here - Health Promotion Agency

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland 

Annual Report 2007–2008

Mission: 

To make health 

a top priority 

for everyone in 

Northern Ireland.

Getting in touch 

Our address: 


18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS 

Tel: 028 9031 1611 (voice/minicom) 

Fax: 028 9031 1711 

Media line: 

028 9031 1514 

Press and broadcast media enquiries only 

Email: 

info@hpani.org.uk 

Normal business hours: 

8.45am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday 

Websites: 

www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk 

www.breastfedbabies.org 

www.drugsalcohol.info 

www.getalifegetactive.com 

www.hpa-pod.org 

www.knowyourlimits.info 

www.mindingyourhead.info 

www.spacetobreathe.org.uk 

www.thesnackpack.net 

www.thinkitthrough.org.uk 

www.up-2-you.net 

www.want2stop.info 

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 main corporate website, 

www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk

Contents 

P 2 Chair’s statement 

P 3 Management commentary 

P 4 Directors’ report 

P 6 Training and professional development 

P 7 Health intelligence 

P 8 The settings approach: 

P 8 Health in the community 

P 9 A healthy service – 

supporting health in hospitals 

P 10 Healthy schools 

P 11 Health promoting workplaces 

P 12 Promoting healthy prisons 

P 13 Smoking 

P 14 Alcohol and drugs 

P 15 Nutrition and oral health 

P 16 Physical activity 

P 17 Breastfeeding 

P 18 Maternal and child health (including CEMACH) 

P 19 Sexual health 

P 20 Mental health 

P 21 Health protection 

P 22 Communications 

P 23 International collaboration 

P 24 Operating and fi nancial review 

P 32 The HPA Board 

P 33 HPA staff and directors 

P 34 Acronyms 

P 35 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 the objectives detailed in 

our business plan for 2007–2008. 

Where relevant, we have included an information 

sign i to other websites that offer more information 

on specifi c issues. The online Portable Document 

Format (PDF) fi le 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 the work of the 

HPA, please visit our corporate website at 


Many of our publications can be downloaded as 

PDF fi les 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 fi le of this 

document is also available to download from our 

corporate website at the following address:– 


i 

i 

Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland I Annual Report 2007–2008 I 1

Chair’s statement 

The HPA has had an 

extremely eventful and 

busy year delivering an 

extensive portfolio of work 

across all key areas of 

public health. 

It was also a year of many 

challenges, to which we 

at the HPA responded by 

meeting the requirements, 

requests and deadlines 

placed upon us, particularly regarding elements 

of our work for the Department of Health, Social 

Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). 

In one of the most important public health initiatives 

ever to take place in Northern Ireland, the majority of 

enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and 

public places became smoke-free on 30 April 2007. 

I applaud the Smokefree Coalition, which was 

instrumental in bringing about the change in 

legislation. 1 

We launched several major public information 

campaigns covering many health issues, none less 

than the activity to support the essential area of 

mental health promotion, which included innovative 

depression awareness training for GPs and which 

was backed up by a number of important mental 

health research reports. 

The HPA used new communications and advertising 

technology such as SMS text messaging, website 

banner advertising and interactive CDs, DVDs and 

online training modules to convey important health 

information and messages. 

There was considerable coverage and exposure of 

the HPA’s work during the year, which is helping to 

raise awareness of health dangers such as alcohol 

misuse and binge drinking. 

This is a major issue, especially among our young 

people, and the HPA continued its aim to increase 

awareness of, and help change, the binge drinking 

culture in Northern Ireland. 

The advent of devolution in May and the appointment 

of a new locally elected minister, Michael 

McGimpsey MLA, have created a positive political 

climate. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet 

with the health spokesperson for every main political 

party and the chair of the health committee. 

The creation of a new Regional Agency for Public 

Health and Social Well-being (RAPHSW), recently 

announced by the Minister, is a very positive 

development and we look forward to it delivering 

better health outcomes for Northern Ireland. 2 

The integration of our staff and work into the new 

agency presents many challenges for the year ahead 

and we will embrace every opportunity that this 

new structure provides for improving the health of 

everyone in Northern Ireland. 

I would like to congratulate the Chief Executive and 

staff, who were awarded Customer First accreditation 

– the fi rst health organisation in the UK to receive the 

national standard for customer service. 

On behalf of the Board I extend our thanks to the 

Chief Executive and staff for their dedication to 

quality, continued hard work and commitment in 

the midst of a period of considerable public sector 

change. 

I would also like to wish John Breen and Pat 

Osborne, DHSSPS retirees, good health in their 

retirement and thank them for their support of the 

HPA over the years. 

Finally, I thank members of the Board for their vision, 

unstinting dedication, advice and support, and 

acknowledge our colleagues at the DHSSPS for 

their advice and assistance, especially at this time 

of change, as we look forward to the new health 

structures. 

Alice Quinn 

Chair 

2 I Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland I Annual Report 2007–2008

Management commentary 

As everyone must now 

realise, the health and 

social care system has 

been going through a 

period of reorganisation 

that includes public 

health. Despite this, 

the HPA has just had 

its busiest and most 

successful 12 months. 

Our role as the major 

regional organisation for health improvement has 

continued, and became even more signifi cant in light 

of developments in the health service announced in 

July 2008. If, as Minister McGimpsey has outlined, 

the main driver for health and social care is to be 

health improvement, then the roles and functions of 

the HPA will form a central and expanded feature 

of the new system. This is good news for the health 

of the public here; as we know that our work has 

contributed signifi cantly to improved health. 

This was most obvious through our contribution to 

the introduction of the smoke-free legislation in April 

2007. As a leader in the Smokefree Coalition, we 

worked hard over a number of years to ensure that 

workers and the public will be protected from the 

dangers and the damage of environmental tobacco 

smoke. The success of the legislation is evident all 

around us, whether in our workplaces or our social 

and leisure settings. 

Partnership with a wide range of organisations 

continues to be central to our work, as successful 

collaboration is essential if we are to tackle many of the 

public health issues we face. This year we have worked, 

for example, on the ‘Walking for health’ initiative with 

Sport NI, on ‘Safe routes to school’ with Travelwise 

NI – a Roads Service initiative – as well as with many 

voluntary and community representatives through the 

implementation of Protect life: a shared vision. 3 

We hosted a number of major conferences and 

seminars including the Baby Friendly Initiative 

conference at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast in 

collaboration with UNICEF UK. This was the fi rst 

time the prestigious event was held in Northern 

Ireland, highlighting breastfeeding as an important 

public health issue. 

This year the HPA provided a wide range of 

opportunities for professional development through 

training events, courses, seminars and workshops 

in support of key issues and programme areas. We 

launched our fi rst e-learning course on the newly 

developed Professional Online Development (pod) 

platform. ‘Brief interventions in smoking cessation’ 

teaches health professionals the value of talking to 

smokers about quitting in a fl exible learning environment. 

The range of training for professionals and for members 

of the public shows how much the HPA is involved in 

building skills and knowledge for health improvement. 

Throughout the year we ran a number of major 

information campaigns, to raise awareness and 

change attitudes, and to help promote healthy 

choices and decision making in the areas of mental 

health, sexual health, binge drinking, physical activity 

and anti-smoking. 

Using primary and secondary research, evaluation 

studies and critical appraisal of evidence-based 

information, we seek to inform our work with accurate 

and relevant knowledge. 

This was exemplifi ed by our research: into the effects 

of the anti-smoking legislation on the health of children 

and adults; to evaluate our tobacco, mental health and 

alcohol campaigns; and, to inform the development of 

new campaigns on cocaine and mental health. 

During the 18 years of its existence, the HPA has, 

thanks to the dedication and commitment of its 

Board members and staff, risen to the challenge of 

improving public health. 

Our success is refl ected in the positive reputation of 

the HPA among professionals and the high regard in 

which the public holds our work. 

We therefore look forward to being a major part 

of the new Regional Agency for Public Health and 

Social Well-being. 

Dr Brian Gaffney 

Chief Executive 


Directors’ report 

The HPA, set up in 1990 as a special agency of the 

DHSSPS, works to maintain, improve and promote 

the good health of everyone in Northern Ireland. It 

is responsible for providing regional leadership and 

direction, provides policy advice to the Minister for 

Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and is the 

major regional provider of health promotion services. 

The Board 

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

appointed by the Minister of 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 non-executive 

members – with the exception of the Chair – give their 

services without remuneration. 

The composition of the Board for the year was as 

follows: Alice Quinn, Chair; Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief 

Executive; Tina Gallagher; Anthony Harbinson; Janet 

Leckey; Mary MacDonnell; Professor Stewart McNulty; 

Tom Moore; Valerie Owens; and Dr Colin Sullivan. 

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 and further details on 

each member are available on page 32 of this report. 

Business work areas 

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, including: 

• policy development and advice – providing policy 

advice on issues related to health promotion to the 

DHSSPS and 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 – a planned, 

strategic approach to training and professional 

development in health promotion issues; 

• corporate business services – covering a range 

of core activities that enable the HPA to function 

smoothly and effectively. This includes areas 

such as business and operational planning, 

fi nancial management, human resource support, 

IT infrastructure and administrative support. The 

current business plan is available upon request 

from the Director of Corporate Services and 

Organisational Development. 

The HPA is also committed to ongoing collaboration 

with colleagues from a range of sectors. 

Internal communication 

The HPA’s Communications strategy states: “We 

aim to ensure that staff are clear about the mission 

and strategic direction of the HPA, are well informed 

about its business objectives, policies and procedures, 

receive encouragement to pursue professional 

development and feel a valued part of the organisation.” 

This is achieved through providing a comprehensive 

induction programme; providing regular performance 


eview and feedback opportunities; implementing 

effective consultation and planning processes; 

briefi ng staff regularly; ongoing use and development 

of communications channels such as an intranet, 

and offering access to training and development 

opportunities. Our communications protocols 

further outline the action needed to achieve a 

consistent approach and a high standard in all HPA 

communications. 

A staff consultation group has also been established 

as a key mechanism to ensure that staff are fully 

informed of organisational developments and to allow 

an additional forum for discussion of key business 

developments, particularly regarding the impact of 

the Review of Public Administration (RPA) on the 

organisation and staff. 4 

Equal opportunities 

In accordance with Section 75 and Schedule 9 of 

the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it is HPA policy that 

all persons have equality of opportunity regardless 

of gender, religious belief or political opinion, race, 

nationality, marital or family status, disability, sexual 

orientation and age. 

Selection for employment and advancement is on the 

basis of ability, qualifi cations and aptitude for the work. 

This policy applies to recruitment, promotion, training 

and other benefi ts and facilities. The HPA promotes 

and observes the objectives and principles set out in 

the above statement and is committed to implementing 

policies to promote equality of opportunity and fair 

participation in the HPA. 

