ALCOHOL

Developing choice in peer-support (March 2010)
This manual aims to provide guidance to alcohol services and others working with alcohol misusing clients as to how they can help the establishment and development of SMART Recovery groups in their area.
Manual

Peer-support briefing (March 2010)
A briefing about peer-support and the need for greater options to be made available to people with an alcohol problem.
Briefing

Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: findings from the Big Drink Debate. Appendix C: perceptions of alcohol-related incidents and underage binge drinking (5th March 2010)

Tables, by local authority, with the percentages of respondents' perceptions of violent incidents that are alcohol related and binge drinking.
Tables

Evaluation and Review of Tier 4 Alcohol Treatment Services in the Cumbria and Lancashire Alcohol Network (14th March 2010)
The Cumbria and Lancashire Alcohol Network (CLAN) commissioned the Centre for Public Health (CPH) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to review and evaluate current tier 4 alcohol treatment services in Cumbria and Lancashire. The review determined service provision in the areas within Cumbria and Lancashire using local and national evidence, including the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS).
Executive Summary

SEXUAL HEALTH

Enhanced Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cheshire and Merseyside 2008 (12th March 2010)
Report commissioned by the Cheshire and Merseyside Sexual Health Network on behalf of the area's primary care trusts for assessing local epidemiology and to measure performance targets in order to improve monitoring, planning and interventions for sexual health promotion and treatment and care services.
Report

DRUGS

UK Drug Situation: UK Focal Point on Drugs. 2009 Edition (2nd March 2010)
The structure and content of this annual report are pre-determined by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to facilitate comparison with similar reports produced by the other European Focal Points. Ten chapters cover the same subjects each year, and three further chapters, giving in-depth information on selected issues, change from year to year.
Report

Powder cocaine: how the treatment system is responding to a growing problem (1st March 2010)

One in 10 drug users entering treatment in England are seeking help for addiction to powder cocaine, a rise of four per cent in four years, according to new research for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).

More than a third of them are aged 18-24, and they are much more likely to come from a broad range of social backgrounds than the typical heroin users who traditionally form the majority of those in treatment.
Press Release
Report

DRUGS

Mephedrone - an update on current knowledge (12th January 2010)

This briefing presents information on the substance Mephedrone (also known as: 4‐MMC, ‘Meow’, ‘M‐Cat’) and other related drugs. This substance has received recent media attention concerning its legality and (largely unconfirmed) speculations around its contribution to the deaths of several young people. Little scientific evidence is available on mephedrone and most information is derived from users themselves or user orientated websites.
Briefing

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health Manifesto (18th January 2010)
The Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health have published a package of 12 practical recommendations that will improve the UK's health and well-being for the new decade if adopted by the next government.
Manifesto

Alcohol and Food: making the public health connections (6th January 2010)
This report is a literature review into the links surrounding alcohol and food. It is the first step in the process of making the public aware of the dangers and benefits that food and alcohol together represent.
Report

A Healthier Nation (13th January 2010)

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, has launched the Conservative Party’s new green paper on public health - A Healthier Nation.

The paper shows the need for overhauling how better public health should be promoted:

• There must be a focus on reducing health inequalities, in a locally led public health strategy and throughoutgovernment - from the strengthening of support for families with young children to reducing preventable winter deaths among elderly people.
• Some parts of public health policy need to be led nationally - immunisation programmes, emergency planning orbehaviour change campaigns. Wherever possible, these should be evidence-based and linked to the latest advancesin social psychology and behavioural economics, so that they work intelligently with the way real people live their everyday lives.
• Responsibility for improving public health, and the budget to do so, must be decentralised as far as possible - away from central government control and out to local communities.
• Councils, communities and independent providers should be rewarded for reducing health problems like obesity, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse – when they make serious savings for the NHS and the taxpayer, they shouldbe rewarded for it

Paper

ALCOHOL

Local Routes: Guidance for developing alcohol treatment pathways (1st December 2009)
This document provides good practice guidance on the development of integrated care pathways for people with alcohol problems – alcohol treatment pathways (ATPs). It is illustrated with a number of examples but is not intended to provide an exhaustive resource of off-the-shelf pathways.
Guidance

Guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people. A report by the Chief Medical Officer (17th December 2009)
In April 2008 the Chief Medical Officer was asked by the Secretaries of State for Health and for Children, Schools and Families to prepare guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people.

