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Newsbrief
March 2007

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SOCIETY NEWS (5 items)

1. LET'S GET COOKING
The Society would like to thank all those who have contributed overwhelmingly positive comments for the Let's Get Cooking consultation, which has now closed. Five hundred health professionals, teachers, parents and young people sent in their views on the proposed initiative, which aims to establish cooking clubs across England which can teach children and their parents to prepare and enjoy healthy food. Ninety-nine per cent of all respondents agreed there was a need for cooking clubs and 88% pledged their support for the initiative. These findings are certain to strengthen the case for the Let's Get Cooking lottery bid on 22 March. The consultation report will be published on the Let's Get Cooking consultation page in due course.

2. NGO FORUM SMOKEFREE LEGISLATION WORKSHOP
The NGO Forum is holding a half day seminar on 20 March providing an opportunity for those working in the voluntary sector to learn about the new Smokefree legislation which comes into effect this July. What does it mean for you as an organisation and what is your role in helping the statutory sector reducing smoking? There are opportunities to hear from the Department of Health, the national communications campaign organisers and what is required to comply with the law. For more information click here or contact Karen Bollan, the NGO Forum Manager.

3. NGO FORUM AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AGREEMENT LAUNCH
On 15 March The NGO Forum and the Department of Health will be launching their 'Agreement for Working Together' at at a half-day briefing in the New Connaught Rooms in London. The event will feature presentations by NGO Forum members and Caroline Flint, the Minister of State for Public Health, will be delivering a short speech. For more information please visit the launch website.

4. RSH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE
The Society's Annual General Meeting 2007 will take place on Wednesday, 18 July. Further details will become available in JRSH and on the rsph.org website shortly.

5. 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. TBE MAY SOON REACH UK
Doctors in the UK may soon be diagnosing the country's first cases of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE), according to the International Scientific Working Group for the disease. Cases of TBE have now been reported in 27 European countries - an increase of 11 since 2006 - and the experts fear that tourists may bring this back to the UK after visiting endemic areas. The viral disease is caused from being bitten by an infected tick and can be life-threatening. The Working Group is now urging health authorities to raise awareness of the disease and available vaccinations, and has launched a Tick Alert campaign to give advice on how to reduce the risk of getting infected while travelling. For more information on the campaign, click here.

2. WORLD KIDNEY DAY WEBSITE GOES LIVE
Internet users will be able to access up-to-date information on kidney disease and the programme for World Kidney Day from 1 March 2007. The site is hosted by Kidney Research UK as part of a campaign to improve detection and prevention awareness of a disease which affects more than 500 million people around the world and is expected to claim the lives of 36 million people by 2015. World Kidney Day is due to be held on 8 March and will be marked by a range of national and local events and activities. Click here to view the website.

3. INFANT IMMUNISATION INVESTIGATION
The London Assembly is conducting an investigation into infant immunisation in the capital and would like to hear from any London-based parents about their attitudes to vaccinating their children. The report is a follow-up to a 2003 investigation which found that London has the lowest immunisation rates in the country, and will aim to make recommendations on how levels can be increased when it is published in July 2007. If you would like to respond, please answer the questions below and email the report's author.

Have you vaccinated your children? If not, what is preventing you from doing so?
Were you given enough advice and information about immunisation?
What do you think could be done to improve immunisation rates across London?

The deadline for responses is 4 April 2007.

HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS (1 item)

1. PREPARE FOR FLU PANDEMIC, IOSH WARNS BUSINESSES
The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has issued a statement advising employers to step up their preparations for a possible outbreak of pandemic flu in the wake of the bird flu outbreak at the Bernard Matthews farm in Suffolk. The guidance, which aims to keep businesses operating as smoothly as possible should an outbreak occur, includes tips on planning ahead, encouraging flexible working practices and maintaining high levels of hygiene in the workplace. Click here to view the IOSH statement.

EVENTS (3 items)

15th UKPHA Annual Public Health Forum
28th - 29th March 2007, EICC, Edinburgh, UK
The RSH will be exhibiting at the UKPHA Public Health Forum, which takes place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and addresses the theme ‘Generation to Generation: Sustainable Directions for Public Health.’ Up to 1,000 delegates from across the UK and overseas are expected to attend to discuss and debate key issues such as Health Inequalities, Sustainable Development and Social Marketing. Speakers already scheduled to attend include the four UK Chief Medical Officers and Alistair Darling MP. More details can be found on the conference website.

Prostatic paradigms for the 21st Century
16 March 2007, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
This afternoon meeting will provide a forum for discussion of the current state of research into prostate cancer generally with specific insights from Scotland. It will review current treatments for prostate cancer available in Scotland giving both patient and clinician perspectives. The meeting will also look to how latest technologies may impact treatment of and research into prostate cancer, and how this may influence the shape of service delivery - in the short, medium and long-term. For more information and to book online, please click here.

EurOhse 2007 Conference: Spring into OSH
19 April 2007, Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London
This conference aims to bring delegates up-to-date on a number of developments in the field of European occupational health and safety, including recent changes to legislation. Topics such as risk assessments, Directors' responsibilities, safer driving and smoking, drugs and alcohol at work will also be covered over the course of the day. Confirmed speakers include the Chair of the All Parties Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Michael Clapham MP, and Dennis Davis, the chairman of the Federation of British Fire Organisations. Find out more on the conference website.

CONSULTATIONS

For the latest consultations visit our website here.