The HPA recognises its obligations under the 

Fair Employment Acts (NI) 1976 and 1989; the 

Sex Discrimination (NI) Orders 1976 and 1988; 

Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 

(Northern Ireland) 2005; the Sex Discrimination 

(Amendment) Regulations 2008; the Equal Pay Act 

(NI) 1970 (as amended); the Disability Discrimination 

Act 1995, the Disability Discrimination (Northern 

Ireland) Order 2006 and the Race Relations (NI) Order 

1997. 

The Equal opportunities policy is publicised throughout 

the HPA, distributed to existing staff and issued to 

all job applicants and new recruits. It is refl ected 

as appropriate in training courses and included 

as guidance to selection and appointment panels. An 

equal opportunities statement is included in job trawls, 

advertisements and application forms. 

Review of Public Administration 

Under the Review of Public Administration (RPA), the 

HPA is to be incorporated into a new Regional Agency for 

Public Health and Social Well-being that, together with 

other functions, will subsume and build on the current role 

of the HPA. 4 The RAPHSW will allow better inter-sectoral 

working to tackle health promotion and will have a wider 

responsibility for health protection, health improvement and 

development to address existing health inequalities and 

public health issues for all the people of Northern Ireland. 

The HPA aims to ensure that staff are fully equipped for 

any opportunities and challenges that present themselves 

as a result of the RPA, and that health promotion work 

continues through any transition as seamlessly as possible. 

This will include successful management of any risks to 

a smooth transition presented by the large percentage of 

staff on fi xed-term contracts. 

Quality measures 

The HPA is the fi rst health service organisation in the UK to 

achieve the Customer First quality accreditation standard 

for customer service. 

In addition, much progress has been made as the HPA 

seeks to gain the award of ISO 9001 in 2008/2009. As 

an accredited Investor in People organisation we also 

continuously look at developing our staff. 

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey presents HPA Chair, 

Alice Quinn, with the Customer First plaque. 

Financial information 

Any fi nancial information is contained in the ‘Operating and 

fi nancial review’ section of this report. 


Training and professional development 

The HPA continued to provide opportunities for 

professional development through a range of training 

events, courses, seminars and workshops in support of 

key issues and programme areas. 

Investing for Health conference 

In collaboration with the DHSSPS, the HPA helped 

organise and facilitate the third Investing for Health 

(IfH) conference, attended by 200 delegates. Entitled 

‘Sharing learning and informing the future of Investing 

for Health’, the conference came at a mid-point in the 

implementation of the IfH strategy. 5 

Minister Michael McGimpsey opened the conference. 

Speakers from the IfH partnerships shared examples of 

local initiatives and the DHSSPS presented an update 

on the achievements made against IfH objectives. A 

round-table discussion helped inform the development of 

a consultation exercise for the forthcoming review of IfH. 

Events 

The HPA provided a combination of free and subsidised 

training events for participants throughout the year: 

• Four conferences – the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly 

Initiative annual conference; the biennial IfH 

conference; the 4 th HPH All-island conference and 

the CEMACH ‘Saving mothers’ lives’ conference. 

• 25 seminars on a number of issues and key areas, 

including young people and alcohol, physical activity, 

mental health, the Baby Friendly Initiative, and young 

people and self-esteem. 

• 27 training courses on issues such as nutrition, 

depression awareness and healthy workplaces, and 

two skills-based courses, ‘Motivational interviewing’ 

and ‘Evaluating your work’. 

• ‘Healthy settings: theory, policy and practice’ – a 

new University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) 

accredited course – was held twice during the 

year and delegates gained a level four university 

certifi cate. 

Online booking 

This year the majority of delegates wishing to attend 

HPA events registered using the online booking facility. 

Further details regarding most of the events listed above 

were also available to download from the HPA website. 

6 I Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland I Annual Report 2007–2008 

Inform, the bimonthly HPA newsletter, also publicised 

events throughout the year. 

E-learning 

Professional Online Development (pod), the HPA’s 

new online learning environment, further expands 

the HPA’s programme of training and development. 

‘Brief interventions in smoking cessation’ is the fi rst 

course to be delivered using pod and was developed 

in consultation with representatives from other health 

professions and voluntary organisations. The course was 

offi cially launched on 28 November. Anyone interested 

in pod can register free at www.hpa-pod.org 

i 

Additional support 

The HPA also contributed fi nancial support and staff 

time to a number of external training events, seminars 

and conferences. These included events organised 

within the HSC Trusts on World Mental Health Day 

and presentations to undergraduate students on 

the implementation of NICE guidelines relating to 

breastfeeding promotion and support. 6 

Student award 

The Association of Health Service Managers Award, of 

which the HPA holds stewardship, was won by Omagh 

dental surgeon Oonagh Allan. Oonagh’s winning paper 

was entitled ‘The Busbrush Plan’ and describes a 

community-based tooth brushing programme targeted 

at the pre-school child in a playschool/nursery setting. 

Future developments 

The HPA will continue to support training and 

professional development by providing quality 

capacity building events based on identifi ed need, the 

requirements of strategy, and evidence of effectiveness. 

Presenting the AHSM 

award to Omagh 

dental surgeon 

Oonagh Allan, centre, 

is Linda Barclay, 

Director of Programme 

Development, 

HPA. Looking on is 

Programme Director 

for the PGDip/MSc 

in Health Promotion 

courses, Ann Moore, 

Faculty of Life and 

Health Sciences, 

University of Ulster.

Health intelligence 

One of the main guiding principles of the HPA is 

its evidence-based approach to work. Evidence 

gathering takes the form of primary and secondary 

research, evaluation studies, critical appraisal of 

evidence-based information, an awareness of global 

best practice and dissemination of fi ndings. 

These activities inform policy and programme 

development, provide education and resource 

content, and measure the impact of interventions while 

ensuring that work practices are current, innovative 

and provide an evidence base for future work. 

Primary research 

Primary research on the knowledge and attitudes of 

primary care staff, schools and parents will inform the 

development of a campaign to support the introduction 

of the new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

Qualitative research with smokers informed the 

development of a new anti-tobacco campaign entitled 

‘4,000 chemicals’, and qualitative research with 

cocaine users and people contemplating its use will 

inform future development of a public information 

campaign. 

Evaluations 

As part of the evaluation of the smoke-free 

legislation, the HPA completed phase two of the 

data collection for three major research projects to 

investigate the impact of the legislation. 

These research projects established levels of 

children’s exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, 

adult non-smokers’ exposure to smoking in the 

home, and in partnership with the Chartered Institute 

of Environmental Health, air quality for bar workers 

post-legislation. A comparison of phases one and 

two of the individual studies, results of which will 

be available in 2008–2009, will allow a judgement 

on whether or not legislation has had a positive or 

negative impact on these groups. 

Public information campaign evaluations completed 

during the year include the adult binge drinking 

campaign ‘You don’t have to be drunk to be doing 

real damage’, the physical activity campaign ‘Every 

small step is a forward step’, the mental health 

campaign ‘Minding your head’, and the anti-tobacco 

campaign ‘4,000 chemicals’. 

Naomi McCay, Health 

Intelligence Manager, HPA; 

and Dr Gavin Breslin, 

(formerly HPA), Sport and 

Exercise Science Research 

Institute, University of 

Ulster, display their 

winning poster that took 

first prize in the academic 

and professional category 

at the Psychological 

Society of Ireland annual 

conference. 

Training and resource evaluations were carried out on 

GP depression awareness training and mental health 

in primary care seminars. The HPA also undertook 

testing of a breastfeeding CD-ROM resource for 

schools and two mental health resources. 

Activities in health development included gathering 

of evidence and development of content for training 

programmes such as the smoking cessation 

e-learning programme, GP depression awareness 

training, and the Royal Institute of Public Health 

diploma in nutrition and health. 

Further work included the preparation of healthy 

setting case studies on schools involved in the 

Healthy schools programme. 

Responses to public health guidance 

The HPA responded to the NICE document Prevention 

of sexually transmitted infections and under 18 

conceptions: guidance and contributed to the NICE 

consultation Mental wellbeing of children in primary 

education – consultation on synopsis of the evidence 

and to the DHSSPS’s Consultation questionnaire on 

minimum age of sale of tobacco products. 7,8,9 

Dissemination 

The HPA contributed to a number of seminars and 

conferences including the Psychology Society for 

Ireland annual conference in November and the Society 

for Social Medicine and International Epidemiology 

Association (European Group) joint meeting. 


The HPA will continue to manage an extensive 

programme of research and evaluation, and ensure 

that work is based on best practice and continues to 

be innovative. 


The settings approach 

The settings approach to improving, protecting and 

promoting health acknowledges the infl uence of the 

places, eg community, hospital, school or workplace, 

in which people live, learn, work and use different 

services. 

The importance of the settings approach to health 

improvement has been emphasised in Investing 

for Health, the public health strategy, and the HPA 

continues to support this approach. 

Sharing experience 

As a centre of expertise on the settings approach, 

the HPA was invited to Scotland to share its 

experience of raising awareness of this approach 

and contributing to policy development. 

Healthy settings training 

In its continued support for the settings approach, 

the HPA, in partnership with the Settings Unit 

at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), 

successfully offered an accredited level four 

university certifi cate on ‘Settings, theory, policy and 

practice’. Following the encouraging initial training 

and positive feedback, the module was again offered 

in January and February. 

Health in the community 

Health in the community setting depends on 

commitment and coordinated action from a wide 

range of statutory, voluntary and social partners. 

To this end, the HPA supports a number of 

partnerships in the development of community health 

initiatives that help foster a sense of belonging. 

Healthy Living Centres: support programme 

The Healthy Living Centre (HLC) Regional Alliance 

held a celebration event in April to share and refl ect 

on experiences and learning gained through the 

HLC programme, and to consider how HLC working 

could be further developed. 

The HPA support programme, funded by BIG and 

developed over three years, concluded in August. 

The HPA has committed to further partnership 

working including the development of the HLC 

Regional Alliance. 

The settings approach – master class 

Internationally renowned author and health 

promotion researcher Dr Blake Poland, University 

of Toronto, delivered a settings master class during 

the 4 th All-Ireland Health Promoting Hospitals 

conference, held in Armagh in October. 

Initiated by the HPA and the Health Promotion 

Department of Health Service Executive West 

in the Republic of Ireland, the master class was 

presented to key personnel in the fi elds of planning, 

commissioning, management, hospitals and 

community development. 


The HPA is looking forward to joining other countries 

in international settings collaboration, where it 

is anticipated opportunities will arise for future 

speakers to share their experiences and knowledge 

of implementing the settings approach with Northern 

Ireland audiences. The settings training module will 

be offered again in early 2009. 

