Newsbrief
April 2007

Society News

Health News

Food Safety &
Nutrition

Events

Consultations

SOCIETY NEWS (3 items) 

1. CALL FOR SOCIETY MEDAL NOMINATIONS
The Society is inviting nominations for recipients of two of its annual awards: the RSH Gold Medal and the Queen Elizabeth Gold Medal.  The first of these is The Society's highest and most prestigious award and is given for any major innovation or development which has significantly improved or promises to improve the quality and dignity of human life. The Queen Elizabeth Gold Medal is awarded to a citizen of a Commonwealth country for making an outstanding contribution to the promotion of health, public health and health-related issues. 

All nominations must be received by 23 April 2007, please click here for more information.

2. NEW NGO FORUM CHAIR APPOINTED
Professor Robert Pickard has been appointed as the new Chair of the national NGO Forum.

Professor Pickard is currently Director-General of the British Nutrition Foundation, Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Cardiff, and was recently elected the Chairman of the Consumers' Association, Which ?. He also serves on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Welsh Food Advisory Committee and provides scientific advice to the broadcasting media and an extensive range of companies, charities and public bodies.

Professor Pickard introduced himself to NGO Forum members and key stakeholders at an event on 15 March 2007. This event was the launch of the formal agreement ‘Moving Forward to Improve Health: NGO Forum and Department of Health’ in London.  To find out more, please visit the NGO Forum website.

3. MEMBER BENEFITS
Don't forget to check out RSPH Members' benefits online, including exclusive holiday deals with Thomas Cook (online here) and savings on telecoms charges through LCC Communications. Visit rsph.org/membership/membens.asp.
 

HEALTH NEWS (3 Items)

1. SMOKERS ARE SICK SLACKERS SAYS STUDY
Smokers take an average of almost eight days more of sick leave every year than their non-smoking colleagues, suggested research published in Tobacco Control 2007;16:114-8. The study looked at sickness absence among more than 14,000 workers in Sweden between 1988 and 1991 and found that smokers took almost 11 extra days off sick compared with their non-smoking colleagues. Adjusting for the fact that smokers tend to choose “riskier” jobs and have poorer underlying health, as well as socioeconomic factors, brought the difference in the number of days taken as sick leave to just below eight.

2. HEALTH GOES GLOBAL
On 7 March 2007, the Department of Health (DH) published a report (Health is global: proposals for a UK Government-wide strategy) which provides the rationale for a UK global health strategy. A coherent strategic framework is essential if the UK is to maximise its impact on global health. The report outlines the need for an international approach if we are to protect the health of the UK population, reduce global poverty and harness the opportunities of globalisation. The report is not in itself a strategy document, but sets the scene and raises a number of questions. It will be used over the coming months as a basis for engaging with partners across government and beyond to develop, together, a coherent and effective UK global health strategy. Download the document here.

3. REPORTS ON MUSIC AND HEALTH
The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, Canterbury Christ Church University has launched a new series of Occasional Reports on music and health. Centre Directors, Professor Stephen Clift, FRSH and Professor Grenville Hancox, FRSA, hope that this report series will help to raise awareness of the value that music in health promotion and health care settings. The first four titles are available free of charge: 'The MusicStart Project: Evaluation of an Early Years Music Initiative'; 'Making Singing for Health Happen: Reflections on a ‘Singing for the Brain’ Training Course'; 'Music into Upton: Reflections on an Initiative to Bring Live Music into a Hospital Setting'; 'Southampton Silver Song Club: Reflections on Music Making with Elderly People Facilitated by Student Volunteers'. Click here to request copies.

 FOOD SAFETY & NUTRITION (1 item)

1. BNF CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
The British Nutrition Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary by sending its National Nutrition and Education Conference on a nationwide tour. A series of regional conferences are planned to update teachers on current nutrition issues, the latest food in schools news and developments in classroom resources. Click here for more information. The Foundation was established in 1967 by Professor Alastair Frazer, who became the first Director-General. It was established as an independent organisation to stimulate research and education in the field of nutrition. Over the last 40 years, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to maintain busy educational and scientific programmes, during which time the number of staff has grown from 2 to 20 and the number of member organisations from 9 to 50.
 

EVENTS (2 items)

11th Inter Island Public Health Forum
17-19 May 2007, Les Cotils Christian Centre, St Peter Port Guernsey
The Inter Island Public Health Forum is an informal network of health and other professionals working on, or with an interest in, the health and healthcare of islands and other remote communities. The aim of the Forum is 'to share good practice and successful progress in the delivery of high quality public health against the special challenges facing an island or isolated community'. The Forum has a rotating venue, and has previously been held in the Isle of Wight, Jersey, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, Guernsey, Gibraltar, the Western Isles (Hebrides) and the Orkneys. Further details can be found online here.

Annual Meeting of the Royal College Of Psychiatrists
19-22 June 2007, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, UK
This year's meeting takes the theme of Recovery. This is a concept that puts holistic, patient-centred approaches at its core, and involves developing and sustaining vital partnerships between service users, their carers and professionals. Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, will give the Plenary Lecture on Human Rights, Social Inclusion and Recovery on Thursday 21st June. Click here for more information.

Please visit rsph.org for more events listings

CONSULTATIONS

For the latest consultations visit our website here.