News

Ownership of the All Wales Perinatal Survey (AWPS) database has been transferred to Public Health Wales.

Welsh rugby legend urges people to take the bowel screening test.

Over 90 per cent of Welsh teens and parents surveyed trust vaccines and believe that they work.

The next Quality, Safety and Improvement Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 February 2020.

Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales have made a commitment to work more closely together to protect and improve the lives and health of people in Wales, as well as the natural environment they live in.

A new report, jointly published by Public Health Wales, BRE Trust and Welsh Government, was launched on the 30th January at a Welsh Government led Housing Information Group Seminar. 

The latest annual report published for the Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (WAAASP) shows that uptake of screening increased last year with four of out of five men invited taking up their offer of screening. 

Welsh over 60s are online and actively engaging in social media, which has the potential to be an important tool for public health.

Updated: 20/02/2020

The Minister for Health and Social Services is looking to appoint three new Non-Executive Directors to join the Public Health Wales Board.

Public Health Wales NHS Trust hold regular meetings, which members of the public, including members of staff, are welcome to attend.

Public Health Wales issued more than 940,000 screening invitations to eligible individuals across its seven national screening programmes last year. 

Public Health Wales has identified two additional confirmed cases of TB linked with the cluster of cases in HMP Parc, Bridgend.  

Public Health Wales is investigating after four cases of Tuberculosis (TB) were identified in men residing at HMP Parc in Bridgend over the last 9 months. 

Public Health Wales and Conwy County Borough Council are investigating a number of linked cases of Giardia in the Colwyn Bay area.

75 per cent of Welsh public sector employees surveyed have good awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). However, only 36 per cent feel confident in their knowledge and skills to help prevent ACEs within their role.

The Minister of Health and Social Services has announced that, following a formal public appointments recruitment process, Dyfed Edwards has been appointed to the Public Health Wales Board.

Just 18 per cent of adolescents in Wales are getting the recommended amount of physical activity, according to an updated analysis for the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) reporting tool.

Reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), preventing alcohol and substance misuse, and improving education and training opportunities are some key ways to help prevent suicide in Welsh children and young people.

On Human Rights Day, marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Public Health Wales is reflecting on the variety of outstanding equality and human rights projects and activities undertaken across the organisation. This includes efforts to become a recognised Organisation of Sanctuary.

Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board are again asking people living in the Llwynhendy area of Carmarthenshire who may have been exposed to TB disease to come forward to be screened.  

The report highlights the achievements of the team, working closely with colleagues across Wales.

The National Safeguarding Team’s Safeguarding Training for Paediatricians has helped paediatricians update their safeguarding knowledge to the required level 3 professional standards. 

Actions by individuals, communities and organisations can have a major impact on keeping people healthy and well during the winter time.

More than 400 primary care professionals from across Wales gathered at the fourth annual National Primary Care Conference held at the International Conference Centre in Newport on Thursday 7 November, 2019. 

Between April 2018 and March 2019, 31,048 newborn babies in Wales were tested for serious but rare medical conditions. 

A team from Public Health Wales have been recognised for their work helping to understand how asylum seekers and refugees interact with the health service in Wales.

The next Quality, Safety and Improvement Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 November 2019.

Heath organisations across Wales have recommitted to an important charter promoting and strengthening international partnerships.

In 2018-19, Public Health Wales investigated 59 formal complaints under our Putting Things Right procedure, a small increase of seven from 52 last year. 

The latest annual report for Cervical Screening Wales shows that 73.2% of eligible women responded to their invitation for cervical screening last year - and the programme encourages all women take up their opportunity to be screened. 

Thank you to everyone who made this years’ event a big success. 

Public Health Wales and partner agencies have not identified any new cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the cluster in Barry since August 2019. 

Public Health Wales is encouraging women to attend regular cervical screenings amidst the national attention brought to cervical cancer through the death of beloved Coronation Street character Sinead Osbourne.

Lead exposure can have serious detrimental effects on health, especially in children.

Public Health Wales is urging people to make sure they have received the MMR vaccination as it investigates cases of suspected mumps in universities in Wales.

Conference week is here and we are so excited to see you all at the ICC this week! 

A new report looks at evidence that’s emerged since January about the possible real-life effects Brexit could have on people’s health and well-being in Wales, as the chance of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October has increased.

The countdown is on, there's only one week to go until the Welsh Public Health Conference 2019! 

Community engagement that leads to empowerment is good for health.

The Knowledge, Research and Information Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 09 October 2019.

As somebody with a long-term health condition, Josh knows he is vulnerable to infections. At high risk of complications from flu, he needs his annual vaccine to best protect himself. 