At the HLC celebration event in April are Danny Power, 

Chair of the HLC Regional Alliance, and Liz McShane, 

HEART HLC. 


i 

Actively Ageing Well 

Northern Ireland Youth Awards 2007 

The fi ve-year Actively Ageing Well (AAW) initiative The HPA sponsored the ‘promoting health’ category 

between the HPA and Age Concern, which focused of the 2007 awards, which attracted a very high 

on physical activity with 60 older people’s groups calibre of entries this year. The awards are organised 

and was funded by BIG (the BIG Lottery Fund), by the Youth Council for Northern Ireland as a means 

concluded its work by hosting an event in May. of recognising and celebrating the achievements, 

talents and energy of young people and those 

The learning from the initiative was captured in a working with them. 

series of factsheets on aspects of physical activity for 

older people. 10 The factsheets can be downloaded Future developments 

from www.ageconcernni.org/factsheets.htm 

The HPA will continue its partnership working 

in support of community approaches to health 

Ageing Well Reach 

improvement. We will continue to provide support 

Building on the success of the AAW project, the HPA and facilitate meetings of the Regional HLC Alliance. 

and Age Concern gained further lottery funding to The alliance has agreed an ongoing plan of action. 

develop Ageing Well Reach. This three-year initiative 

targets 40 older people’s groups and focuses on 

A healthy service – supporting health in 

physical activity, nutrition and mental health. 

hospitals 

Healthy Ageing 

The HPA remains the coordinating centre for 

In 2003 the Healthy Ageing project was initiated 

the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health 

under the EU Public Health Programme to 

Promoting Hospitals (HPH) initiative in Northern 

exchange knowledge and experience and to make 

Ireland. This year saw the launch of the HPH 

recommendations for policy at EU and member state 

website www.healthpromotinghospitals.org 

levels. During the year the HPA was represented at the 

Five Nations group, which met to exchange information 

The fl exible website has a fully developed and 

on the project and on action related to healthy ageing. 

functional library. Only the group rooms of the Task 

Forces, Working Groups and Governance Board 

Community planning 

categories require a login for users. 

The HPA joined with the Northern Ireland Council for 

Voluntary Action, the Community Development and 

Health Network, and the Institute of Public Health to 

develop a briefi ng paper for elected representatives 

that highlights 10 action points to tackle health 

inequalities. 11 

Fuel poverty 

The HPA, in partnership with National Energy 

Action (Northern Ireland), produced a report entitled 

Increasing fuel poverty awareness. The report, 

which is available on the HPA website, details a pilot 

initiative to help primary care health professionals 

identify clients at risk from fuel poverty and signpost 

those clients to appropriate services. 

The HPA continued its membership of, and 

contribution to, the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty 

Anne-Marie Doherty from the Northern Health and Social 

Advisory Group. The group’s second annual report Care Trust with Bridget Dougan and Hilary Brownlee from 

was published in October. 12 the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) at 

the 4 th HPH All-island conference. 

i 



HPH network report 

The HPA published a report on the development of 

the WHO HPH network in Northern Ireland. Entitled 

Health Promoting Hospitals network in Northern 

Ireland – Update report 2006–2007, it describes 

the range of work and initiatives ongoing in each of 

the 13 hospitals participating in the HPH network. 

Vienna hosts HPH conference 

The HPA was represented at the 15 th international 

conference on Health Promoting Hospitals, held in 

Vienna in April 2007. The conference considered the 

contributions of HPH to the improvement in quality 

of care, quality of life and quality of health systems. 

There were also two poster contributions from the 

Ulster Community Hospital Trust. 

4 th HPH All-Ireland conference 

The conference was held in Armagh on 23 and 24 

October to explore the concept and theme of ‘A 

hospital without walls – a community asset’. Over 

100 participants were welcomed to Armagh by 

Colm Donaghy, Chief Executive, Southern Health 

and Social Care Trust. He also welcomed and 

introduced the two Chief Medical Offi cers (CMOs), 

Dr Jim Kiely, Department of Health and Children, 

and Dr Michael McBride, DHSSPS. Both CMOs 

have been very supportive of the HPH concept and 

applaud what has been achieved to date across 

the island of Ireland, while recognising the potential 

for the initiative to develop further across the health 

services. 

Professor Blake Poland, from the Department of 

Public Health Sciences in the University of Toronto, 

explained what a ‘hospital without walls’ actually 

is and drew on Canadian research on hospital/ 

community collaboration. 


The current modernisation agenda supports and 

drives the settings approach by asking health 

services to take a holistic view of health. 

There will be opportunities through the HPA’s 

membership of the WHO HPH Network for Northern 

Ireland to benefi t from the learning in other countries, 

build on existing foundations and establish a 

supporting network across all healthcare settings. 

Speakers at the ‘Improving health: the contribution of 

extended schools and healthy schools’ seminar, holding the 

series of posters that have been distributed to schools as 

part of the Healthy Schools initiative. 

Healthy schools 

A healthy school is one in which all members of the 

school community work together in a planned way to 

improve health and wellbeing, and in which there is 

an organisational approach based on self-evaluation 

and action planning. 

Health plans are developed as part of school 

development planning, taking account of the 

ethos and environment of the school, the quality 

of teaching and learning, and the quality of 

management. Through a whole school approach, 

schools seek to develop policies, practices and 

structures for sustainable actions for health. 

Healthy schools toolkit 

Following the testing in 2002–2006 of the settings 

approach with over 200 schools, the HPA developed 

the How healthy is your school? toolkit, which offers 

a benchmark or criteria against which schools can 

assess what they need to do to improve health. 

Implementing healthy schools plans 

The DHSSPS made funding available to the HPA 

for the further support and development of existing 


healthy schools. The funding was used by schools 

for training and development in a variety of areas, 

including pupil participation and teacher health and 

wellbeing. 

Joint seminar 

During the year the HPA joined with the Regional 

Training Unit (RTU) to deliver a seminar to share 

approaches taken by schools towards health 

improvement. The seminar, entitled ‘Improving 

health: the contribution of extended schools and 

healthy schools’, took place in February. 

It was opened by Dr Robson Davison, Deputy 

Secretary for Schools and Youth Policy, Department 

of Education. Local healthy schools shared their 

experiences with colleagues, and Anne Lee, Health 

Improvement Programme Manager, Health Scotland, 

highlighted progress in Scotland. 

Resources for healthy schools 

As part of its continuing commitment to healthy 

schools, the HPA further developed case studies 

of schools in action and a series of four A2 size 

posters for school display, which are available upon 

registration on the HPA website. 

The posters highlight: the criteria for a healthy 

school; pupil participation; healthy eating and 

physical activity; and, developing pupils’ resilience. 

The posters were published after positive testing 

with schools. 

Pupil health profiling programme 

The HPA is a member of a project steering group 

organised by Playboard that is seeking to adapt and 

pilot a Swedish programme that helps pupils 

self-assess their physical, mental and social 

health. The HPA contributed funding to enable the 

translation of the programme for testing in Northern 

Ireland. 


The HPA will continue to advise the Department of 

Education and DHSSPS on policy related to healthy 

schools. We will continue to populate the database 

of healthy schools practice on our corporate website. 

We will continue to seek ways to ensure the continued 

dissemination of the toolkit and support for the school 

planning process towards a healthy school. 

Health promoting workplaces 

The workplace is the setting where many people 

spend the largest proportion of their time outside the 

home. The health of a business is reliant on the health 

of its workforce and many employers now realise the 

need to address the health aspect of their health and 

safety practices, which have traditionally focused on 

accident prevention. 

The HPA’s health promoting workplaces initiative 

Work Well continues to drive this area forward 

through supporting the Working for Health and 

Investing for Health strategies. 13,5 

Creating healthy workplace training 

The HPA has been working to build capacity 

in Northern Ireland to support organisations 

that need advice and support on workplace 

health. The ‘Creating healthy workplace’ training 

course is aimed at individuals involved in either 

supporting organisations, or working within their 

own organisation, to develop healthy workplace 

programmes or address workplace health issues. 

There are now over 50 trained Work Well 

practitioners throughout Northern Ireland. An 

evaluation of the training demonstrated positive 

outcomes. 

Work Well practitioners network 

To further support and develop the capacity in 

Northern Ireland, the HPA formed the Work Well 

practitioners network. The aim of this network is to: 

• work towards and contribute to the development 

and implementation of Work Well in workplaces 

throughout Northern Ireland through sharing of 

experience, skills and expertise; 

• motivate and infl uence either your own 

workplace or other workplaces to undertake an 

active role in the promotion of positive health 

and wellbeing in the workplace. 

Those people who have attended the ‘Creating 

healthy workplace’ training are invited to join the 

network, which meets three times a year. 



Work Well 

The HPA continues to support the roll out of the 

Work Well programme (developed in association 

with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern 

Ireland) to businesses throughout Northern Ireland. 

The Work Well programme was implemented 

in approximately 25 small and medium-sized 

enterprises in the Antrim, Armagh and Monaghan 

areas via the workplace health cross-border initiative 

led by Antrim Borough Council and part-fi nanced by 

the Interreg IIIA Programme. 

In addition, the HPA plans to publish further guides 

for employers on health-related workplace issues 

(eg mental health) and further develop the online 

employee questionnaire to meet the growing demand 

from employers. 

Promoting healthy prisons 

Prison-based health promotion gives access to a 

population that would normally be hard to reach, 

offering a unique opportunity to tackle issues of 

social exclusion and inequalities in health. 

The HPA worked in partnership with the Northern 

Ireland Prison Service and other stakeholders to: 

increase awareness of the health promoting prisons 

concept and practice; enhance communication 

between relevant stakeholders within criminal 

justice, the health service and the voluntary sector; 

and, promote greater shared awareness of how the 

health of prison populations can be improved. 

Lead responsibility for healthcare in prisons was 

transferred from the Prison Service to the South 

Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) 

in spring 2008 and the HPA met with the two 

organisations to look at how health promotion can 

be built into the transfer process and how training 

needs can be identifi ed and met. 

The HPA has also consulted with representatives from 

the Northern Ireland Prison College in relation to the 

ongoing review and development of mental health and 

suicide awareness training in Northern Ireland. 

Pictured are, back row, from left, Sarah Reid, Healthy 

Settings Coordinator, HPA, and Linda Norris, Workplace 

Health Coordinator, Antrim Borough Council, with Sarah 

Brimstone, front, from Randalstown Pharmacy, one of the 

workplaces taking part in the Work Well initiative. 

The HPA has also been trialling the programme 

on larger organisations and within the community 

and voluntary sectors to ensure the Work Well 

model is applicable across all sectors and sizes of 

organisation. 