This guidance was published initially in draft form as part of a consultation on advice and information for children, young people and alcohol, being facilitated in England by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The findings from this consultation have been collated and utilised in the development of this final version of the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance.
Guidance

Off Measure: How we underestimate the amount we drink (18th December 2009)
A new analysis, carried out by Liverpool John Moores University, finds that the discrepancy between alcohol surveys calculating consumption and actual alcohol sales equals 430 million units a week. This is the equivalent of a bottle of wine per adult drinker per week going unaccounted for in the UK.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Healthy Weight for Children Hub e-Newsletter Issue 12 (December 2009)

Sexual Health Quarterly Bulletin Issue 26 December 2009 (December 2009)

North West Public Health Observatory Health E-News December 2009 (December 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 49 (11th December 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 50 (18th December 2009)

DH Care Networks Telecare eNewsletter December 2009 (22nd December 2009)

National Cancer Bulletin, Issue 3, December 2009 (31st December 2009)

The month: issue 28, December 2009 (18th December 2009)

Medical directors' bulletin, Issue 99, December 2009 (23rd December 2009)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 90, December 2009 (18th December 2009)

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Young people and sexual exploitation: an exploration of young people's workers' experiences of providing support in Merseyside (10th December 2009)
This research aimed to explore young people's workers' experience of supporting young people who have been sexually exploited in both broad and subtle ways.

Young people were not consulted for this research and this should be taken into account when considering the following recommendations from the report:

• Young people’s workers should have access to specialist training regarding sexual exploitation and training needs assessments regarding sexual exploitation should be conducted.
• The Sexual Exploitation: Risk Assessment (SERA) should be used to increase young people’s workers’ awareness of the signs that young people may be being sexually exploited or at risk of sexual exploitation.
• Consideration should be given to how the sexual exploitation of young people could be minimised via the introduction of compulsory sex and relationship education as part of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).
• The perspectives of young people, who have been sexually exploited and live in Merseyside, regarding how young people become sexually exploited and effective methods of support should be obtained. Young people’s well-being should be prioritised throughout the research process.

Report

The Children's Plan Two Years On: a progress report (December 2009)
The Children’s Plan built on the enormous achievements of the Every Child Matters framework and a decade of reform and investment in schools, health and children’s services. Much has been achieved.

In this Two Years On document the Government takes the opportunity to chart the progress that has been made so far and share their next steps.

The Children’s Plan Expert Groups were asked to review the progress that has been made and advise on the challenges ahead, both for Government, and for all those working with children and young people.
Report

The Impact of the Commercial World on Children's Wellbeing: Report of an Independent Assessment (December 2009)
In The Children's Plan the DCSF gave a commitment to commission an independent review of the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing. That assessment, conducted by Professor David Buckingham and a panel of experts, is now complete and this report presents their findings.

The assessment was launched with an online call for evidence, which was widely circulated to relevant stakeholder groups. This resulted in a range of submissions from businesses, trade associations, non-government organisations, consumer groups, teacher unions, campaigners, and others.
Report

The Prince's Trust YouGov Youth Index 2010 (4th January 2010)
Older teenagers and young adults who are out of work face poorer health and lower happiness, with one in 10 claiming that unemployment drove them to drugs or alcohol, according to new research.

A Princes Trust study, based on interviews with over 2,000 unemployed 16 to 25 year olds, also found out-of-work young people were more likely to feel ashamed, rejected and unloved. If the current economic downturn mirrors previous recessions these could become ‘permanent psychological scars’, the charity warned.
Survey

ALCOHOL

Understanding college students' alcohol-related social norms in Sefton: Interim Findings (30th November 2009)
This report builds on previous research conducted in schools in Sefton into social drinking norms in young people.

The survey results showed that 97.3% of respondents had consumed alcohol. Their motivations to drink alcohol were:

• pressure from friends (12.4%)
• celebrate special occasions (95%)
• it was fun (79%)
• to get drunk (62%)
• to cheer themselves up (49%)
• to feel more confident (44%)
• to forget their worries (30%)

Report

Lancashire: Brief Intervention Online Training Evaluation - Final Report (30th November 2009)
This report, by Centre for Public Health, evaluates the online training programme that NHS Central Lancashire commissioned DeltaNet International Limited to construct, on the theory and practice of delivering brief interventions (BIs) that aimed to reach a wide audience.

