Newsbrief
November 2007

Society News

Health News

Health & Safety
News

Food Safety &
Nutrition

Events

Consultations

SOCIETY NEWS (6 items) 

1. JOINT 'ROYAL' CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED
In anticipation of completion of the proposed merger, Professor Richard Parish has been appointed as Chief Executive of the merged body by the councils of The Royal Society of Health (RSH) and The Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH).  He was selected because of his 'energy, enthusiasm and expertise in the field of public health'.  The merger of the two bodies was announced earlier this year, and will be completed in 2008.  Professor Parish, current Chief Executive of RSH, said he was 'delighted at the announcement.'  More information will be released on our website shortly.

2. NEW FOOD QUALIFICATION GETS ACCREDITATION
RSH have just received accreditation from QCA for the RSPH Level 2 Award in Healthy Food and Special Diets. This qualification replaces our Foundation Certificate in Nutrition.  For more information, please see our website.

3. HEALTH FOR KIDS AWARDS CEREMONY 2007
RSH figures were amongst the judges for the inaugural Health for Kids Awards ceremony in London this month.  The awards, presented to recognise projects promoting health among UK children and youths, were presented by Olympic gold medalist Sally Gunnell.  Andrew Banfield, Honorary Vice President of RSH, Robert Pickard, Chair of the National NGO Forum, Karen Bollan, National NGO Forum manager and all say on judging panels.  Prizes were awarded in 11 different categories, with the overall prize going to Mary Burke and Joe Scott for their Prison Community Link programme.  They said they were 'ecstatic' at winning the prize for their work with Wandsworth Prison and local schools and 'hoped it would help promote the good work that is done within the prison service'.  The Health for Kids Awards is in association with the Department of Health, The National Healthy Schools Programme and Sport England.  For more information and photos, please click here. 

4. NGO FORUM AND COVER TO RUN WORKSHOP
The NGO Forum and COVER - the umbrella organization for voluntary groups in the East of England - are to run a workshop with local community and voluntary sector organizations involved with health. They will be supporting the local consultation on the Strategic Health Authority’s ‘Improving Lives; Saving Lives, SHA/ NHS East plan/ pledges 2008/11’.  The workshop hopes to gather top tips for what works in addressing health inequalities and helping the network to improve their influence and communications strategies.  For more information, please email Karen Bollan at kbollan@rsph.org.

5. PLAYING PUBLIC HEALTH
Online Exclusive - JRSH presents a series of features on the effect computer games and technology has on public heath.  The first, Online and On Message, looks at the role online games have in health promotion.  

6. NGO FORUM NATIONAL CONFERENCE - BOOK NOW!
Places are still available for the NGO National Forum Conference in January.  Speakers include: Sir Michael Marmot, Fiona Adshead and Jennie Popay.  Registration is FREE and can be easily booked online.  Remember: PLACES ARE LIMITED SO REGISTER NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!  To book please go to http://www.profbriefings.co.uk/ngoforum2008/.
 

HEALTH NEWS (3 Items)

1. THE HERBS DON'T WORK
There is no proof that individually tailored herbal remedies can cure, says a new report in the Postgraduate Medical Journal.  The paper by scientists at Exeter University takes a critical look at the body of test results already produced on herbal medicine and determine the effectiveness for individualized herbal treatment.  It concludes there is 'a very sparse evidence base and there is no convincing evidence that it is effective in any indication.'  An accompanying editorial by one of the paper's authors, Professor Edzard Ernst, says that unregulated herbalists may endanger public health.  'Traditional herbalists do not even think in conventional disease categories and hold beliefs abandoned by the rest of medicine 200 years ago,' he writes.  He also warns the confusion between the scientific study of phytotherapy,  the advice of traditional herbalist and over-the-counter herbal supplements could be dangerous.  'Without these distinctions we fail to advance our knowledge about the potential benefits of herbal treatment.  More crucially, we fail in our foremost duty - to protect the public from treatments that cause harm.'  Read the editorial here or research paper here.    
 

2. NICOTINE REGULATIONS SHOULD GO UP IN SMOKE
The nicotine market needs to be overhauled to favour harm reduction, according the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).  They say the regulatory system actively discourages development of safer nicotine products, which could help heavy smokers.  'The best thing that a smoker can do for his or her health is to quit all smoking and nicotine use completely,' said Professor John Britton, Chair of the RCP Tobacco Advisory Group. 'However, there are millions of smokers who can't quit, or else who are unlikely to quit, and those people need nicotine products that can satisfy their addiction without killing them.'  They also say the current situation leaves cigarettes relatively unregulated, and therefore a marketing advantage.  This call comes after a recent ban on smoking in public places and new legislation on health warnings on cigarette packets about to coming into force next year.  For the original press release, click here. 
 