The HPA will continue to build capacity within 

Northern Ireland through ‘Creating healthy workplace 

training’and the Work Well practitioners network. 

The HPA provided access to healthy settings 

training for prison healthcare managers. 


In autumn 2008, a follow-up conference to highlight 

the successful 2006 ‘Promoting healthy prisons’ 

conference will take place. 

This is being guided by an advisory group chaired 

by the HPA and comprising representatives from 

the Prison Service, South Eastern HSCT, Probation 

Board Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Association 

for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders, and the 

Youth Justice Agency. 


i 

Smoking 

The issue of tobacco control, through prevention, 

cessation and advocacy, remains a priority. In line 

with our key objectives, the HPA continued to work 

in partnership with the Smokefree Coalition and 

other colleagues to support the objectives within 

A fi ve year tobacco action plan 2003–2008. 14 

Smoke-free legislation 

This year we celebrated the implementation of the 

smoke-free legislation, which came into effect on 

30 April. 1 The historic day was marked by the 

Smokefree Coalition and the DHSSPS hosting 

a breakfast event in Belfast. Dr Brian Gaffney 

described the introduction of the smoke-free 

legislation as “one of the most important public 

health initiatives in Northern Ireland since the health 

service was established”. 

Regularly updated information on the legislative 

changes was made available to the public and 

businesses on the ‘Space to breathe’ website at 

www.spacetobreathe.org.uk 

Research 

The HPA, on behalf of the DHSSPS, commissioned 

research to evaluate the impact of smoke-free 

legislation on exposure to second-hand smoke in the 

home, on children, and on the air quality in pubs and 

bars. 

Professional Online Development 

‘Brief interventions in smoking cessation’ was the 

fi rst Professional Online Development (pod) course 

developed by the HPA. The course, aimed at 

professionals who come into contact with smokers 

through their work, consists of seven modules and 

provides a fl exible learning environment. 

Successful completion contributes four hours of 

continuing professional development time. The pod 

site www.hpa-pod.org was offi cially launched in 

November. 


The HPA will continue to work with the DHSSPS 

to review the current tobacco action plan and to 

discuss the development of a new plan beyond 

2008. Findings from the smoke-free legislation 

research will also be disseminated widely once 

available. 

A new smoking cessation website, aimed at smokers 

who would like to fi nd out more information to help 

them quit, will be launched and promoted. 

i 

Baseline fi eldwork was completed prior to the 

introduction of the smoke-free legislation and was 

repeated in February 2008. The research fi ndings 

will be disseminated in 2008–2009. 

Smoking cessation campaigns 

The HPA ran a campaign leading up to the 

introduction of the smoke-free legislation to raise 

awareness of the help and support available for 

smokers trying to quit. 

A new public information campaign was also 

launched in January to motivate smokers to make 

a quit attempt, by raising awareness that more 

than 4,000 chemicals including ammonia (found in 

bleach), acetone (found in nail polish remover) and 

benzene (found in paint stripper) are inhaled with 

each cigarette smoked. 

Representatives from the Smokefree Northern Ireland 

Coalition celebrate the introduction of smoke-free legislation 

on 30 April 2007. 


i 

Alcohol and drugs 

The HPA continues to work to address the priority 

issues outlined in the DHSSPS strategy New strategic 

direction for alcohol and drugs. 15 

Binge drinking campaign 

In March, the HPA launched a campaign to raise 

awareness of the risks associated with binge drinking. 

This included the ‘Sponge’ television advertisement, 

shown for the fi rst time last year, and radio 

advertisements and poster advertising. The campaign 

was supported by a range of materials, including 

leafl ets, plastic drinks measures, and unit calculator 

wheels, as well as the website www.knowyourlimits.info 

which has facts about alcohol, units, hangovers, when 

not to drink and where to get help. 

Drugs and solvents 

A drug awareness campaign ran during the year, which 

involved the display of posters in the washroom areas 

of pubs and clubs popular with 18–30 year olds and 

featured information on the most commonly used drugs 

in Northern Ireland. 

Information sharing 

The HPA’s regional drugs and alcohol website for 

professionals www.drugsalcohol.info was updated 

regularly throughout the year with new statistics and 

news items. The Regional Alcohol and Drug Forum 

continued to meet at four-monthly intervals, facilitating 

information sharing and discussion between alcohol 

and drugs workers across Northern Ireland. 

i 

i 

The HPA also worked with Probation Board Northern 

Ireland to promote campaign messages among 

offenders. The ‘Sponge’ advertisement and the 

campaign materials and website from the previous 

campaign were evaluated positively. The recent 

campaign is undergoing evaluation. 

Up-2-you 

The HPA’s drugs, alcohol and smoking website for 

young people aged 11–14 www.up-2-you.net hosted 

a competition on alcohol and received a record 3,600 

entries. The site was updated with a new section 

highlighting the dangers of cannabis use and a 

competition on cannabis was promoted to post-primary 

schools and youth clubs with posters and postcards. 

Young people 

The HPA held a half-day seminar to launch its research 

with 11–16 year olds and parents of young people 

in this age group on alcohol issues. Speakers from 

Queen’s University Belfast also gave presentations 

on the Belfast Youth Development Study fi ndings in 

relation to alcohol. The HPA invited 25 organisations 

to join together and form a coalition to encourage 

decision makers to take positive action to address 

young people’s drinking. 


The HPA will continue to raise awareness of the risks 

of regularly exceeding the sensible drinking levels, 

and will work to further increase awareness of the 

health risks of illicit drugs, 

in particular cocaine. The 

HPA will continue to seek 

out ways to effectively 

promote healthy choices 

among young people, and 

to provide information and 

support in relation to alcohol 

and drugs for professionals, 

parents, and young people 

themselves. The HPA will 

also work with partners in 

the criminal justice system to 

identify how alcohol and drug 

misuse among offenders can 

be addressed effectively. 


Nutrition and oral health 

Health and wellbeing are greatly enhanced by good 

nutrition, which helps protect against many illnesses, 

including heart disease, stroke, some cancers, 

obesity and diabetes. Working with a wide range 

of organisations, we have met strategic objectives 

through various activities. 

Healthier food in schools 

Work continued with the DE and Education and 

Library Boards to encourage children and young 

people to make healthy food choices that enhance and 

protect their health. 

Healthy eating book 

To improve children’s eating patterns, we collaborated 

with the FSA to support supermarket group J&J Haslett 

to develop a book for schoolchildren. The book, The 

Maceys annual school trip (also published in Irish), uses 

fun characters to communicate nutrition, oral health and 

physical activity messages to children. 

Nutritional standards for school meals were fi nalised 

and implemented in all schools since September and 

standards for all other food in schools, eg breakfast 

clubs, tuck shops and vending, have been introduced. 16 

A new three-year food in schools coordinator role, 

jointly funded by the DE and DHSSPS, started 

in February. With the DE, the HPA commissioned 

research to provide baseline information and guide 

future work on food in schools. 

Cook it! 

We supported Cook it! teams by contributing to tutor 

training and working with local coordinators to develop 

a food allergy risk assessment document. An executive 

summary of the evaluation of the lottery-funded phase of 

the Cook it! programme was published during the year. 

Diploma in nutrition and health 

The HPA, in partnership with the Food Standards 

Agency (FSA), the Northern Ireland Food Liaison 

Group, and registered dietitians from the four HSSB 

areas, delivered two diploma courses for Environmental 

Health Offi cers (EHOs). Twenty seven EHOs 

completed the course leading to the Royal Institute 

for Public Health’s Diploma in Nutrition and Health. 

The course enables them to provide advice to food 

businesses and basic nutrition training for caterers. 

Nutrition and dental health 

We worked with oral health and dietetic staff from the 

EHSSB to revise and update Nutrition and dental 

health: guidelines for professionals, fi rst developed for 

use within EHSSB. 17 This will ensure current nutrition 

and dental health information can be made available to 

professionals across Northern Ireland. 

Iain McKee, J&J Haslett Ltd, and Caitríona Ruane, Education 

Minister, with pupils from An Droichead Primary School, 

Belfast, at the launch of Na Maceys: Turas Scoile Bliaintiúil. 

Balmoral show 

The joint HPA/DHSSPS stand on nutrition and 

physical activity at the Balmoral show drew hundreds 

of visitors, who were invited to check their weight and 

height and access the ‘Get a life get active’ website. 


The HPA will continue to improve nutritional health by 

working to build capacity among professional groups 

that have an infl uence on food provided in various 

settings, and by giving advice to members of the 

public. 

We will publish new resources for the public and 

professionals, including the Nutrition and dental 

health guidelines and a leafl et entitled Enjoy healthy 

eating. We will develop resources to make the Cook 

it! programme more accessible to those with learning 

diffi culties. An interactive nutrition website for use 

by the public and a ‘Food in schools’ communication 

initiative are also planned. 

i 


Physical activity 

The HPA continues to highlight the health benefi ts of 

regular physical activity and assist in tackling growing 

obesity levels. In line with the Investing for Health 

strategy, the HPA continues to invest in training, 

research and public information. 5 

Community cash grant awards 

The ninth annual ‘Get active in the community cash 

grant awards’ scheme, funded by the DHSSPS, 

attracted 321 applications, of which 164 were funded 

in a process involving the HPA, the Community 

Foundation and the physical activity coordinators from 

each HSSB. Annual evaluation continues to show that 

the scheme enables local community and voluntary 

groups to develop locally based physical activity 

opportunities targeted at those people who are least 

physically active. 

Physical activity campaign 

A physical activity campaign in early February 2008 

had a particular focus on women as research shows 

that 72% of women in Northern Ireland do not 

participate in enough physical activity. This campaign 

featured a re-run of the television advertisement ‘Every 

step is a forward step’ and two radio advertisements. 

The campaign aimed to encourage more parents to 

walk their children to school. Posters on bus shelters 

were positioned close to primary schools. A magazine 

targeted at women was also produced. 

Actively Older 

A three-year partnership project between Age Concern 

Northern Ireland and the HPA started in July. The 

Actively Older project is funded by BIG and aims to 

offer practical training and advice on physical activity 

to approximately 400 older people’s groups affi liated 

to the Ageing Well network in Northern Ireland. The 

project assists groups to provide safe, risk-managed 

and sustainable physical activity programmes for those 

over 50 years of age. 

European Network for Action on Ageing and 

Physical Activity (EUNAAPA) 

The HPA collaborated on development of the evidence 

base in relation to physical activity and older people. 

Mapping of physical activity referral schemes 

In early 2008 the HPA commissioned a market 

research company to carry out a mapping exercise to 

assess the number of physical activity referral schemes 

operating across Northern Ireland and the mechanisms 

in place for training, delivery and evaluation of these 

schemes. 