The two central recommendations are:
Commissioners and/or DeltaNet International Limited should examine the IT systems used to house the program and make recommendations to the participants regarding the technical specifications of equipment and basic computing skills required.
Commissioners should examine whether the profile of the participants who took part matched the intended target audience as many participants found the material basic.
Report

Impact of Alcohol in Greater Manchester, quarter one: September 2009/10 (30th November 2009)
This report identifies available alcohol intelligence from across Greater Manchester. The data are separated into six categories:
consumption
health related impacts of alcohol
crime
young people, and
examples of interventions to tackle excessive alcohol consumption
Report

Why do people drink at home? An exploration of the perceptions of adult home consumption practice (November 2009)
The first Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England (The Prime Ministers Strategy Unit 2004) made no mention of the challenges posed by drinking away from licensed premises. However the most recent strategy (Home Office 2007) recognises that home drinkers do present a significant health burden.

This report uses a qualitative methodology to examine some of the reasons put forward by male and female participants age range 15-75 for drinking away from licensed premises. The authors are defining an adult as 16 and above. This is the age when it is legal to drink alcohol accompanied by a meal.
Final Report
Related Insight No. 68

PUBLIC HEALTH

Evaluating the use of APHO Disease Prevalence Models in PCTs - Final Report (December 2009)
Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) on behalf of the Department of Health (DH), commissioned York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) to carry out an evaluation of the use, by PCTs nationally, of six disease prevalence models developed by the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO). This is the report of the evaluation..

The six models evaluated were:

• Chronic Kidney Disease (Interim)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
• PBS Diabetes Phase 3
• Hypertension
• Stroke

Report

Recycling and Public Health (26th November 2009)
This report, produced by the Centre for Public Health for HIA Gateway, examines the evidence for the health impacts of recycling.
Report

SCREENING

Screening programmes across Cheshire and Merseyside primary care trusts (26th November 2009)
This is a report of the review of screening programmes across primary care trusts in Cheshire and Merseyside which was commissioned by the Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Network (ChaMPs).
Report

WOMEN'S HEALTH

Together we can end violence against women and girls: a strategy (25th November 2009)
This cross-government strategy sets out a range of actions for the police, councils, the NHS and other government departments across three key areas: prevention, provision and protection.
Strategy

It only takes a minute girl - women's perceptions of cervical screening in Blackpool (26th November 2009)
This report is the first part of a larger project to increase coverage of cervical cancer screening in Blackpool. Approximately 32% of eligible women between the ages of 25-34 years, living in Blackpool have never attended for cervical smear test. The project aimed to find out what young women aged 25-34 years in Blackpool value and want. Some of the recommendations arising from the focus groups are:

• Display messages through a wide range of media
• Create a website to provide more information
• Set up "Facebook" group
• Open up well woman clinics/sexual health services as drop-in for smears
• Consider the possibility of making the walk-in centre more flexible
• Attempt to overcome perceptions of poor treatment by reviewing the whole service experience
• Reflect on how best to create a positive service experience

Summary

ALCOHOL

Identifying effective interventions for preventing underage alcohol consumption (24th November 2009)
A report identifying a range of effective interventions aimed at preventing/reducing alcohol use in young people, and particularly underage drinkers.
Report

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children - revised statutory guidance (16th November 2009)
Revised Guidance on Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children has been published jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It replaces the guidance, Promoting the Health of Looked After Children, published by the Department of Health in 2002, which was statutory on local authorities. The revised guidance is statutory on local authorities and also on Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.
Guidance

Evaluation of Wirral Life Education Centre on the health and wellbeing of primary school children (12th November 2009)
An evaluation of a national charity working locally with primary schools, parents and carers, and others in the community to help children make healthy choices.
Report

HEALTH

Improving health, supporting justice: the national delivery plan of the Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board (17th November 2009)
The Government's national delivery plan for health and criminal justice as developed by the Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board, building on Lord Bradley's 2009 review of mental health and learning disability in the criminal justice system. This delivery plan contributes to key Government initiatives around protecting the public, reducing health inequalities, reducing reoffending and health improvement and protection.
Guidance

