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SOCIETY NEWS (3 Items) 1. NOMINATIONS FOR RSH MUSIC AWARDS The Royal Society of Health (RSH) has established a new award for research and practice in music and health, as well as encompassing evaluation and innovative initiatives in healthcare or community settings. People are invited to nominate candidates to the Award Committee, for individuals or organizations whose work has furthered the field of music and health. Nominations should be received by 20 June 2008 and will be considered by a special Award Committee established by RSH. A decision will be announced by the end of July 2008 and the award will be presented during Sidney De Haan's Music and Health Conference in 10 September. For more details please see the Canterbury Christ Church University website. 2. FIRST STEP OF HPV PROGRAMME The Royal Society of Health (RSH) launched the first stage of its Human Papillomavirus (HPV) education programme by sending out nearly 50,000 letters & information leaflets to health professionals and teachers and thereby raising awareness of HPV and the RSH sexual health curriculum support pack. The education programme, developed by a panel of health and education experts, along with young people from across the UK, with sponsorship from Sanofi Pasteur MSD, aims to raise public awareness of HPV. The RSH materials will be sent out to secondary schools, GP surgeries, pharmacies and local authorities. RSH Chief Executive Professor Richard Parish said: “Education is paramount to ensure the HPV immunisation programme is an effective measure to improve public health. The success of this campaign relies on informed teachers and the support of health professionals, so we need to make sure that they are on board from the start." For more information, please see the Human Papillomavirus Education Programme website. 3. CALLS FOR HYGIENE ADVISORS The Royal Institute of Public Health is re-launching its product accreditation programme in July 2008 with the view of this becoming a key activity when they merge with RSH later this year. The scheme will accredit products in categories such as cleaning, disinfection, hand hygiene, infection control and hygienic surface materials. They are currently seeking specialists in the area of product testing, microbiology, dermatology, hospital hygiene or product safety. If you are interested in any of these roles, please contact Anna Zilnyk on 020 7291 8370 HEALTH NEWS (2 Items) 1. BIG GAP IN NHS DENTAL SPENDS The amount of money spent on NHS dental care across England varies widely, according to new figures, with one NHS authority spending almost 67% more per head than another. In 2005/06, Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (SHA) spent £50 per head, an increase of 70% from 1997/98 while Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA spent just £30 per head, an increase of 25% on figures for 1997/98. The overall trend of spending per head on NHS dental services (paid for by the NHS and through patient charges collected at practices) also increased from £27 per head of the population to £39 between 1997/98 and 2005/06. The report, from the Information Centre for health and social care, looks at the spend of NHS dental care before the new dental contract came into force in April 2006. There had been criticism with figures published in February suggesting that patients are not getting improved access to dentists as a result of the contract, with more than 500,000 fewer patients being seen compared with the two years before the contract was introduced. The report also said gross expenditure on dental care increased by 53% between 1997/98 and 2005/06 (from £1.293 billion to £1.977 billion). 2. PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER DISPARITY IN IRELAND An Irish specialist in public health medicine expressed concern for the future of health promotion if not afforded the same status as consultants. Dr Catherine Hayes said that if she had trained in another speciality she would be recognized as a consultant and remarked her colleagues in Northern Ireland hold consultant positions. The worry is public health medicine will struggle to find new graduates unless the inequality is addressed. 'Currently there are no financial advantages for people going into public health medicine. I think that we are going to increasingly find it more difficult to attract people in the future,' said Dr Hayes to Irish Medical News. She also said that the gap in status between consultants and specialists in public health is particularly frustrating considering the increasing importance of public health in terms of promoting preventative medicine. HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS (1 item) 1. DON'T SKIP SCHOOL TRIPS The Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), Judith Hackitt, said school trips were essential to a child's education and urged teachers to take a sensible approach in addition to acknowledging health and safety. 'School trips are an essential part of every child's education and by not finding a way to make them happen we are failing in our duty to prepare them for life,' said Hackitt at a conference in Birmingham. 'Health and safety is used by many as an excuse for not doing things. My message is to take a common sense and proportionate approach when managing the health and safety aspects of organizing a school trip.' A recent survey of local education authorities found around 500,000 teacher days were lost last year in Britain due to stress at an estimated cost of £84 million. The HSE has also launched a sensible risk campaign to encourage simple and practical risk assessment which enables innovation and learning. More information can be found on the HSE website. FOOD SAFETY & NUTRITION (1 item) 1. SWEET SCOTTISH CHILDREN Children in Scotland are eating too much sugar, according to a Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) survey and blamed soft drinks, confectionery, biscuits and cakes. The researchers looked at the Scottish Dietary Target, which stipulates that less than 10% of the total calories consumed should be Non Milk Extrinsic Sugars (NMES), which are sugars added to food and drink, table sugar and those present in fruit juices. They found the average NMES consumption was 17.4% of calorie intake, while for children between 12 to 17 it was 19.1%. FSAS Assistant Director Jim Thomson said: 'This is the first type of survey of its kind to be carried out with children in Scotland and, disappointingly, it provides evidence that youngsters are consuming a lot more sugar than the 10% target.' They also discovered intake was higher in those living in less affluent areas, though there was no evidence of a difference in average consumption between children who were overweight and those who were not. Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health in Scotland, said: 'Whilst it is disappointing to note the high level of sugar intake of children in Scotland, we are actively working on policies to encourage youngsters to make healthier choices.' The survey looked at the sugar intake of 1,700 Scottish children aged between three and 16 years old. More information can be found on the Food Standards Agency website. EVENTS (4 items) 1. Global Health:
Current Issues, Future Trends and Foreign Policy 2. Become a Lean
Champion 3. Advancing
the Role of Healthcare Assistant 4. Private Water
Supplies and Bottled Water Briefing Day
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