Active for health 

In March the HPA hosted a joint seminar with Sport 

Northern Ireland aimed at raising awareness of the 

need to work in partnership to promote physical activity 

and sport. This event was used as an opportunity 

to launch a joint charter highlighting areas that both 

organisations will work on and was attended by over 

150 delegates. 

Walking for health 

The HPA, with local physical activity coordinators, 

developed a series of ‘Walking for health’ case studies. 

These case studies illustrate examples of local walking 

groups and highlight the key successes in making 

these groups sustainable. 


The HPA will continue to work in partnership with a 

range of regional and local organisations to increase 

participation in physical activity. The HPA is planning 

to organise a further seminar in partnership with Sport 

NI focusing on children and young people and also 

a joint seminar with Age Concern Northern Ireland 

on promoting physical activity for older people. The 

‘Walking for health’ case studies will be launched at a 

regional seminar in April 2008. 

Members of Age on stage performing at a ‘Get active in later 

life’ event organised by the HPA and Age Concern. 


i 

Breastfeeding 

Results from the Infant feeding survey 2005, published 

in May 2007, reveal that Northern Ireland had the most 

signifi cant increase in the UK in the last fi ve years in the 

number of mothers choosing to start breastfeeding. 18 

Research from the WHO and the World Cancer 

Research Fund highlights the signifi cant long-term health 

benefi ts of breastfeeding to both mother and baby. 

The past year has afforded many opportunities 

to promote and support breastfeeding at several 

levels. Work is ongoing to ensure both parents 

and professionals are well informed about why 

breastfeeding is important. 

Breastfeeding Awareness Week 

The theme for National Breastfeeding Awareness 

Week 2007 was ‘Fathers’ support’. A leafl et aimed at 

expectant and new fathers was developed to support 

the theme and a fathers’ section was added to 

www.breastfedbabies.org 

A public information campaign that included posters 

about the importance of breastfeeding also specifi cally 

targeted men through the sports sections of local 

newspapers and in the male washrooms of over 200 

entertainment venues. 

Training events 

Support for those involved in implementing best 

practice for breastfeeding included the provision of 

several training courses and seminars. UNICEF audit 

and education workshops were held in September. 

The Northern Ireland Breastfeeding Coordinators’ 

annual training seminar was held in February and 

focused on the challenges of caring for breastfeeding 

families from ethnic minority backgrounds. 

Baby Friendly conference 

In October 2007, the Waterfront Hall hosted the 

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative conference, the 

fi rst time it has been held in Belfast. The conference 

was a great success, attracting almost 700 delegates 

from throughout the UK and Ireland. 

An international line-up of guest speakers from Australia, 

the USA and England were in attendance. 

Almost 300 voluntary breastfeeding support workers 

and health professionals from Northern Ireland attended 

the conference and funding was made available by the 

DHSSPS Investing for Health team to ensure many 

delegates were supported to attend the conference. 

Breastfeeding skills DVD 

The HPA and the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative 

joined forces to develop the fi rst breastfeeding teaching 

resource in the UK to be available on DVD. The unique 

Teaching breastfeeding skills resource assists health 

professionals in the implementation of best practice 

standards for breastfeeding and is an invaluable tool for 

anyone involved in providing breastfeeding skills training. 


A Breastfeeding Awareness for Schools CD resource 

pack has been developed by the HPA in collaboration 

with CCEA. This resource will be available for every 

post-primary school in Northern Ireland. 

The third all-island breastfeeding conference is planned 

for October 2008 in Belfast. 

Breastfeeding celebration 

A special event was held in May to highlight 

Breastfeeding Awareness Week and acknowledge the 

commitment to breastfeeding in Northern Ireland. 

Over 100 people attended, including mothers and 

babies, leaders from breastfeeding groups, health 

professionals and public health commissioners. The 

parliamentary sponsor was Anna Lo MLA and speakers 

included the Chief Medical Offi cer Dr Michael McBride, 

Dr Brian Gaffney and Craig Masters, the father of a 

breastfed baby daughter. 

Anna Lo, MLA, and Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding 

Coordinator, HPA, with Craig and Natalie Masters and baby 

Holly at the Stormont event. 


Maternal and child health 

(including CEMACH) 

The Confi dential Enquiry into Maternal and Child 

Health (CEMACH) aims to improve the health 

of mothers, babies and children by carrying out 

confi dential enquiries on a nationwide basis and 

widely disseminating the fi ndings and information. 

The Northern Ireland regional offi ce is committed to 

these aims as shown by its contribution to all of the 

CEMACH work programmes. 

CEMACH perinatal mortality 

CEMACH published their annual perinatal mortality 

report for 2005 in April. 19 The report examined 

stillbirths, early or late fetal deaths in pregnancy, 

and deaths of babies in the fi rst four weeks of life in 

England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

The report shows good progress in survival rates 

in very preterm babies over the past 10 years, with 

overall neonatal mortality reported as 3.5 per 1,000 

live births. However, concerns were raised over the 

stillbirth rate in England and Wales, which has not 

improved since 1992. Regional variations are shown, 

with Northern Ireland comparing favourably with 

national results. 

The report was distributed to trusts in Northern 

Ireland along with trust specifi c reports for use by 

individual trusts for local benchmarking. 

CEMACH conference 

The CEMACH regional offi ce held a conference in 

March entitled ‘Saving mothers’ lives: translating 

recommendations into practice’. The main fi ndings 

and recommendations from the CEMACH report – 

Saving mothers’ lives: reviewing maternal deaths to make 

motherhood safer (2003–2005) were discussed. 20 

Dr Gwyneth Lewis, Medical Director of the Maternal 

Health Enquiry, and other guest speakers from England 

presented key fi ndings from the report and a local 

perspective was given by consultants Dr Ann Harper and 

Dr Janine Lynch. 

The event was attended by over 100 delegates from a 

wide range of health professions. The event was combined 

with an interactive workshop where the participants were 

encouraged to consider and plan ways to implement the 

recommendations within their areas of work. 

NICORE joins CEMACH at the HPA 

In April 2007, the Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes, 

Research and Evaluation group (NICORE) joined 

CEMACH as part of a wider maternal and child health 

offi ce at the HPA. 

NICORE consists of a network of health professionals 

working together towards improving outcomes for 

newborn infants admitted to neonatal care by formulating 

and delivering a coordinated programme of research, 

education and quality improvement strategies. This 

partnership will be a valuable step in providing enhanced 

information and quality improvement work in the fi eld of 

perinatal and child health. 


CEMACH plans to provide improved maternal and child 

health information for health providers by linking closely 

with other perinatal and child health information systems. 

At the Saving mothers’ lives 

conference are, from left, 

Dr Ann Harper, Central 

Assessor, CEMACH; 

Dr Maureen Scott, former 

CEMACH Coordinator; 

Dr Janine Lynch, Regional 

Psychiatric Assessor; 

Dr Inder Bali, former 

Anaesthetic Assessor; and 

Dr Angela Bell, Director of 

CEMACH. 


Sexual health 

Sexual health promotion incorporates a number of 

strands, including sex education, family planning, the 

prevention of unplanned pregnancy, the prevention 

of sexually transmitted infections and the prevention 

of the spread of HIV and AIDS. 

During the year the HPA continued to work to meet 

recommendations from the Teenage pregnancy and 

parenthood – strategy and action plan 2002–2007 

and contributed to the development of a draft sexual 

health promotion strategy. 21 

Valentine’s campaign 

To coincide with Valentine’s Day, the HPA 

commissioned the development of, and broadcast, a 

series of radio advertisements for 18–25 year olds. 

The campaign built on the success of a previous 

campaign and used humour to raise awareness about 

sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned 

pregnancy, safer sex and the impact alcohol and drugs 

have on decision-making and personal safety. 

This initiative was supported by local events 

organised by members of the Sexual Health 

Information Exchange Group (SHIEG) that focused 

on sexual health and risk-taking behaviours, and 

the role of community pharmacies in providing 

information on sexual health. 

Sex - think it through 

A campaign entitled ‘Think it through’, targeting 

young people who are thinking about having sex for 

the fi rst time or with a new partner, ran in March. 

The campaign focused on the 17–24 year old target 

group and is the fi rst step in a phased campaign 

to address strategic priorities including promoting 

sexual health and wellbeing. 

Ready or not? 

The HPA worked in partnership with members of 

SHIEG to develop a message for young people 

aged 14–16 years entitled ‘Ready or not? – Let’s 

leave it till later’. 

As evidence shows that most young people regret 

the fi rst time they have sex, the message encourages 

young people to delay early sex. The messages 

were developed to guide the future development of 

resources in this area. 

Sexual Health Information service 

The Sexual Health Information service (SHI), which 

is part-funded by the HPA, is provided by fpa 

and has fi ve outputs, including a helpline service; 

information and advice for the general public; 

medical, health and social services personnel; and, a 

letter and personal enquiry service. 

SHI enables the provision of an authoritative, 

up-to-date information service on a range of issues 

including sexual and reproductive health. Factsheets 

are available on the HPA website. 

During the year the fpa’s telephone helpline 

responded to over 4,000 enquiries. Analysis by 

fpa indicates that the greatest number of enquiries 

continues to relate to the locality and opening 

times of community family planning clinics, and, are 

from women faced with an unplanned pregnancy. 

Enquiries from a range of black and minority ethnic 

groups continue to rise. 


Resources on delaying early sex, targeted at young 

people and those who work with them, will be 

developed, produced and disseminated. 

i 

Cross-border links will be further explored to develop 

and promote the ‘Ready or not?’ message. 

The HPA will continue to facilitate SHIEG and will 

continue its contribution to the implementation 

of strategy related to teenage pregnancy and 

parenthood, and sexual health. 


Mental health 

The HPA aims to promote and increase understanding 

of good mental health by contributing to the targets set 

out in Investing for Health, the Mental health promotion 

strategy and action plan 2003–2008 and Protect 

life – a shared vision: The Northern Ireland suicide 

prevention strategy and action plan 2006–2011. 22 

Pupils’ emotional health and wellbeing 

The promotion of pupils’ emotional health and 

wellbeing is identifi ed as a priority at Ministerial level. 

The DE established a programme to address this, 

focusing on post-primary schools. The HPA contributed 

to a workshop held by DE and working groups were 

set up to take forward aspects of the programme. The 

HPA is contributing to a number of these and is on the 

steering group. 

UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Wellbeing in 

Later Life 

The Inquiry, of which the HPA is a board member, 

published its second and fi nal report in August 2007 

entitled Improving services and support for older 

people with mental health problems. 23 The Inquiry, 

which began in late 2003, circulated the report 

throughout Northern Ireland. 

