The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is holding a one-day conference entitled ‘Living Well with Cancer’ to provide information and support to all those affected by cancer.

The conference will take place on Saturday 28th March at the Glenavon House Hotel, Drum Road, Cookstown.  The conference has been devised to provide relevant and up-to-date information for cancer patients, their friends and families, carers, health professionals and anyone concerned about cancer.

The conference has a full and varied programme and the morning sessions will cover subjects such as cancer in Northern Ireland and the development of cancer drug treatment.  The conference will also be examining how scans and other imaging techniques are used in the diagnosis of cancer and the role of social workers in supporting cancer patients and their families.  Creative approaches to cancer support will examine UCF’s complementary and therapeutic services for patients and their families and ways in which patients can thrive following a diagnosis of cancer, rather than just survive.

The keynote speakers include Dr Julian Cole, Head of Medical Affairs with Roche Products Ltd and Dr Simon J Hughes, Consultant in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital.  They are joined by Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention and Liz Atkinson, Head of Care Services, both the Ulster Cancer Foundation; the oncology social work team at Belfast City Hospital and counsellor Mary-Kate Kelly.

The Living Well with Cancer conference starts at 10.00am - 3.30pm and lunch is provided.  The conference is free of charge for patients and carers and costs just £20 for health care professionals.  A limited number of places are still available and anyone wishing to attend should register with Joanne Myles at UCF as soon as possible on 028 9066 3281.

Alliance Party European Election Candidate Ian James Parsley today addressed a meeting of Alliance activists. He said that given recent events Northern Ireland needs unity and positive leadership here, and in the European Parliament.

Ian James Parsley stated: “People across the community have hope for a better future. They want leadership that will show this region in a positive light.

“Given recent sinister events it is all the more important that there is unity across Northern Ireland. We are in a new generation in Northern Ireland – one that wants only peace and has the resolve to come together to protect that peace.

“We need a strong voice for peace now and need a strong constructive voice in Europe. I want to make Europe work better for Northern Ireland as there is much potential as yet untapped. As the unity candidate, people from the new generation in Northern Ireland will find voice in our message of hope.”

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) are raising awareness of its Smoke Free Policy for this year’s National No Smoking Day on 11 March 2009.

From 10 March 2009, the Western Trust became a totally smoke free Trust. That means that smoking is no longer permitted on any of the Western Trust’s hospital sites. This includes the hospital buildings, the grounds, the bus stops and car parks.

Dr. Maura O’Neill, Head of Health Promotion for the Western Trust explained: “The Western Trust Smoke Free Policy aims to protect the health of staff, visitors and service users. The policy states that smoking is not permitted in any Western Trust building and only within designated smoking areas.  Patients and service users are only allowed to smoke in these designated areas.”

•    For staff the policy means - Western Trust employees are not allowed to smoke in any Trust building, grounds or Trust vehicle. They may only smoke in their cars provided another member of staff does not accompany them.
•    For patients and visitors the policy means - You are not allowed to smoke in any Trust building – you can only smoke in the designated smoking areas, which are clearly sign posted

Dr. McNeil Consultant Cardiologist, Western Trust added: “This is a major step forward in the Trust’s attempt to protect our staff from the harmful effects of smoking. We recognise the benefits to be gained by introducing the policy and with the help of our colleagues in Health Promotion and Smoking Cessation Specialists, we can offer an extensive range of initiatives to support those staff that wish to stop smoking. It is encouraging to have already received a positive response from staff regarding the policy direction.”

The Western Trust would like to take the opportunity on National No Smoking Day to ask people to kindly refrain from smoking when on Trust premises and grounds. Please help us to make the Western Trust a healthier place for patients, visitors and staff by not smoking. If you would like to see a copy of the policy or require more information please contact the Health Promotion Department: 02871865127.

PLM Promotions has just released the full line-up for Live In The Park in Newcastle on Friday 19th June.

A collection of some of the most individually creative, genre-defying and original acts in electronic music will support headline act The Prodigy in the Co. Down town.

