NEWS

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change. Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme

Jane Martin (centre) from Mencap presents the Employer of the Month award to Ann O’Neill (left) and Linda Saunders (right) from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. A team at Causeway Hospital has been recognised with a national award after creating a workplace where people with learning disabilities are supported to build confidence, develop new skills and secure meaningful long-term employment. The hospital’s Corporate Support Services team has been named Mencap’s Emp

Thousands of people heading to Twelfth of July parades, family celebrations or just enjoying the summer break are being urged to protect themselves from the sun, stay hydrated and think carefully before drinking alcohol if they are taking medication, as Northern Ireland prepares for a hot and sunny week ahead. With prolonged periods expected outdoors, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to take simple precautions against sunburn, dehydration and heat-related il

Carnlough Heritage Hub, County Antrim A drop-in event was held on Monday evening (July 6) at the Heritage Hub in Carnlough Town Hall to gather the views of the community on healthcare provision in the coastal area. The event was organised by Rural Community Network to gather residents’ views on primary and community healthcare services locally. Rural Community Network says it wants to hear opinions on “what is working and what can be improved locally”, with feedback helping t

Vapes could be kept behind counters or inside closed cabinets in Northern Ireland shops under proposed new rules aimed at reducing their appeal to children and young people. The public is being asked for its views on plans that could also require plain white packaging, restrict flavour names and limit vape devices to white, black or grey. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he intends to introduce regulations in Northern Ireland following the UK-wide consultation, which forms p

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has acknowledged “higher than usual absence rates” within its maternity services team over recent months after concerns were raised by campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital. SOS Causeway Hospital recently met with senior Department of Health officials to highlight what it described as “severe pressures within Antrim maternity services following the centralisation of births”. All hospital births in the Northern Trust have taken place at

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with George Doherty, Programme Officer at FCN Northern Ireland. Farmers, agricultural workers and rural residents across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to seek medical help early if they notice possible signs of cancer, after councillors agreed to support the ‘Nip it in the Bud’ campaign. The initiative, led through the Rural Communities Cancer Project, aims to raise awareness of cancer symptoms among

Senior RNLI Lifeguard Annie Jagoe A swimmer was rescued from a dangerous rip current on the Antrim coast after getting into difficulty outside the designated bathing area, prompting a rapid emergency response from RNLI lifeguards, the Coastguard and the ambulance service. The incident happened at around 5pm on Monday, 7 July at Portrush West Strand, when lifeguards were alerted by a member of the public to a woman struggling against strong surging waves beyond the red and yel

Northern Ireland’s emergency care system came under even greater pressure during the past year, with official figures showing hospitals treated almost 19,000 more emergency patients than the previous year while performance against key emergency care targets continued to deteriorate. The latest Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Urgent and Emergency Care (2025/26) reveal emergency department attendances increased again, four-hour performance declined, the number of patients

Most people in the UK are not getting enough fibre, despite it being linked to a lower risk of bowel cancer, and Marks & Spencer is hoping to change that with a nationwide campaign backed by Bowel Cancer UK. Running throughout July and August, the retailer has launched its Better with Beans campaign alongside a complete refresh of its beans and pulses range, making products such as chickpeas, green lentils, butter beans and kidney beans available in glass jars from just 55p.

(L-R) Anne Bell, Chair of Agewell, Ivy Goddard of Mid & East Antrim Inter Ethnic Forum, Jenny Marshall of Agewell Northern Ireland’s approach to helping people talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement has received international recognition after Agewell’s work was featured in a major new global publication exploring compassionate communities. The organisation has contributed to Compassionate Communities in Action: Global Stories of Care, Loss and Connection, a newl

My Care app users, County Antrim couple Roy (80) and Gloria Lowry (79) An inspiring couple from Carrickfergus are encouraging others not to be put off by technology after discovering how a digital health app has helped them stay informed, reduce anxiety and take greater control of their healthcare. At 80 and 79 years old respectively, Roy and Gloria Lowry say the health service’s My Care app has transformed the way they access appointments and medical information, proving tha

The site off the Dans Road being cleared with local residents reporting the removal of ‘several ancient trees’ Opponents of a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk say their campaign is far from over after holding a community information night this week following the recent planning decision that approved the scheme in principle. Residents and campaign supporters gathered at the Leighinmohr House Hotel on Thursday evening, June 2, to hear updat

Ambulance handover times have shown “some improvement” across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, board members have been told. Presenting a performance report for May at a meeting at Antrim Hospital last week, Neill Martin, Divisional Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and ICT, said that 11.8 per cent of patients arriving by ambulance were handed over to medical staff within 15 minutes at Antrim Area Hospital, compared with 8.6 per cent at Causeway Hospital i

The Junction, Antrim, has rallied local businesses Murdock Builders Merchants & Home Centre and Shannon Site Solutions along with Brackenwood Property & Estate Management to restore Women’s Aid’s Safe Haven Garden following recent storm damage. A vital sanctuary for women and children escaping domestic abuse in Antrim has been restored after local businesses joined forces to repair storm damage that threatened the privacy and security of the space. The Safe Haven Garden at th

ACC Ryan Henderson with two neighbourhood officers The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched its 2026 Safer Summer Together campaign, urging people across Northern Ireland to enjoy the summer months while remaining alert to a range of safety risks affecting homes, roads and public spaces. Launched on Wednesday, 1 July, the annual initiative aims to promote safer behaviour during a period when longer evenings, warmer weather and school holidays typically see more peo

L-R: Shannon Brown, Spa Manager, Salt Spa; Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel; and Elizabeth Dillon, Guest Experience Manager, The Salthouse Hotel. A £5 million investment has transformed one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive hospitality destinations into a fully realised luxury wellness retreat, with the opening of a major new spa creating 30 additional jobs and completing the final phase of development at The Salthouse near Ballycastle. The launch of the n

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister has announced an £80 million investment package aimed at cutting some of the region’s longest healthcare waiting times, expanding treatment capacity and improving access to elective care services. The funding, which has been ringfenced through the Executive’s Programme for Government, will be used during the 2026/27 financial year to increase assessments, diagnostic tests and treatments across the health service while supporting continued ef

Pictured at the Northern Area Mental Health Collaborative Board (NAMHCB) workshop are, back row, Dr Alan Lewis and Dr Jeevan Jayaprakash, middle row William Gould (Rehability), Dr Petra Corr (Northern Trust Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing Services), Helen McNally (Public Health Agency), Jackie McCaughey (MindWise), Sharon McVicker (Northern GP Federation Mental Health Manager), Sharon Bingham (Northern Trust Service Improvement Manager)

The chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Council has underlined the importance of resolving Northern Ireland’s housing crisis in a bid to build stronger communities. Knockagh Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner, who is also a member of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there are approximately 50,000 applicants on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s waiting list across Northern Ireland. At the end of March