Mental health promotion and suicide prevention 

In response to training objectives identifi ed within the 

mental health strategy and the Northern Ireland suicide 

prevention strategy, the HPA was commissioned to 

carry out a comprehensive audit and evaluation of 

training programmes in Northern Ireland. A consultation 

to map provision was completed, and a training needs 

analysis was begun to help inform the development of a 

training strategy. 

Mental Health Promotion Network 

The HPA facilitated this network of agencies from the 

voluntary, community and 

statutory sectors that 

works to promote mental 

health and wellbeing. 

To celebrate World 

Mental Health Day the 

network worked together 

to organise fi ve seminars 

that were attended by 

over 600 people across 

Northern Ireland. 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 

As a result of increased demand, the HPA purchased 

the licence from MHFA Australia to adapt its teaching 

materials for use specifi cally in Northern Ireland. 24 

Training events and workshops were also staged. 

Mind your head 

A review of the Mind your head materials that promote 

positive mental health among students in further and 

higher education was completed and an updated 

resource is being developed. 

‘Minding your head’ public information campaign 

Entitled ‘Look after your mental health’, this phase 

included posters; leafl ets; a newsletter; radio 

advertisements; www.mindingyourhead.info website 

and two television advertisements, targeting the whole 

population and young men aged 16–24. 

GP depression awareness training 

The HPA worked in partnership with health and 

social care trusts, Aware Defeat Depression, Families 

Bereaved by Suicide, the British Medical Association, 

and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training 

Agency to produce a training programme and 

supporting resources for GPs. 

Design for Living (DFL) seminars 

The DFL partnership of Action Mental Health, the Youth 

Council for Northern Ireland, and the HPA organised 

four seminars relating to: child and adolescent mental 

health; promoting mental health through physical 

activity; young men and self-esteem; and, self-esteem 

and relationships. In response to demand for the DFL 

‘Sound mind’ resources, which provide information 

on mental health for 13–18 year olds in post-primary 

schools, 10,000 practitioner guides and 26,500 leafl ets 

were reprinted and distributed to schools. 

Northern Ireland Child Minders Association (NICMA) 

The HPA worked with NICMA to organise a conference 

entitled ‘Mind and body’, which focused on the 

mental and emotional health and wellbeing of both 

childminders and those they look after. 


The HPA will continue to work towards targets set out 

in the promoting mental health and suicide prevention 

strategies, particularly through the development of 

training and public information campaigns. 

i 


Health protection 

Health protection involves the prevention and control 

of infectious diseases and other environmental 

threats to the health of the population. 

During the year the HPA provided information 

to both health professionals and the public to 

encourage the uptake of appropriate interventions 

that will protect and maintain health. 

Hib catch-up campaign 

The HPA produced a public information leafl et 

and a question and answer factsheet for health 

professionals to support the new immunisation 

catch-up programme that will be running until 

March 2009. 

This programme involves a booster immunisation 

of Haemophilus infl uenzae type B (Hib) for young 

children who have not previously received one. 

This will provide extra protection against illnesses 

caused by Hib infection, including meningitis, blood 

poisoning (septicaemia) and pneumonia. 

Parents receive the information leafl et from the child 

health system along with an invitation to bring their 

child for the vaccine. Limited supplies of the leafl et 

are also available from GPs, pharmacists and the 

central health promotion resource services. 

The leafl et was translated into Lithuanian, Polish and 

Portuguese, as requested by the DHSSPS, with 

further translations possible if necessary. 

Healthcare associated infections 

Under the Action plan for the prevention and control 

of healthcare associated infections in Northern 

Ireland 2006–2009, the HPA was commissioned to 

develop a hospital leafl et providing concise and easy 

to understand information on healthcare associated 

infections for patients and visitors. 25 

The leafl et was developed and tested along with two 

posters to help advertise its availability, particularly 

to visitors. 

A large print-run of one million leafl ets and 5,000 

posters was produced and distributed to health 

and social care trusts for onward distribution to 

hospitals. The leafl et was translated into nine 

regional or ethnic minority languages, for healthcare 

staff to download for patients and visitors whose fi rst 

language is not English. 

Flu immunisation 

The HPA continued to support the fl u immunisation 

programme with the print and distribution of a 

range of fl u immunisation posters and information 

leafl ets. These were distributed to GPs, pharmacies, 

nursing homes and residential homes, as well as 

the central health promotion resource services and 

occupational health departments in the health and 

social care trusts. 

This year the HPA also organised the distribution of 

leafl ets in special pre-paid envelopes for use by GPs 

in targeting their over 65s and at-risk patients. 

Breast screening 

Reprints of the four breast awareness/screening 

leafl ets to support the Northern Ireland Breast 

Screening Programme were produced earlier than 

expected this year due to increased demand. Two 

of the four leafl ets are available to download from 

the HPA’s website in a number of regional/ethnic 

minority languages. 


The HPA will continue to support the work of 

communicable disease control and the promotion of 

screening programmes by developing materials or 

information campaigns as necessary. 

This will include a campaign to implement the new 

school-based HPV programme to vaccinate all girls 

in Year 9 (aged 12–13) with a catch-up programme 

running until 2011. Other childhood immunisation 

materials 

will subsequently 

be updated to 

include this new 

information. 

An interim reprint 

of materials 

supporting 

the childhood 

immunisation 

programme will be 

produced. 

i 


Communications 

Accurate and relevant health information is essential if 

individuals are to make improvements to their health. 

The HPA is committed to achieving high quality 

standards in all aspects of its communications practice. 

Public information campaigns 

This year the HPA undertook many major public 

information campaigns, including a new campaign 

highlighting the health risks associated with smoking 

and the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes. The 

campaign included television, radio, poster and online 

advertising as well as the innovative use of SMS text 

messaging to provide smokers with support. 

Mental health campaign work featured throughout the 

year and included a joint North/South campaign that 

ran during Mental Health Awareness Week in October. 

A physical activity campaign incorporated many 

different media including a magazine. The health 

effects of binge drinking were also highlighted through 

television, poster and radio advertising. 

A new sexual health campaign entitled ‘Sex. Don’t 

just do it. Think it through,’ aimed to encourage young 

people to think before starting a sexual relationship for 

the fi rst time or with a new partner. 

Several HPA campaigns were recognised at the 

prestigious IPA Best of Health Awards 2007, which 

showcase and reward the best in creativity in 

healthcare advertising. HPA campaigns received two 

silver and eight bronze awards. 

throughout the year including the following sites – 

www.mindingyourhead.com; www.spacetobreathe.org.uk ; 

www.up-2-you.net and www.breastfedbabies.org 

A major undertaking during the year was the development 

and launch of the pod e-learning site at www.hpa-pod.org 

In support of the HPA’s mental health programme, we also 

developed a CD-ROM to promote depression awareness 

training for general practice. 

Corporate communications 

We produced six issues of our bimonthly newsletter, 

Inform, to keep colleagues up to date on current and 

upcoming HPA work. The HPA’s Annual report was 

offi cially launched on 5 September. 

Press and publicity 

The HPA handled a signifi cant increase in media enquiries 

during the year, particularly around smoking and mental 

health. This was as a result of the need to raise public 

awareness of the new smoking legislation and the 

promotion of the fi rst mass media campaign to raise 

awareness of positive mental health. 


The HPA will continue to develop innovative 

communications with the public and professionals, 

including the further exploitation of electronic 

communications. We will continue to develop relevant 

information materials as measured by market testing and 

other research processes, and will ensure our work is 

accessible to all of our audiences in accordance with our 

Communications strategy and Protocols. 

i 

i 

i 

Publications for professionals and the public 

During the year the HPA updated and reprinted over 

60 publications. The translation of existing and new 

materials into an increasing number of regional and 

ethnic languages continued. 

Effective communications 

As part of the commitment to use innovative and 

effective ways to make our work more accessible, 

the HPA developed an e-learning course on smoking 

cessation. 

Electronic communications 

The HPA has continued to develop and expand its 

electronic presence, both online and on CD/DVD. 

Many of our websites received regular updates 

Margaret 

McCrory, 

Marketing 

Manager, HPA, 

and Tara West, 

Copywriter, 

Genesis 

Advertising, 

pictured with the 

10 awards from 

the Institute of 

Practitioners in 

Advertising Best 

of Health Awards. 


International collaboration 

During the year the HPA worked in partnership with a 

range of organisations and agencies in the Republic 

of Ireland, the UK and internationally in pursuit of our 

key objectives and to further develop the wider health 

promotion agenda. 

Cross-border 

The HPA continued to meet with partners from the 

Health Service Executive, the Department of Health 

and Children (ROI) and DHSSPS to share information 

and undertake a range of joint collaborations. 

The mental health/suicide prevention campaign was 

developed in collaboration with the National Offi ce of 

Suicide Prevention, resulting in the ‘It’s me’, ‘Share it’ 

and ‘Amazing’ advertisements being broadcast in both 

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 

The HPA contributed to projects arising from the 

ministerial-led all-island suicide prevention action plan 

and lent support towards a bursary programme for the 

Twenty Fourth Biennial Congress of the International 

Association for Suicide Prevention, held in Killarney. 

The 4 th All-Ireland Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) 

Conference was held in Armagh during October. As 

part of the HPH programme, the HPA developed a 

master class, led by Professor Blake Poland from the 

University of Toronto, which catered for a range of 

health service colleagues from both Northern Ireland 

and the Republic of Ireland. 

Disease Prevention and works with WHO in a number 

of areas, including research projects aimed at further 

developing health promoting settings, and a variety 

of communication, education and training initiatives. 

This year was the HPA’s 18 th year of coordinating 

the WHO EURO Countrywide Integrated 

Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention (CINDI) 

Programme. 

Communications worldwide 

Building on the success of the Mental Health First 

Aid (MHFA) pilot programme undertaken within 

the Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) 

border region, the HPA signed a memorandum of 

understanding with the programme developers – 

MHFA Australia. 

Under this arrangement the HPA has started to 

develop the core resources of the MHFA programme 

for delivery to a range of interested stakeholders 

throughout Northern Ireland, in pursuit of key 

objectives for promoting mental health and preventing 

suicide. 24 


We welcome the opportunity to further develop 

cross-border collaboration through closer partnership 

working. We also welcome the chance to develop 

closer links and collaboration around public health 

issues with our international colleagues. 

East–west collaboration 

The HPA works regularly with partners from a range 

of UK based organisations. Some of the highlights 

during the year included the hosting of the 10 th 

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative conference, 

which attracted almost 700 delegates, and the 

development of the fi rst UK DVD teaching resource 

on breastfeeding. 

The HPA continues to work in partnership with the 

settings unit at the University of Central Lancashire 

and delivered the training module on ‘Healthy settings: 

Theory, policy and practice’. 

