The National Heart Alliance (NHA) and the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) launched this advocacy Position Paper Building young hearts - physical activity, young people and the physical environment in April 2010.  The Paper aims to show how the physical environment can improve young people's opportunities for physical activity and that it should be a key focus of policy for Government and Local Authorities.  The NHA and IHF are advocating for a more supportive environment for the promotion of physical activity, particu

Before each census the CSO engages in an extensive public consultation process. Consultation on the content of Census 2011 took place in 2008 and the content has been agreed by the Government.

The second phase of the consultation process sought the views of the public on the outputs that will be produced from the 2011 census. IPH responded to a series of CSO questions that were posted ion the CSO website.
 
Access the series of consultation questions on the CSO website at http://www.cso.ie/census/PublicConsult2011/PublicConsult2011.htm

Palliative care and end of life care is the active, holistic care of patients with advanced and progressive illness.  It is an integral part of the care delivered by all health and social care professionals, and indeed by families and carers, to those living with, and dying from any advanced, progressive and incurable conditions.  The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (NI) issued a consultation document on a 5 year Strategy in December 2009.

The Department for Regional Development (NI) recently consulted on policy proposals for a Belfast rapid transit.  Full details of the consultation can be accessed here

The IPH response highlighted the need for the proposal to maximise potential for health and a coordinated approach to the development of active travel in Northern Ireland providing alternatives to private transport, increasing physical activity and reducing obesity. 

The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022 (draft) is a policy document which aims to direct the future growth of the Greater Dublin Area over the medium to long term and works to implement the strategic planning framework set out in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) published in 2002.  A series of recommendations have been made to Local Authorities clearly linked to and supporting the national investment in transport, particularly public transport, under Transport 21.  The draft was prepared and agreed for public consultation.

IPH recognise that housing and regeneration initiatives are key determinants of health and  and have responded to the Department for Social Development (DSD), Draft Regeneration and Housing Bill.

Access the original consultation here http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/consultations/consultation-draft-regenerat...

The next Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine will be held in Belfast.

Further details will be confirmed at http://www.socsocmed.org.uk/