20 years in existence. 202 National Quality Awards presented to schools in Wales for outstanding health and wellbeing. 2019 finds the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS) at an impressive point in its history.

More needs to be done to protect against the potential detrimental impact of Brexit on the health and wellbeing of farming communities in Wales, and to challenge the stigma associated with seeking help, according to a new report.

No active cases of TB disease have been found within the community following the second phase of a community tuberculosis (TB) screening exercise carried out at Prince Philip Hospital earlier this month. This was in response to the TB outbreak in Llwynhendy, Carmarthenshire.

A Public Board meeting of Public Health Wales will be held on Thursday 26 September 2019 at 9:00am, in Room 3.7, 2 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff.

Nine awards were presented to organisations across Wales for their innovative work that has transformed the experience and outcomes for people in Wales.

HMP Swansea has eliminated hepatitis C amongst its prison population—a UK first for a remand prison.  

Welsh drug deaths are at their highest ever levels according to a new report by Public Health Wales, with deaths from drug poisoning having increased by 78 per cent over the last 10 years.

This September, Designed to Smile (D2S), the national programme to improve the oral health of children in Wales, is celebrating its tenth birthday. 

Tuberculosis cases decline, yet the disease remains a concern

A new report to support public sector bodies to implement sustainable development principles has been published today by the Health and Sustainability Hub and Research and Evaluation Division in Public Health Wales.

Across Europe and North America the long-term impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on health and productivity is equivalent to 1.3 trillion dollars a year, according to a new paper published in the Lancet Public Health.

His appointment will take effect from 1 September 2019.

A record breaking 15,599 smokers in Wales used free NHS Help Me Quit services in 2018-19 – signalling the fourth consecutive year of growth and an increase of 3,672 smokers from five years ago (31 per cent).

The Wales Environmental Public Health Service has published its sixth annual review.

As a public health institution, we aim to embody inclusivity in all aspects of the work we deliver for the people of Wales. 

Where there have been small outbreaks of measles these have been due to imported disease in each of the last three years.

There were a total of 208 drug misuse deaths registered in 2018.

Congratulations to the 23 schools in Wales who received the National Quality Award for health and wellbeing over the 2018-19 academic year. 

The Health Protection team held its first ever workshop on sexual health provision in Welsh prisons last month. 

Public Health Wales is urging Hajj pilgrims to be aware of and take precautions against catching MERS-CoV, sometimes also referred to as ‘camel flu’. 

The next Quality, Safety and Improvement Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 6 August 2019.

This year, the Welsh Public Health Conference will take place on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October at the International Conference Centre in Newport.

A new report will help public services and other organisations in Wales work to develop resilient individuals and communities that are better equipped to respond to challenging circumstances like economic crises, stress, trauma, and the challenges of everyday life.

This year, we held our AGM in Newport on Thursday 25 July. 

Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board are working together to provide clinical support to those patients identified as requiring further attention following the community tuberculosis (TB) screening exercise held in Llwynhendy, Carmarthenshire in June.

Find out about our achievements over the past year with our new Annual Report. 

To coincide with World Hepatitis Day 2019 on Sunday 28 July, Public Health Wales has released new figures that show a sustained increase in testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in prisons in Wales.

Public Health Wales has been awarded a Gold Corporate Health Standard award following a two-day assessment.

Public Health Wales NHS Trust hold regular meetings, which members of the public, including members of staff, are welcome to attend. 

A new review published by Public Health Wales finds that Wales’ new tax-raising powers could be used to improve population health and reduce deaths from non-communicable disease.

The Knowledge, Research and Information Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 July 2019.

Public Health Wales (PHW) has commissioned BMG Research to undertake a survey of parents and young people’s views and experiences. The survey will help to inform the planning of services and programmes.

There’s just one week to go until our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 25 July in Newport. 

People in Wales who have suffered significant adversity in childhood are 16 times more likely than the general population to experience homelessness, according to a new study by Public Health Wales.

You have less than two weeks to submit an abstract to help shape our programme.

Residents of all ages turned out to line the streets of New Tredegar to provide a special welcome to Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall last week.

A new report  published by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) at Public Health Wales shows that long-term increases in cancer survival are slowing down. 

Registrations are now open for the 4th Annual National Primary Care Conference, which will take place at the International Convention Centre in Newport on Thursday 7 November 2019.

From the academic year 2019/20, boys aged 12-13 will be offered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in school alongside girls as part of the existing HPV programme.

A new practical guide has been published on ‘How to Make the Case for Investment in Well-being and Health Equity’.

People who visited particular areas of Rhyl are being warned to be alert to the signs and symptoms of measles after a local cluster of cases.