WHO/CINDI 

The HPA is an accredited WHO Collaborating Centre 

for Training and Research in Communications and 

Information Technology in Health Promotion and 


Operating and financial review 

For the purposes of fi nancial reporting, the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland is abbreviated 

throughout this section to NIHPA. 

REVENUE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 

31 MARCH 2008 

2008 2007 

£ £ 

Income from activities 5,238,833 5,226,431 

Other operating income 90,349 98,866 

5,329,182 5,325,297 

Operating expenses 5,349,438 5,353,801 

Operating surplus/(deficit) (20,256) (28,504) 

OPERATIONAL SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) BEFORE PROVISIONS (20,256) (28,504) 

Provisions for future obligations (4,023) 0 

RETAINED SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR (24,279) (28,504) 

Adjustment for capital charges and other non-cash costs 28,673 37,382 

Operating results for the financial year excluding capital 

charges and other non-cash costs 4,394 8,878 

All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities. 

CAPITAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 

31 MARCH 2008 

2008 2007 

£ £ 

Income 

Capital advances from DHSSPS 0 11,000 

Other capital income 0 0 

Total capital income 0 11,000 

Expenditure 

IT equipment 3,520 14,239 

Furniture and equipment 0 5,374 

Total capital expenditure 3,520 19,613 

SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR (3,520) (8,613) 


BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2008 

FIXED ASSETS 

2008 2007 

£ £ 

Tangible assets 72,011 103,623 

CURRENT ASSETS 

Stock 4,147 4,383 

Debtors: amounts receivable within one year 700,968 759,059 

Debtors: amounts receivable after one year 0 47,000 

Cash at bank and in hand 6,855 8,266 

711,970 818,708 

CURRENT LIABILITIES 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (702,683) (763,295) 

NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 9,287 55,413 

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 81,298 159,036 

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 0 (51,023) 

Provisions for liabilities and charges (4,023) 0 

TOTAL ASSETS EMPLOYED 77,275 108,013 

FINANCED BY: 

Capital reserve: 

Capital account 72,011 103,623 

Income and expenditure reserve: 

Revenue 286,824 282,430 

Capital (281,560) (278,040) 

77,275 108,013 

STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES FOR THE YEAR 

ENDED 31 MARCH 2008 

2008 2007 

£ £ 

Operating results for the financial year excluding capital charges 

and other non-cash costs 4,394 8,878 

Unrealised surplus/(defi cit) on the revaluation and indexation of fi xed 

assets (42,405) (45,009) 

Total gains/(losses) recognised in financial year (38,011) (36,131) 



CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2008 

2008 2007 

£ £ 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 2,109 14,689 

Capital expenditure 

Payments to acquire tangible fi xed assets (3,520) (19,613) 

Proceeds from sales of tangible fi xed assets 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from capital expenditure (3,520) (19,613) 

Management of liquid resources 

Purchase of current asset investment 0 0 

Sale of current asset investment 0 0 

Net cash infl ow/(outfl ow) from management of liquid resources 0 0 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing (1,411) (4,924) 

Financing 

Capital funding 0 11,000 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 

Increase/(decrease) in cash and bank balances (1,411) 6,076 


Controls assurance 

A number of controls assurance standards have been identifi ed by the DHSSPS in order to assist all 

HPSS bodies to ensure that basic structures and processes are in place to underpin a sound system of 

risk management. Each of the standards identifi es criteria that the organisation should be assessed against. 

The current year saw the addition of a new standard, research governance. The challenge for the NIHPA 

is ensuring that our response to a wide range of standards is proportional to the risk and relevance for the 

organisation. The NIHPA has met or exceeded the minimum Departmental requirement in all of the relevant 

controls assurance standards. In the 2007/2008 year the NIHPA performance against the standards was: 

Standard Progress expected by Position recorded 

DHSSPS in 2007/2008 by NIHPA, May 2008 

Financial management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 86% 

Governance Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 86% 

Risk management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 73% 

Buildings, land, plant and non-medical equipment Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 70% 

Fire safety Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 76% 

Health and safety Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 71% 

Human resources Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 83% 

Information communication technology Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 71% 

Environmental management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 70% 

Waste management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 79% 

Records management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 71% 

Purchase and supply Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 71% 

Security management Substantive Substantive 

70–99% 70% 

Research governance Moderate Substantive 

30–69% 73% 



Remuneration report 

Remuneration Committee Membership 

The NIHPA’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 executives, and any other matters concerning staff remuneration 

that are a matter for NIHPA determination. The advice provided and any recommendations made are based 

on current DHSSPS guidance and policy. 

Remuneration of Chief Executive 

The terms and conditions of service of this appointment are from the Joint Councils for the Health and 

Personal Social Services (NI) hospital medical and dental staff, doctors and dentists in public health and the 

community health service. Performance related pay is not applicable. 

Progress in achieving objectives and performance of the duties of the post are reviewed annually. The annual 

appraisal and job planning process are carried out in accordance with guidance issued by DHSSPS and 

agreed with the BMA (NI). 

Service contract 

Dr Brian Gaffney was appointed as Chief Executive on 1 August 1996 for a fi xed-term period of fi ve years. 

A permanent contract of employment took effect from 1 August 2001. The period of notice required is three 

months. 

Currently employees are required to retire at 65. Under the Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 

2006, employees will be able to request to work beyond 65. 

Compensation for premature retirement 

The NIHPA participates in the DHSSPS Superannuation Scheme. There is provision within the scheme for 

premature retirement, with immediate payment of superannuation benefi ts and compensation for eligible 

employees on the grounds of effi ciency of the service; redundancy or organisational change. 

Employers who retire staff early on any of the above grounds must pay the basic pension plus increases up to 

normal retirement age; the enhancement element of the pension plus increases for as long as this remains in 

payment; the enhancement element of the lump sum and the actuarial charge for payment of the basic lump 

sum before normal retirement age. There is also provision within the scheme for early retirement with benefi ts 

on health grounds subject to confi rmation of permanent incapacity by HPSS Medical Advisers. 


Salary and pension entitlements 

The salary, pension entitlements, and the value of any taxable benefi ts in kind of the most senior member of 

the NIHPA were as follows: 

Salary Benefits Real increase Total accrued CETV at CETV at Real increase in 

including in kind in pension pension at age 31/3/07 31/3/08 CETV after 

performance and related 60 and related adjustment for 

pay lump sum at lump sum inflation and 

age 60 

changes in market 

investment factors 

£’000 £ £ £ £ £ £ 

Executive member – Dr Brian Gaffney 

110–115 0 9,701 128,053 436,306 503,811 38,290 

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 

Cash Equivalent Transfer Values (CETV) 

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 benefi ts accrued by a member at a particular point in time. The benefi ts 

valued are the member’s accrued benefi ts 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 benefi ts in another 

pension scheme or arrangement when the member leaves the scheme and chooses to transfer the benefi ts 

accrued in their former scheme. The pension fi gures shown relate to the benefi ts 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 fi gures include the value of any pension benefi ts in 

another scheme or arrangement, which the individual has transferred to the DHSSPS pension scheme. They 

also include any additional pension benefi t 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 refl ects the increase in CETV effectively funded by the employer. It takes account of the increase in 

accrued pension due to infl ation, contributions paid by the employee (including the value of any benefi ts 

transferred from another pension scheme or arrangement) and uses common market valuation factors for the 

start and end of the period. 



Public sector payment policy 

Measure of compliance 

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety requires that the NIHPA 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 NIHPA’s compliance for 2007/08, based on a sample of 5% of non-HSC trade creditors, was: 

2008 2008 2007 2007 

Number Value Number Value 

£ £ 

Total bills sampled 74 1,303,838 72 1,375,205 

Total bills sampled paid within 30 days 70 1,300,208 69 1,362,798 

% of sampled bills paid within 30 days 94.6% 99% 95.8% 99% 

Audit and internal audit 

External and statutory audit services are provided to the NIHPA by the Northern Ireland Audit Offi ce. The 

notional cost of this service in the year 2007/2008 was £13,739. 

Internal audit services are provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The internal audit plan includes a review of 

compliance with controls assurance standards. 

Statement on disclosure of audit information 

As far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the NIHPA’s auditors are 

unaware. We have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken as Directors in order to make ourselves 

aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the NIHPA’s auditors are aware of that 

information. 

This annual report, including the summary fi nancial statements, was approved by the NIHPA Board at its 

meeting on 7 July 2008. 

Alice Quinn 

Chair 



This summary fi nancial statement does not contain suffi cient information for a full understanding of the activities 

and performance of the NIHPA. For further information, the full accounts, including the Statement on Internal 

Control and Annual Report and Auditor’s Report for the year ended 31 March 2008 should be consulted. 

Copies of the NIHPA’s full annual accounts, including the Statement on Internal Control, 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 


NORTHERN IRELAND HEALTH PROMOTION AGENCY 

STATEMENT OF THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL TO THE 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY 

I have examined the summary fi nancial statements which comprise the Revenue Income and Expenditure 

Account, Capital Income and Expenditure Accounts, Balance Sheet, Statement of Total Recognised Gains 

and Losses and Cashfl ow Statement set out on pages 24 to 26. 

Respective responsibilities of the Agency, Accounting Officer and Auditor 

The Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency and Chief Executive as Accounting Offi cer are responsible for 

preparing the summary fi nancial statement. 

My responsibility is to report to you my opinion on the consistency of the summary fi nancial statement within 

the Annual Report with the full fi nancial 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 the implications for my 

certifi cate if I become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summary 

fi nancial statement. 

Basis of Opinion 

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

statement’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board. My report on the Agency’s full annual fi nancial statements 

describes the basis of my audit opinions on those fi nancial statements and the part of the Remuneration 

Report to be audited. 

Opinion 

In my opinion, the summary fi nancial statement is consistent with the full annual fi nancial statements of the 

Health Promotion Agency for the year ended 31 March 2008 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 

Northern Ireland Audit Office 

106 University Street 

BELFAST BT7 1EU 

22 July 2008 


The HPA Board 

The HPA Board, back row, from left, Professor Stewart McNulty, Dr Brian Gaffney, Alice Quinn, Dr Colin Sullivan and Anthony Harbinson. 

Front row, from left, Janet Leckey, Tom Moore, Mary MacDonnell and Valerie Owens. Board member Tina Gallagher, not pictured. 

Ms Alice Quinn 

Chair of the HPA. Joined the HPA 

after a career in retailing with Marks 

& Spencer. Chair of Proteus, a 

non-executive member of the Public 

Prosecution Service management 

board, an external board member of the 

Northern Ireland Civil Service Centre 

for Applied Learning, and a board 

member of Fold Housing Association. 

Also a member of the International 

Women’s Forum and an Independent 

Assessor for Public Appointments. 


