension details, include the value of any pension benefits in another scheme or 

arrangement which the individual has transferred to the HPSS pension scheme. They also include any 

additional pension benefit accrued to the member as a result of their purchasing additional years of 

pension service in the scheme at their own cost. CETVs are calculated within the guidelines and 

framework prescribed by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. 

Real increase in CETV 

This reflects the increase in CETV effectively funded by the employer. It takes account of the increase 

in accrued pension due to inflation, contributions paid by the employee (including the value of any 

benefits transferred from another pension scheme or arrangement) and uses common market valuation 

factors for the start and end of the period. 


HPSS superannuation scheme 

Pension benefits are provided through the HPSS superannuation scheme. This scheme is a ‘final 

salary’ defined benefit scheme. The scheme is unfunded with the cost of benefits met by monies voted 

by Parliament each year. Pensions that are payable are increased annually in line with changes in the 

Retail Prices Index. The contribution rate for most members is 6% of pensionable pay: manual workers 

pay 5%. Benefits accrue at the rate of 1/80 th of pensionable salary for each year of service. In 

addition, a lump sum equivalent to three years’ pension is payable on retirement. 

The HPSS superannuation scheme is an unfunded defined benefit scheme which produces its own 

resource accounts, but the HPA is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities. 

The most up-to-date actuarial valuation was carried out at 31 March 2003 and details of this valuation 

are available in the HPSS superannuation scheme resource accounts. 

For 2005/06, employers’ contributions of £85,795 were payable to the HPSS superannuation scheme 

for all staff at the rate of 7%. 

Universities’ superannuation scheme 

Clinical joint appointment staff and staff on secondment paid by Queen’s University, Belfast, are 

members of the universities’ superannuation scheme. Employer contributions are 14% of pensionable 

pay. Employers’ contributions of £11,502 were paid for these staff. 



Public sector payment policy 

Measure of compliance 

The DHSSPS requires that the HPA pays its non-HPSS trade creditors in accordance with the 

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Prompt Payment Code and Government Accounting Rules. 

The Government Accounting Rules require that "timing of payment should normally be stated in the 

contract… where there is not contractual provision departments should pay within 30 days of 

receipt of goods and services or on the presentation of a valid invoice, whichever is the later". 

The HPA’s compliance for 2005/06, based on a sample of 5% of non HPSS trade creditors, was: 

2006 2006 2005 2005 

number value number value 

£ £ 

Total bills sampled 2005/06 73 708,637 68 326,569 

Total bills sampled paid within 30 days 70 707,390 64 320,392 

% of sampled bills paid within 30 days 95.8% 99.8% 94.1% 98.1% 


Review of Public Administration (RPA) 

The announcement of the RPA in November 2005 set out the proposals for the reform of the HPSS. 

Implementation of the RPA proposals will see the establishment of a new Health and Social Services 

Authority (HSSA) and seven Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs). An independent Patient and 

Client Council will also be established to safeguard the interests of service users. All these changes 

will be implemented in April 2008. 

Delivery of health and personal social services will be in the hands of five new Trusts which will 

replace 18 of the existing Trusts. The new Trusts will come into operation in April 2007. The Northern 

Ireland Ambulance Service will continue to provide a regional ambulance service. 

The RPA will also see a significant reduction in non-departmental bodies, with only the Blood 

Transfusion Service, the Social Care Council and the Guardian Ad Litem Agency unaffected. Several 

organisations, including the HPA, will be absorbed into the new HSSA. The Fire Authority will, in due 

course, become the responsibility of local government. 

The DHSSPS has made a central provision for the identifiable one-off investment needed to underpin 

the establishment of the new HPSS structures created following the RPA. The expenditure in question 

relates to early leaving payments which are not yet quantifiable at individual HPSS level. 

Going concern 

Grants for 2006/07, taking into account the amounts required to meet the HPA’s liabilities falling due 

in that year, have already been included in the DHSSPS’s estimates for that year, which have been 

approved by Parliament, and there is no reason to believe that the DHSSPS’s future sponsorship and 

future parliamentary approval will not be forthcoming. It has accordingly been considered appropriate 

to adopt a going concern basis for the preparation of these financial statements. 

This Annual report, including the summary financial statements, was approved by the HPA Board at its 

meeting on 10 August 2006. 

Alice Quinn 

Chair 



This summary financial statement does not contain sufficient information for a full understanding of the 

activities and performance of the HPA. For further information, the full accounts including the 

Statement of Internal Control and Annual report and Auditor’s Report for the year ended 31 March 

2006 should be consulted. 

Copies of the HPA’s full accounts and associated reports can be obtained from Marie McCloskey, 

Finance and Administration Manager, Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, 18 Ormeau 

Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS. Email: m.mccloskey@hpani.org.uk 


Health Promotion Agency 

Statement of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons and the 

Northern Ireland Assembly 

I have examined the summary financial statement of the Health Promotion Agency. 

Respective responsibilities of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, 

Accountable Officer and Auditor 

The summary financial statement is the responsibility of the Health Promotion Agency and 

Accountable Officer. 