They are Hot Chip (DJ set), Zane Lowe (Radio 1), The Japanese Popstars (Live), Noize Control and a very special guest who will be announced on 1st May. Cool FM golden boy Pete Snodden will host the concert, along with Zane Lowe.

Radical performers Hot Chip - creators of the famous ‘Ready for the Floor’ - will keep the Newcastle revellers entertained with an exclusive DJ set that is sure to mash together some of the freshest and most diverse music available on the planet. The London band exploded on to the international music scene with their debut EP Mexico in 2000 and have taken the industry by storm with a host of original and groundbreaking productions ever since.

Zane Lowe might just be the coolest DJ on BBC Radio 1 right now, broadcasting his show every weekday from 7pm-9pm. The show covers a spectrum of music from hip-hop to dance to rock and The Prodigy stood in as hosts for Zane Lowe in one of the recent broadcasts! The radio star also regularly plays festivals around the UK and is widely regarded as one of the most popular acts on the mainland.

Local artists The Japanese Popstars are currently touring the world with live performances and DJ sets following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album We Just Are. Blending together elements of indie, dance, rock and anything else that feels right at the time The Japanese Popstars appeal to fans of a multitude of genres and excel on big stage occasions like festivals and outdoor concerts.

And Dublin-based band Noize Control - hand picked for this show by The Prodigy themselves - add some Southern Irish flair to the gig after becoming the first ever unsigned Irish band to have their mu sic picked up by Disney Interactive for the award winning video game ‘Pure’. Currently working on their debut album, Noize Control have already supported some of the biggest acts in the industry including Underworld, Bassment Jaxx and Mylo.

The incredible line-up for Live In the Park is completed by one of the biggest artists on the electronic music scene today - but you will have to wait until 1st May to find out who it is as PLM Promotions is keeping the act’s identity securely under wraps for the next few weeks. But expect a major player in the world of electro!

The Prodigy headline Live in the Park in Donard Park, Newcastle Co. Down on Friday 19th June with support from Hot Chip (DJ set), Zane Lowe, The Japanese Popstars (Live), Noize Control and a very special guest (TBA).

Members of the public were today encouraged to play their part in the protection and improvement of Northern Ireland waterways.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will be holding a series of Water Information Days which will provide the public with an opportunity to speak to NIEA staff about draft River Basin Plans to improve the water environment.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said: “I would urge members of the public to attend the Information Days and have their say on the future plans for Northern Ireland waters. It is in all our interests that we collectively take on the responsibility for the care of our water to ensure we get the water environment we deserve.

“River Basin Planning is about taking an integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment, from source to sea. The plans aim to provide a clean and healthy water environment and to deliver considerable benefits for all the people of Northern Ireland.

“We all depend on our water environment, whether as the source of our drinking water, for recreational use, for agricultural or business purposes and to attract tourists.”

The information days are scheduled to take place in:

March 25 – Helen’s Bay: Crawfordsburn Country Park, Bridge Road South, 2-8pm
April 1 – Ballymena: Ecos Centre, Broughshane Road, 2-8pm
April 8 – Londonderry: Loughs Agency, Victoria Road, 2-8pm
April 22 – Portrush: The Coastal Zone, Bath Road, 2-8pm
April 29 – Irvinestown: Castle Archdale Country Park, 2-8pm
May 6 – Dungannon: Peatlands Park, Derryhubbert Road, 2-8pm

Members of the public attending the information days should also alert the Agency to any community-run initiatives they are involved in that may help protect and improve waterways.

They will be encouraged to search a new interactive web map to find out more about local rivers, lakes, coastal waters and ground-water. This exciting resource will provide teachers and students with new methods of data collection.

Discussions will also centre on how insects can be used as indicators of water pollution.

Factsheets on local water management will also be made available which can be used in classrooms by teachers delivering ‘Physical Process’ at GCSE or ‘Environment and Society’ at Key Stage 3.