3 June 2008

Life Channel Launch in Northern Ireland

The project has been developed by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Southern Health and Social Services Board in partnership with Craigavon Borough Council, PSNI, Craigavon Community Safety Partnership and Community Safety Unit Northern Ireland Office.

Craigavon and Banbridge are the first areas of Northern Ireland to introduce The Life Channel which is widely used across England by the Department of Health.

The programme includes a range of advertisements and information in line with Department of Health guidance, for example on physical activity, suicide prevention, domestic violence and home safety. Local surgery information and health promotion information from GP practices will also be included.

Councillor Robert Smith, Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council who hosted the launch said: “I am delighted to have been a part of the process of bringing the Life Channel to Northern Ireland and welcome the opportunity to showcase our services as a Council to the public, the ratepayer through this new media.”

Dr Gillian Rankin, Director of Older People and Primary Care for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The Life Channel offers an effective communication method for the Trust to reach a large target audience across the community. We hope that this health information programme will help us to share important health promotion messages, information on a range of chronic health conditions and about the services we provide. It also gives us the opportunity to work with our partners to help improve the wellbeing of our population.”

Dr Robert Thompson, Acting Director of Primary Care with the Southern Health and Social Services Board said: “I welcome this initiative to use innovative technology to reach many of our patients and users of healthcare services with important messages about their health and wellbeing. In addition to the Board being able to highlight key issues on health promotion and available services, GP practices can also utilise the system to communicate useful information on the services that are available within the surgery to their patients. We hope that this partnership initiative will enhance the communication between professionals and patients.”

25 GP practices are introducing The Life Channel along with GP Out of Hours Centres and Housing Executive Offices in Lurgan and Banbridge. It is hoped that the channel will be expanded to public venues in other areas.