Tackling Health Related Worklessness (13th November 2009)
The health of the working age population who are out of work forms for focus of this synthesis report. Relevant policy, evidence and intelligence are brought together to highlight to scale of ill health preventing people from working, including policy and examples of best practice interventions for preparing the out of work for employment. A second report focusing on the health and wellbeing of the working age population who are in work will follow in spring 2010.
Report

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Reviewing patients who have waited longer than 18 weeks (21st October 2009)
As set out in David Flory's Quarter 4 2008-09 report, PCTs need to understand and act upon the reasons for any unnecessary waits over 18 weeks. This guidance suggests methods for reviewing and reporting waits longer than 18 weeks in order to understand the causes of unnecessary waits, and to drive further improvements in patient experience.
Guidance

Creating a performance management framework for a minimal alcohol data set for PCTs in Cheshire and Merseyside (23rd October 2009)
This is a report on a project to develop a performance management framework which can provide a minimal dataset to be collected on a range of alcohol-related issues across the Cheshire and Merseyside sub-region.
Report

ALCOHOL

Understanding young people's alcohol-related social norms in schools in Sefton: final report (9th October 2009)
The social norms campaign was delivered by NHS Sefton in schools in Sefton during June and early July 2009. As part of this intervention a poster campaign was run with the posters being based on some of the findings provided in the interim report. This is the final report of the campaign.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

CMO Update 49 (7th October 2009)

Environmental Health Quarterly Bulletin: Issue 14, August 2009 (28th September 2009)

Sexual Health Quarterly Bulletin September 2009 edition (28th September 2009)

NWPHO Health E-News September 2009 (29th September 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 39 (2nd October 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 40 (9th October 2009)

The month: issue 25, September 2009 (29th September 2009)

CMO Update Archive 2008 (6th October 2009)

CDO Update, October 2009 (1st October 2009)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, October 2009 Edition 55 (October 2009)

PUBLIC HEALTH

APHO Technical Briefing 6: Using small area data in public health intelligence (31st August 2009)
In this briefing, from the Association of Public Health Observatories, they assess the types of small area data available to analysts and local policy makers across the UK and Ireland, reflecting, as much as possible, the differences between the constituent nations. A range of analytical and presentational methods that may be used and some of the analytical issues that may be encountered are described.
Briefing

Violence Prevention: The Evidence. (17th September 2009)
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Public Health have produced a series of eight briefings. The series summarises the evidence for interventions to prevent interpersonal and self-directed violence, providing clear directions for how violence prevention funders, policy makers and programme implementers can boost the impact of their violence prevention efforts.
Violence prevention: the evidence. Overview
Reducing violence through victim identification, care and support programmes
Changing cultural and social norms that support violence
Promoting gender equality to prevent violence against women
Guns, knives and pesticides: reducing access to lethal means
Preventing violence by reducing the availability and harmful use of alcohol
Preventing violence by developing life skills in children and adolescents
Preventing violence through the development of safe, stable and nurturing relationships between children and their parents and caregivers

Sustainable plastic usage and public health. Fact sheet 5 (25th September 2009)
This fact sheet examines both the public health benefits and issues associated with our addiction to plastics
Fact sheet

ARTICLE - Identifying primary care patients at risk for future diabetes and cardiovascular disease using electronic health records (22nd September 2009)
Prevention of diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) is possible but identification of at-risk patients for targeting interventions is a challenge in primary care. This study looked at the electronic health record (EHR) data for 122,715 patients from 12 primary care practices. After excluding patients with diabetes/CHD at baseline 78,293 patients were eligible for analysis.
Article

PUBLIC HEALTH

Suicide in the North West: A review of non-residential and outdoor locations (20th August 2009)
To help support an effective regional response to suicide, the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO) were commissioned by the North West Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP NW) to complete an analysis of non-residential suicide locations in the North West. NWPHO worked with a multi-partner network including CSIP NW, Greater Manchester Suicide Prevention Group, Government Office North West, Samaritans, the Highways Agency and the Fire and Rescue Service, among others, to achieve this. The full results of the analysis are contained in a confidential report, in which locations of suicides are identified. However, the additional report available here discusses findings of the study (without identifying specific locations) and provides insight into non-residential and outdoor suicide sites and potential interventions in the North West and beyond.
Report

Health and Sustainability Factsheet 4: August 2009 (24th August 2009)
The issue of the Health and Sustainability Factsheet deals with public health aspects of sustainable water.
Factsheet