My responsibility is to report to you my opinion on the consistency of the summary financial statement 

within the Annual report with the full financial statements, and its compliance with the relevant 

requirements of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, as amended, 

and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety directions made thereunder. 

I also read the other information contained in the Annual report, and consider whether it is consistent 

with the summary financial statements. This other information comprises only the Chair’s Statement, 

the Operating and Financial Review, and the unaudited part of the Remuneration Report. I consider 

the implications for my report if I become aware of any apparent misstatements or material 

inconsistencies with the summary financial statement. My responsibilities do not extend to any other 

information. 

Basis of opinion 

I have conducted my work in accordance with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The auditors’ statement on the 

summary financial statement’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. 

Opinion 

In my opinion the summary financial statement is consistent with the full financial statements of the 

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2006 and complies with 

the applicable requirements of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 

1972, as amended, and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety directions made 

thereunder. 

JM Dowdall CB 

Comptroller and Auditor General 

August 2006 

Northern Ireland Audit Office 

106 University Street 

Belfast BT7 1EU 


HPA Board 

The HPA Board, back from left: 

Dr Colin Sullivan, Tina 

Gallagher, Professor Stewart 

McNulty, Janet Leckey, Tom 

Moore and Mary MacDonnell; 

front, from left, Valerie Owens, Dr 

Brian Gaffney, Alice Quinn and 

Anthony Harbinson. 

The HPA’s work is managed by a Board of 10 

members appointed by the Minister with 

responsibility for Health, Social Services and 

Public Safety. Members contribute independent 

advice and expertise on issues of strategy and 

performance. Each Board member acts in a 

personal, non-representative capacity, and nonexecutive 

members - with the exception of the 

Chair - give their services without remuneration. 

The Board meets four times a year to discuss 

strategy, monitor performance and assist in the 

development of priorities and policies. A register 

of Board members’ interests is available on 

request. 

Ms Alice Quinn 

Chair of the HPA. She joined the HPA after a 

career in retailing with Marks and Spencer. She 

is Chair of Proteus, an independent member of 

the Project Board of the Public Prosecution 

Service, a board member of Enterprise Ulster 

and of Fold Housing Association and a member 

of the International Women's Forum. 


Chief Executive of the HPA. He has had broad 

experience in the health service as a GP, as a 

Consultant in Public Health Medicine and in 

research and academic medicine. He is also the 

Head of the World Health Organization 

Collaborating Centre based at the HPA. 

Ms Tina Gallagher 

Head of Channel Strategy Integration for HM 

Revenue and Customs. 

Mr Anthony Harbinson 

A member of the Northern 

Ireland Senior Civil Service 

since joining in 2001 after 15 

years working in the Northern 

Ireland health service. 

Ms Janet Leckey 

Lay assessor with the National Clinical 

Assessment Service (NCAS) and a trustee of 

Cruse Bereavement Care. She sits as a lay 

magistrate and is currently Chair of the Northern 

Ireland Lay Magistrates' Association. 

Ms Mary MacDonnell 

Primary Care Manager, Services for Older 

People, with Down Lisburn Health and Social 

Services Trust in Lisburn Health Centre (Lisburn, 

Dunmurry, Hillsborough). 

Professor Stewart McNulty 

Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Science at 

Queen's University, Belfast, and former Chief 

Veterinary Research Officer, Department of 

Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). 

Mr Tom Moore 

Former Education and Training Officer with the 

Irish Congress of Trade Unions. A Director on 

Newry and Mourne Local Strategy Partnership 

and its representative on the Southern Investing 

for Health Partnership. 

Ms Valerie Owens 

Practice Development Manager with the 

Probation Board for Northern Ireland. 

Dr Colin Sullivan 

Director of Organisational Development within 

the Central Services Agency of the Health and 

Personal Social Services. 


HPA staff and directors 

(from 31 March 2005 to 1 April 2006) 

Senior management team 

Linda Barclay 

Director of Programme Development 

Dr Angela Bell 

Director of Maternal and Child Health 



Les McLean 

Director of Corporate Services and 

Organisational Development 

Senior managers 

Victoria Creasy 

Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco 

Angela McComb 

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Oral Health 

Deirdre McNamee 

Mental Health, Teenage Pregnancy and 

Sexual Health 

Aodhan O’Donnell 

Investing for Health 

Stephen Wilson 

Planning and Coordination 

Chief Executive’s office 

Heather McDermott 

Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive 

(until 19 August 2005) 

Janet Stanage 

Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive 

(until 31 March 2006) 

Dr John Yarnell 

Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular 

Epidemiology 

(Joint appointment with Queen’s University, 

Belfast.) 

