Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke was set up 80 years ago in 1946.

To mark the occasion we have invited MLAs to drop in to Room 115 on Monday 28th September between 11.00am and 12.30pm. Birthday cake to be served from 11.30am. 

We hope you have already received a formal invite. 

Please come along and meet senior members of the NICHS team as we celebrate 80 years of helping people overcome the challenges of chest, heart and stroke conditions, and of preventing or delaying the onset of these illnesses where possible. There will also be an opportunity for photographs to celebrate this special anniversary. 

The elections to the next Assembly in May 2027 are fast approaching. NICHS will continue to engage with all the political parties over the coming months.  

We have published our own brief manifesto to highlight the issues we want to see addressed. More action on prevention and early detection is central to our vision. 

For example, there are currently around 300,000 people in Northern Ireland with a diagnosis of hypertension, and we hope they are receiving the advice and treatment they need. However, it is estimated that a further 130,000 to 200,000 people may be living with the condition without knowing it. Imagine the impact on people's health, and on our health and social care services, if more of these individuals could be identified and treated earlier?

We will be launching our manifesto in Room 115 on 28th September. Copies will be sent to all current MLAs and, in due course, to all Assembly election candidates. 

2027 will be a big year in the long war against the death and destruction caused by tobacco. Westminster legislation means that from 1st January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 1st January 2009. 

That same legislation gives the Assembly the power to introduce the licensing of tobacco and vaping retailers. NICHS believes an early action of the next Assembly must be the introduction of licensing. The Republic of Ireland has introduced fees of €1000 per retail unit for selling tobacco and €800 per unit to sell vapes. 

Similar fees in NI could raise millions of pounds which NICHS believes should be ring fenced to pay for enforcement. 

Enforcement is particularly important as it will protect young people from becoming addicted tobacco or vapes.