NEWS

Thousands of households across Northern Ireland are set to see their electricity bills rise again next month after SSE Airtricity announced a tariff increase of 6.2%. The increase, which takes effect from 1 August 2026, will add around £76 a year to the bill of a typical credit customer and standard-rate keypad customer. For many households already dealing with higher living costs, the latest rise means annual electricity costs for a typical SSE Airtricity customer will incre

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

For years, people in Northern Ireland living with severe obesity have faced a reality patients elsewhere in the UK did not. There was no specialist NHS obesity management service. There was no NHS bariatric surgery programme. For many, the options were limited to paying privately, travelling abroad for treatment or trying to manage alone. Now, after years of pressure from clinicians, patients and campaigners, Northern Ireland is finally preparing to launch its first dedicated

Darragh pictured with his mum Fiona, sister Emily and dad Chris. A County Armagh father has spoken candidly about the daily realities of raising a child with a rare inherited condition that affects significantly more babies in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK, as calls grow for greater awareness and improved access to emerging treatments. On International PKU Day (Sunday 28 June), Craigavon-based pharmaceutical company Galen Limited has joined patients, families and

Hot weather may be welcomed by many across Northern Ireland, but health experts are warning that prolonged exposure to heat and sunshine can have serious consequences, with rising numbers of sunburn injuries, heat-related illnesses and deaths linked to excessive temperatures. The Public Health Agency (PHA), alongside the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Children’s Burns Trust, is urging people to take simple precautions to protect themselves and t

Professor Christine Brown Wilson Dementia is set to become one of the biggest health challenges facing Northern Ireland in the coming decades, with the number of people living with the condition expected to almost double by 2040. That warning comes from a leading dementia expert at Queen’s University Belfast, who is urging greater understanding, earlier diagnosis and stronger community support as thousands more families are expected to be affected. Currently, more than 22,000

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met members of the armed forces in Coleraine, including Seamus, the regimental mascot of the Irish Guards. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has used Armed Forces Day celebrations in Coleraine to encourage veterans, serving personnel and their families to access Northern Ireland’s first dedicated government support line for the armed forces community. The call comes just weeks after the launch of

Dr Nevan Joyce, Stroke Consultant at Antrim Area Hospital, and Stroke Liaison Nurse, Emma McAllister. A stroke can happen without warning, and every minute counts when it does. Health professionals across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust are urging people to recognise the signs of a stroke and seek emergency medical help immediately, warning that delays in treatment can have life-changing consequences. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is int

Regularly eating berries and other deeply coloured fruits and vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and type 2 diabetes, according to major new research led by Queen’s University Belfast. The study found that people with the highest intake of anthocyanins – natural compounds found in many red, blue and purple foods – had a 26% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with those consuming the least. Researchers say the f

As schools prepare to close for the summer holidays, the NSPCC is warning parents and carers to think carefully before leaving children home alone after a significant rise in reports from worried adults across the UK. The children’s charity says its Helpline handled 7,452 contacts between April 2025 and March 2026 from people concerned about children being left alone or unsupervised – an 11% increase on the 6,719 contacts recorded the previous year. The figures have prompted

For many men, ADHD can go unrecognised for years, leaving them struggling with work, relationships, confidence and mental health without fully understanding why. A major event in Belfast this week, organised by ADDNI Children’s Charity, aims to change that by opening up a conversation that organisers say has been overlooked for far too long. Men & ADHD: Let’s Start the Conversation will bring together clinicians, mental health professionals and men with lived experience for a

Council's Age Friendly Coordinator Stephanie Scott (left) with Councillor Tanya Elder, Council's Age Friendly Champion. Older people across the Causeway Coast and Glens are being encouraged to speak out, seek support and help raise awareness of elder abuse as the borough marks the 20th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. On Monday, June 15, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is joining a global campaign aimed at highlighting the abuse, neglect and exploitati

Leanne Richmond, Clinical Sister in the Neonatal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital. A baby’s earliest experiences can have a profound impact on their future emotional wellbeing, according to healthcare professionals at Antrim Area Hospital, who are using Infant Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight the lifelong importance of strong early relationships. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is raising awareness of how simple but meaningful interactions between babies and th

Alcohol-related deaths in Northern Ireland remain at concerning levels, with health officials and addiction specialists warning that many people may be drinking more than they realise — particularly at home. As Northern Ireland Alcohol Awareness Week gets underway on Monday, 15 June, the Public Health Agency (PHA), community pharmacy teams and alcohol support organisations are urging people to take a closer look at their drinking habits and consider making small changes that

Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald with NIFRS Ballymena Station Commander Alan Barr during a visit to Ahoghill bonfire site Young people involved in building Ahoghill’s annual bonfire have received a direct fire safety briefing from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), in a move aimed at reducing risks ahead of the summer bonfire season. TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald welcomed NIFRS Ballymena Station Commander Alan Barr to the village bonfire site this we

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launch the 'Designing Homes for All' guide at Parliament Buildings. A new housing design guide launched by Stormont ministers could change how homes across Northern Ireland are built and adapted for people living with dementia, autism, learning disabilities and sensory impairments. The joint initiative, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, is designed to help architec

Farmers allowing calving seasons to drift over long periods are quietly losing efficiency, calf weight and profitability, according to a new warning from CAFRE beef and sheep adviser Jack Friar. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise says maintaining a compact calving pattern remains one of the clearest indicators of reproductive performance in suckler herds — with late-calving cows creating a knock-on effect that can become increasingly difficult to reverse. M

A scam caller using the PSNI’s own switchboard number in an apparent attempt to steal banking information has prompted a fresh public warning from police after a Northern Ireland resident narrowly avoided being defrauded. Police say the incident has raised serious concerns after fraudsters appeared to spoof the official PSNI number while attempting to pressure a member of the public into handing over sensitive financial details and purchasing gift cards. The attempted scam wa

A woman in her 70s has lost more than £250,000 after being drawn into what she believed was a legitimate cryptocurrency investment scheme, prompting a stark warning from police over the growing threat of online financial fraud. The victim, from Newry, was persuaded over time to hand over increasingly large sums of money to criminals after initially making what appeared to be a small investment. Police say the fraud escalated after the woman unknowingly downloaded malware onto

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) have issued a major cross-border warning over dangerous drugs circulating ahead of the busy summer festival and concert season, with officials raising serious concerns about high-strength MDMA, ketamine-related harms and the spread of so-called “pink cocaine” across the island of Ireland. Thousands of people are expected to travel north and south for concerts, festivals and nightlife e