Programme development 

Janet Calvert 

Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator 

Julie Hill 

Health Promoting Workplaces Coordinator 

Barbara Porter 

Health Promoting Health Service 

Coordinator (Supporting Health in 

Hospitals) 

David Porter 

Health Promoting Schools Coordinator 

Research, evaluation and information 

Sarah Bothwell 

Health Development Officer (Information) 

Dr Gavin Breslin 

Research Officer 

Jo Brizzell 

Research Officer (until 30 June 2005) 

Laura Donnelly 

Health Development Officer (Nutrition) 

Dr Gillian Gilmore 


Dr Diana Gossrau-Breen 

Health Development Officer (Information 

and Research) 

Naomi McCay 

Research Manager 

Lindsay McDonald 


Julie Neill 


Sara Thompson 


(until 30 November 2005) 

Communications 

Sean Arbuckle 

Graphic Artist 

Catherine Brown 

Publications Officer 

Sinead Byrne 

Marketing Officer 

Stephen Cousins 

Web Developer 

Michele Crooks 


Jenny Dougan 

Public Relations Officer 

Linda Giles 


Rachel Kelly 

Communications Manager 

(until 31 October 2005) 

Ruth Knowles 

Publications Development Manager 

Alan Martin 

Design, Production and Electronic 


Brian McCalden 


6-month FTC to cover maternity leave 

(until 4 November 2005) 

Margaret McCrory 

Marketing Manager 

Adam McCune 

Web Development Assistant 

Rosemary McGaughey 

Public Relations Officer 

1-year FTC to cover maternity leave 

Arthur McVeigh 


Tony Sheridan 


Judith Wallwin 


1-year FTC to cover career break 

(until 31 March 2006) 

CEMACH (NI) 

Terry Falconer 

CEMACH Project Manager 

Corporate services 

Donna Beer 

Support Services Administrator 

Lesley Blackstock 


Malcolm Buchanan 

Clerical Officer with reception duties 

Fiona Campbell 

Human Resources Manager 

Carrie Crossan 


Catherine Curley 

Catering Assistant 

Stephanie Fitzsimons 

Clerical Officer with reception duties 


Karen Glass 



(until 16 September 2005) 

Claire Hind 

Events Coordinator 

Roger Irwin 

Clerical Officer (until 12 August 2005) 

Shane MacManus 

IT Manager 

Ann Marie McCann 


Marie McCloskey 

Finance and Administration Manager 

Noreen Savage 

Human Resources Officer 

Kirsten Sharvin 

Clerical Officer 

Ciara Shivers 

Finance Assistant 


References 

HPA publications referred to within this report can be accessed 

through our corporate website at 

www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resources/resourcesmenu.htm 

1. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. 

Investing for Health. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2002. 

2. Protect life: a shared vision www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/suicideconsultation-main-report.pdf 

Last accessed 28 June 2006. 

3. Northern Ireland Executive. Review of public administration. 

www.archive.rpani.gov.uk/ Last accessed 30 June 2006. 

19. Department of Education for Northern Ireland. Relationships 

and sexuality education (RSE) guidelines. Belfast: DENI, 2001. 


Promoting mental health strategy and action plan 2003-2008. 

Belfast: DHSSPS, 2003: 

21. Department of Education for Northern Ireland. Evaluation of the 

pilot of the catering for healthier lifestyles standards in Northern 

Ireland. Belfast: DENI, 2005. 

4. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Fit 

futures: focus on food, activity and young people. Belfast: 

DHSSPS, 2006. 

5. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Review 

of the public health function in Northern Ireland: final report. Belfast: 

DHSSPS, 2004. 

6. Department for Social Development. Ending fuel poverty: a 

strategy for Northern Ireland. Belfast: DSD, 2004. 

7. Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. Working for 

health: a long-term workplace health strategy for Northern Ireland. 

Belfast:HSENI, 2003. 

8. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Draft 

smoking (Northern Ireland) order 2006. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2006. 

9. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. New 

strategic direction for alcohol and drugs 2006-2011. Belfast: 

DHSSPS, 2006. 

10. Department for Social Development. Liquor licensing: the way 

forward. Government proposals to reform liquor licensing law in 

Northern Ireland (consultation document). Belfast: DSD, 2005. 

11. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Young 

persons behaviour and attitudes survey 2000. Main results and 

summary bulletin can be downloaded from 

www.research.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/ypbas.htm 

12. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Young 

persons behaviour and attitudes survey. Belfast: NISRA, 2003. 

13. Department of Health and Social Services. Breastfeeding 

strategy for Northern Ireland. Belfast: DHSS, 1999. 

14. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. A 

healthier future: a twenty year vision for health and well being in 

Northern Ireland. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2005. 

15. Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. Why 

mothers die, 2000-2002: the sixth report of the confidential 

enquiries into maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. London: 

RCOG Press, 2004. 

16. Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. Perinatal 

mortality surveillance 2004: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

London: CEMACH, 2006. 


Teenage pregnancy and parenthood: strategy and action plan 

2002–2007. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2002. 

18. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. A five 

year sexual health promotion strategy and action plan (consultation 

document). Belfast: DHSSPS, 2003. 

*Photo on page 8 used with kind permission of Conservation 

Volunteers.

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland 

18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS 

Tel: 028 9031 1611 (voice/minicom) Fax: 028 9031 1711 


ISBN-13: 978 1 874602 54 5 

ISBN-10: 1 874602 54 9 

09/06

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