Chief Executive of the HPA. Broad 

experience in the health service as 

a GP, consultant in public health 

medicine, and in research and 

academic medicine. Head of the World 

Health Organization Collaborating 

Centre based at the HPA. 

Tina Gallagher 

A member of the Senior Civil Service 

within HM Revenue and Customs and 

currently Head of Quality and Change 

for HMRC Contact Centres. A former 

Director of the Inland Revenue in 

Northern Ireland. 

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. 

A lay magistrate and former Chair of 

the Northern Ireland Lay Magistrates’ 

Association. Lay member on the 

Valuation Tribunal. 

Ms Mary MacDonnell 

Primary Care Manager, Services for 

Older People with South East Social 

Care Trust, based in Lisburn Health 

Centre. Lay Member of the Northern 

Ireland Care Tribunal. 

Professor Stewart McNulty 

Professor Emeritus of Veterinary 

Science at Queen’s University Belfast. 

Former Chief Veterinary Research 

Offi cer, Department of Agriculture and 

Rural Development (DARD). He is also 

a Board member of the Agri-Food and 

Biosciences Institute. 

Mr Tom Moore 

Former Education and Training Offi cer 

with the Irish Congress of Trade 

Unions. Chairperson of Newry and 

Mourne Local Strategy Partnership 

and its representative on the Southern 

Investing for Health Partnership. 

Ms Valerie Owens 

An independent social worker since 

retiring from the Probation Board. 

Involved in the development of the 

Safer Lives project for young adult 

offenders and a mentor in the Stable 

and Acute 2007 Risk Assessment 

model for adult sex offenders. 

Dr Colin Sullivan 

Director of Operations, Northern 

Ireland Social Security Agency. 

Background in clinical optometry, 

research, health and social services 

management, and international 

consultancy in the health and social 

services sector. 


HPA staff and directors 

(from 31 March 2007 to 1 April 2008) 

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 

Chief Executive’s office 

Martine Mateer 

Personal Assistant to the Chief 

Executive 

Dr John Yarnell 

Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular 

Epidemiology 

(Joint appointment with The 

Queen’s University of Belfast) 

Communications 

Sean Arbuckle 

Graphic Artist 

Gavin Bell 

Publications Offi cer 

Catherine Brown 


Stephen Cousins 

Web Developer 

Michele Crooks 


Sinead Byrne 

Marketing Offi cer 

Jenny Dougan 

Public Relations Offi cer 

Edel Gallagher 


Linda Giles 


Daniel Gill 

Web Development Assistant 

Ruth Knowles 

Publications Development 

Manager 

Stephen Lagan 

Web Development Student 

Placement 

Alan Martin 

Design, Production and 

Electronic Communications 

Manager 

Margaret McCrory 

Marketing Manager 

Adam McCune 

Web Development Assistant 

Rosemary McGaughey 

Public Relations Offi cer 

Kelly McIntyre 


Stephen McKenna 


Arthur McVeigh 

Graphic Artist 

Tony Sheridan 

Communications Manager 

Confidential Enquiry into 

Maternal and Child Health 

(CEMACH NI) 

Malcolm Buchanan 

Higher Clerical Offi cer 

Terry Falconer 

Project Manager 

Joanne Gluck 

Clinical Research Midwife 

Dr Claire Willis 

Consultant: Public Health 

Corporate services 

Donna Beer 

Support Services Administrator 

Lesley Blackstock 


Fiona Campbell 

Human Resources Manager 

Carrie Crossan 


Catherine Curley 

Catering Assistant 

Stephanie Hamilton 

Clerical Offi cer with reception 

duties 

Claire Hind 

Events Coordinator 

Shane MacManus 

IT Manager 

Ann Marie McCann 


Marie McCloskey 

Finance and Administration 

Manager 

Noreen Savage 

Human Resources Offi cer 

Kirsten Sharvin 

Clerical Offi cer 

Ciara Shivers 

Finance Assistant 

Joanna Whitlaw 

Clerical Offi cer with reception 

duties 

Health intelligence 

Dr Karen Beattie 

Research Offi cer 

Siobhan Crilly 

Research and Information 

Assistant 

Laura Donnelly 

Health Development Offi cer 

(Nutrition) 

Dr Andrew Gamble 


(Information and research) 

Dr Gillian Gilmore 

Health Intelligence Manager 

Dr Diana Gossrau-Breen 


Laura Hunter 


(Information) 

Louise Hagan 


(Information) 

Lindsay MacDonald 


Naomi McCay 


Dr Laura McGowan 


Julie Neill 


(Information) 

Kate Reakes 


(Information) 

Neonatal Intensive Care, 

Outcomes, Research and 

Evaluation group (NICORE) 

Amy McAuley 

Health Research Assistant 

Planning and coordination 

Stephen Wilson 

Senior Manager, Planning and 

Coordination 

Programme development 

Nicola Browne 

Senior Manager, Public Health 

Janet Calvert 

Regional Breastfeeding 

Coordinator 

Victoria Creasy 


Jennifer McBratney 

Food in Schools Coordinator 

Angela McComb 


Nicola McKee 


Michelle McMaster 

Mental Health Promotion 

Coordinator: Training and 

Development 

Deirdre McNamee 


Joan Murphy 

Healthy Settings Coordinator 

(Healthy Schools) 

Aodhan O’Donnell 


Barbara Porter 

Coordinator Health Promoting 

Health Service Programme 

(Supporting health in hospitals) 

Sarah Reid 

Healthy Settings Coordinator 

(Workplaces) 


Acronyms 

AAW – Actively Ageing Well 

AIDS – Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrome 

BIG – Big Lottery Fund 

CAWT – Cooperation and Working Together 

CCEA – Council for the Curriculum, Examinations 

and Assessment 

CEMACH – Confi dential Enquiry into Maternal and 

Child Health 

CINDI – Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable 

Diseases Intervention 

CMO – Chief Medical Offi cer 

DE – Department of Education 

DFL – Design for Living 

DHSSPS – Department of Health, Social Services 

and Public Safety 

EHO – Environmental Health Offi cer 

EHSSB – Eastern Health and Social Services Board 

fpa – Family Planning Association 

FSA – Food Standards Agency 

Hib – Haemophilus infl uenzae type b 

HIV – Human Immunodefi ciency Virus 

HLC – Healthy Living Centre 

HPA – Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland 

HPH – Health Promoting Hospitals 

HPSS – Health and Personal Social Services 

HPV – Human Papillomavirus Vaccine 

HSC – Health and Social Care 

HSS – Health and Social Services 

HSSB – Health and Social Services Board 

HSST – Health and Social Services Trust 

IfH – Investing for Health 

IPH – Institute of Public Health 

KSF – Knowledge and Skills Framework 

LSCB – Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards 

Men – Meningitis (as in Men C) 

MHFA – Mental Health First Aid 

MLA – Member of Legislative Assembly 

NICMA – Northern Ireland Childminders Association 

NICE – National Institute for Health and Clinical 

Excellence 

NICORE – Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes 

Research and Evaluation 

PBNI – Probation Board for Northern Ireland 

PDF – Portable Document Format 

pod – Professional Online Development 

PSNI – Police Service of Northern Ireland 

RAPHSW – Regional Agency for Public Health and 

Social Well-being 

RPA – Review of Public Administration 

RSE – Relationship and Sexuality Education 

RTU – Regional Training Unit 

SHI – Sexual Health Information 

SHIEG – Sexual Health Information Exchange Group 

SME – Small and Medium-sized Enterprise 

STI – Sexually Transmitted Infection 

UCLan – University of Central Lancashire 

UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund 

WHO – World Health Organization 


References 

1. Department of Health, Social Services and Public 

Safety. The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. 

Belfast: The Stationery Offi ce, 2006. 


Safety. Proposals for health and social care reform. 

www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/rpaannouncement.pdf Last 

accessed 4 August 2008 

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

Protect life: a shared vision. The Northern Ireland suicide 

prevention strategy and action plan 2006–2011. 

Belfast: DHSSPS, 2006. 

4. Northern Ireland Executive. Review of public 

administration. www.rpani.gov.uk 

Last accessed 4 August 2008. 


Safety. Investing for Health. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2002. 

6. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 

NICE clinical guideline no 37. Routine postnatal care 

of women and their babies. London: NICE, 2006. 


NICE public health intervention guidance 3. One to 

one interventions to reduce the transmission of sexually 

transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, and to reduce 

the rate of under 18 conceptions, especially among 

vulnerable and at risk groups. London: NICE, 2007. 


Mental wellbeing of children in primary education – 

consultation on synopsis of the evidence. www.nice. 

org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=folder&r=true&o= 

3633 1 



Safety. Consultation questionnaire on minimum age of 

sale of tobacco products. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2007. 

10. Age Concern Northern Ireland. Actively Ageing Well 

Factsheets. www.ageconcernni.org/factsheets.htm 


11. The Institute of Public Health in Ireland, the 

Community Development and Health Network, the 

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, and 

the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. 

Community Planning: The key to tackling health 

inequalities. Belfast: HPA et al, 2008. 

12. Department for Social Development. Tackling fuel 

poverty: A partnership approach. The Northern Ireland 

Fuel Poverty Advisory Group’s 2007 annual report. 

Belfast: DSD, 2007. 

13. Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. 

Working for health: a long-term workplace health 

strategy for Northern Ireland. Belfast: HSENI, 2003. 


Safety. A fi ve year tobacco action plan 2003–2008. 

Belfast: DHSSPS, 2003. 


Safety. New strategic direction for alcohol and drugs 

2006–2011. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2006. 

16. Department of Education. New nutritional standards 

for school lunches and other food in schools. 

Belfast: DE, 2007. 

17. Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland and the 

Eastern Health and Social Services Board. Nutrition 

and dental health: guidelines for professionals. 

Belfast: HPA and EHSSB, 2008. 

18. The Information Centre for health and social care. 

Infant feeding survey 2005. London: The Information 

Centre, 2005. 

19. Confi dential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. 

Perinatal mortality 2005. London: CEMACH, 2007. 

20. Confi dential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. 

Saving mothers’ lives: reviewing maternal deaths to 

make motherhood safer (2003–2005). 

London: CEMACH, 2007. 

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

Teenage pregnancy and parenthood: strategy and action 

plan 2002–2007. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2002. 


Safety. Promoting mental health strategy and action 

plan 2003–2008. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2003. 

23. UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later 

Life. Improving services and support for older people 

with mental health problems. London: Age Concern 

England, 2007. 

24. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF. Mental Health First Aid 

Manual. Melbourne: Orygen Research Centre, 2002. 


Safety. Action plan for the prevention and control of 

healthcare associated infections in Northern Ireland 

2006–2009. Belfast: DHSSPS, 2006.


18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS 

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


ISBN 978-1-874602-62-0 

08/08

here - Health Promotion Agency

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?