3. Bangladesh immunizes millions against polio
Last week saw 700,000 health worker vaccinate 24 million children against polio in Bangladesh.  'The first round was successful as almost all targeted children were vaccinated,' said a Ministry of Health.  They have also set up over 140,000 health centres across the country for parent to bring their children.  Bangladesh was declared polio free in 2000 before a re-emergence of the disease in 2006, during which 18 children were affected by the disease.  The current outbreak is thought to have originated from India, who have reported over 500 cases of polio.   

HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS (1 item)

1.  flaT-PACK COULD LEAVE YOU FLAT ON YOUR BACK
A recent survey of over 2000 people suggests that nearly half of all home assembled furniture could be unsafe.  The report by Rated People, an online service for tradespeople, also found that 67% of men don't read the instruction manual before beginning construction compared to 4% of women.  'Flat-pack manuals have always been blamed for poor results - but the fact that a majority aren't reading them at all is an alarming sign' said Andrew Skipwith, co-founder of Rated People.  'As a result, we could all be literally sitting on an accident waiting to happen.'  The Royal Society for the Prevention Accidents (RoSPA) agreed you should read instructions carefully.  'Also, make sure you have the right tools, ie a screwdriver instead of a knife and take your time: accidents happen when you rush,' said Jo Stagg, spokesperson for RoSPA.  According to their last survey, 1.8 million minor injuries were cause by self-assembly furniture in the previous two years.  

 FOOD SAFETY & NUTRITION (1 item)

1. FOOD POISONING UP BY 100% IN MALAYSIA
The number of case of food poisoning from January to September has increased by 100% to over 11,000 according to the Malaysian Ministry of Health.  'The alarming concern is that 67% out of 11,226 victims of food poisoning were schoolchildren,' said Malaysian Health Education Division director Abdul Jabar Ahmad.  To combat this problem, the ministry are arranging a series of exhibitions and a roadshow to increase awareness of food hygiene.  They also promised closer inspection of canteens and said questionnaires will be distributed to students to ascertain their knowledge of food preparation and hygiene.  But some locals doubt how accurate the statistics are.  'So far so good for my cousins eating in their canteens!' said Tien Wong, a Malaysian university student. 'I've only (ever) had food poisoning there once... and it was my own fault for eating off the table.'
 

EVENTS (4 items)

Corporate Manslaughter, Directors' Duties' and Safety Enforcement
19 November 2007, Centre for Corporate Accountability, London, UK
This conference looks at the likely impact of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill on private and public organizations and the way the new offence will be investigated and prosecuted.  This event is ideal for: health and safety representatives, public sector and crown bodies and safety officers.  For more information, email Ana-Maria Pascal at admin@corporateaccountability.org or call  020 7490 4494

Lessons learnt from handling major food safety incidents
27 November 2007, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, London, UK
The seminar objectives are to identify and disseminate the lessons to be learnt from handling major food safety events, to consider how local authorities interact with large food businesses and to identify and discuss the issues faced by home authorities and promote good practice in dealing with these issues.  To register, please click here.

Web 2.0: What will actually benefit my charity?
4 December 2007, Baigent Ltd , London UK
Heard a lot of people talk about Web 2.0 and their Facebook page but not sure how it could benefit your charity?  This free seminar will demystify Web 2.0 and explain the significance of user generated content and online social networks for charities. We’ll include examples from some of our clients like Scripture Union and the British Red Cross who are reaping the benefits.  For more info, please click  here.

My heart…. Your heart… Their heart
6-7 December 2007, Heart Research UK Conference, The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate UK
Heart Research UK is hosting its first national conference with an exciting and motivational programme focused around heart disease, nutrition, exercise, health promotion and education. Breaking the mould of the standard conference approach, we want you to go away energised, motivated and refreshed, equipped with the tools you need to make sure you know how and why you should look after your heart.
Speakers include academics, practitioners and experts in the field of heart health including Dr Derrick Cutting, Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP, Dr Catherine Dickinson, Prof Tim Cable and Prof Tom Sanders.
A brochure and booking form can be found here.


Please visit rsph.org for more events listings

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