Non-Executive Directors work alongside the Executive Directors as part of a unitary board to develop the strategic direction, ensure accountability and shape the organisational culture of Public Health Wales.

The new Public Health Wales Research and Evaluation strategy highlights our commitment to embedding research and evaluation across the organisation, enabling us to build the knowledge needed to improve health and well-being across Wales (Strategic Priority 7). 

The next People and Organisational Development Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 03 July 2019.

A community tuberculosis (TB) screening exercise carried out in Llwynhendy, Carmarthenshire earlier this month has identified no active cases of TB disease within the community, but 76 cases of latent TB infection.

Public Health Wales’s WEDINOS service has seen an increase in the number of samples submitted for testing in the last year.

Employers and members of the public are being reminded of the steps they can take to minimise the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

This year Public Health Wales has signed up as a supporter of Clean Air Day 2019, which is taking place on 20 June.

Poor quality housing costs the NHS in Wales more than £95m per year in treatment costs – but action to mitigate poor housing could see a return on investment within six years, according to a new report.

Public Health Wales is currently investigating an outbreak of seven confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in people living in the Vale of Glamorgan. 

Staff from Public Health Wales’ Health Improvement Team recently hosted an event to introduce the New Curriculum for Wales 2022.

Head of Substance Misuse Programme at Public Health Wales, Josie Smith, has given evidence to a House of Commons inquiry in Westminster.

The tuberculosis (TB) community screening exercise in Llwynhendy, Carmarthenshire being run by Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board has now ended.

Join us at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 25 July 2019 in Newport.

Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board are holding an additional tuberculosis (TB) screening session in Llwynhendy this week to meet high public demand for testing as part of a community screening exercise. 

Smokers in Wales are being encouraged to start a quit attempt this World No Tobacco Day (31st May), to improve their lung health and the health of those around them.

People in the Llwynhendy area in Carmarthenshire who may have been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) are being urged to attend a TB community screening exercise run by Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board.

More than a third of people in Wales (34 per cent) use digital technology to self-diagnose health conditions, whilst only 14 per cent make a healthcare appointment online.

Dates announced and call for abstracts now open.

Public Health Wales Board Papers 30 May 2019

Invitation to stakeholder workshop event for the Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE) of the draft Curriculum for Wales 2022.

Individuals who have experienced four or more ACEs, are at higher risk of suffering the detrimental effects associated with ACEs.

More needs to be done to understand the journey that leads individuals to commit acts of violent extremism.

Childhood adversity linked to more times in prison, violent offending and a history of time in youth offender institutions

We have signed the newly developed Healthy Travel Charter.

Public Health Wales has established a programme of work to ensure business continuity following Brexit, particularly in the event of a “no-deal” scenario.

Public Health Wales is playing a key role in the rollout of the Nursing Now Cymru Wales campaign, which was officially launched at an event in Cardiff on 29 March.

Public Health Wales’s Environmental Public Health Team has published new research to enhance local air quality management policy and action in Wales.

The Public Health Wales Observatory has released its latest refresh of the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) tool.

Registration closes this week and only a few places remain.

People seeking sanctuary, including refugees and asylum seekers, are struggling to access health and wellbeing services in Wales, according to a new Public Health Wales and Swansea University report.

Almost nine out of 10 patients (87 per cent) who provided feedback following a new pilot initiative said a GP surgery is a suitable place to be asked about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Two new directorates of Public Health Wales are formally up and running from today (1 April).

Leaders from across the whole of the public sector came together alongside third sector partners at a seminal event to agree a way forward on priority areas for action to prevent ill health.

Cervical Screening Wales launches its awareness campaign across social media

A Public Board meeting of Public Health Wales will be held on Thursday 24 January 2019 at 9:30am, in Room 3.7, 2 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff.

A new ground-breaking local initiative delivered in Anglesey by the Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, has seen health visitors routinely asking new mothers about the Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs they suffered as children

The current focus on individual ‘problem gamblers’ fails to take into account the full health and social cost of gambling because it overlooks the wider impact on families, friends and communities, according to new work published today.

Published today by Public Health Wales, the Health Impact Assessment of Brexit examines the potential effects of Brexit on the short, medium and long-term health of people living in Wales.

Cervical Screening Wales has written to 369 women to advise them of an issue identified by the screening programme.

The Wales Cancer Network today welcomes a Welsh Government plan to implement a Single Cancer Pathway (SCP) in Wales.

The number of cocaine-related hospital admissions has increased by 114% in the five years to 2017-18.

More than 140,000 women attended a smear test in Wales in 2017/18 according to a new report from Cervical Screening Wales.