BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Trust Practice Health Update 35 (16th March 2010)

Health Update 35 (16th March 2010)

FSA eNews March 2010 (17th March 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 9 (5th March 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 10 (12th March 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin Edition 60, March 2010 (March 2010)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin Issue 92, March 2010 (8th March 2010)

NHS Design Champions Newsletter Issue 1, March 2010 (10th March 2010)

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Cases of tuberculosis continue to increase (16th March 2010)
Provisional figures released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the UK have increased by 5.5%, from 8,679 reported in 2008 to 9,153 in 2009.

The figures, released in the agency's annual TB newsletter ahead of World TB Day on 24th March, show the main burden of this infection is still in London with 3,476 cases reported in 2009, accounting for 38% of the UK total. The West Midlands region reported the second highest number of cases, accounting for 11.3% of cases. A rise in cases was seen in eight out of nine regions. Nearly three-quarters of cases occur in people born outside the UK.
Information

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 7 (19th February 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 8 (26th February 2010)

Telecare LIN eNewsletter February 2010 (2nd March 2010)

The month: issue 30, February 2010 (1st March 2010)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 85, February 2010 (24th February 2010)

Medical directors bulletin, Issue 101, February 2010 (2nd March 2010)

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol 4 No 5 (5th February 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol 4 No 6 (12th February 2010)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 91, February 2010 (11th February 2010)

DRUGS

Guidelines and information on anthrax infection for health professionals and drug users (February 2010)
As a result of the 2 cases of anthrax in injecting drug users, the Health Protection Agency have produced a number of resources with advice for health professionals and drug users/workers.
Resources

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 3 (22nd January 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 4 (29th January 2010)

DH Care Networks Telecare eNewsletter - January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

User-Led Organisation Action and Learning Newsletter, Winter 2009/10 (2nd February 2010)

The month: issue 29, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

AHP Bulletin, Issue 75, January 2010 (26th January 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, edition 59 (February 2010)

Medical Directors Bulletin, Issue 100, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

Social Care Bulletin, Issue 13, January 2010 (3rd February 2010)

HEALTH

Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (1st February 2010)
The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which reports to the Health Protection Agency, has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of ultrasound (frequencies above 20 kilohertz) and infrasound (below 20 Hz).

The report finds that the available evidence does not suggest that diagnostic ultrasound affects mortality of babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The evidence also does not suggest any effect on childhood cancer risk. There have, however, been some unconfirmed reports suggesting possible effects on the developing nervous system - for instance, on handedness of the child.

AGNIR concluded that there is no established evidence that diagnostic levels of ultrasound are hazardous. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are any long-term adverse health effects, especially following exposure of the unborn child.
Report

Warrington - using libraries to raise health awareness (21st January 2010)
Warrington Borough Council used Communities for Health (C4H) funding to run a health programme based in its libraries.
Information

Summary of insight research with middle aged adults (2nd February 2010)
Change4Life asked research company 2CV to carry out research to help inform a campaign aimed at adults. The research was carried out between July and October 2009 with middle aged men and women to investigate their habits and attitudes to diet, physical activity and weight status.
Summary

A liberal dose? Health and wellbeing: the role of the state (1st February 2010)
The role of the state in health and wellbeing is a complex and controversial issue. A difficult question for any government is how far to intervene in the choices and behaviour of individuals in order to promote their own, or others’, health. Good health is a vital ingredient of a good life – but so is freedom.

This report:

• sets out evidence for what the public think about this question;
• explores the key issues at stake and clarifi es principles for state intervention;
• suggests a new framework to guide decision making; and
• proposes a new narrative for future state intervention.

Report

Influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report builds on current approaches, using the latest evidence from areas such as behavioural economics and psychology, to suggest ways in which the Government could become more effective in this area, to help people to make healthier choices where they wish to do so.
Report

Enabling effective delivery of health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report offers recommendations to the Secretary of State on how better to enable the delivery of improved health and wellbeing. The terms of reference for this report requested an assessment of the current opportunities and barriers in delivery systems, to identify where practical changes could be made to improve effectiveness.
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)

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Hepatitis C in the UK: 2009 Report (11th December 2009)
According to latest figures released by the Health Protection Agency, more than 8,000 people were diagnosed with hepatitis C last year in England.

Figures from the agency's yearly report on Hepatitis C for 2009 show that laboratory reporting of newly diagnosed hepatitis C infections in England increased in 2008 by 6% compared to 2007, with 8,196 new cases reported in 2008.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 47 (27th November 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 48 (4th December 2009)

Telecare eNewsletter November 2009 (3rd December 2009)

National Mental Health Development Unit Briefing - Issue 2, December 2009 (December 2009)

National Cancer Programme Bulletin, Issue 2, December 2009 (9th December 2009)

AHP Bulletin, Issue 74, November 2009 (27th November 2009)

CDO update, December 2009 (8th December 2009)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 83, November 2009 (1st December 2009)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, edition 57 (December 2009)

Medical directors' bulletin, Issue 98, November 2009 (30th November 2009)

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Tuberculosis in the UK: Annual report on tuberculosis surveillance in the UK 2009 (2nd December 2009)
In 2008 in the UK, 8,655 cases of tuberculosis were reported, a rate of 14.1 per 100,000 population. This represents an increase of 2.2% in the rate of disease compared with 2007.

The main burden of disease was concentrated in major urban areas; 39% of cases were reported from London, a rate of 44.3 cases per 100,000. Nineteen primary care organisations had a rate of 40 per 100,000 or over, all of which covered major urban areas.
Report

HIV AND AIDS

HIV in the United Kingdom: 2009 Report (27th November 2009)
The number of people living with HIV in the UK continues to rise, with an estimated 83,000 infected at the end of 2008, of whom over a quarter (27%) were unaware of their infection.

During 2008, there were 7,298 new diagnoses of HIV in the UK. This represents a slight decline on previous years, predominantly due to fewer diagnoses among black African women who acquired their infection abroad.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 43 (30th October 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 44 (6th November 2009)

National Cancer Programme Bulletin, Issue 1, October 2009 (10th November 2009)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin Edition 56 November 2009 (November 2009)

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

FSA News No. 91 October 2009 (14th October 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 41 (16th October 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 42 (23rd October 2009)

RCGP News - October 2009 (October 2009)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 82, October 2009 (27th October 2009)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 88, October 2009 (15th October 2009)

Medical directors' bulletin, Issue 97, October 2009 (22nd October 2009)

DRUGS

Shooting Up: Infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom 2008. An update: 2009 (23rd October 2009)
This report presents available data on the extent and trends over time of infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the UK up to the end of 2008. It includes data on the more severe bacterial infections affecting IDUs, on available markers of HIV and viral hepatitis prevalence and incidence, and on associated risk and protective behaviours.
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)

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

EMBRACE Volume 2 Issue 2 (September 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 37 (18th September 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 38 (25th September 2009)

Telecare eNewsletter - September 2009 (22nd September 2009)

Telecare eNewsletter - Dementia supplement - September 2009 (22nd September 2009)

AHP Bulletin, Issue 73, September 2009 (28th September 2009)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 87, September 2009 (23rd September 2009)

Medical Directors' Bulletin, Issue 96, September 2009 (25th September 2009)

ANNUAL REPORTS

National Poisons Information Service - Annual Report 2008/09 (10th September 2009)
In 2008/9, NPIS received more than 625,000 poisons-related telephone and online enquiries from health care professionals - up 19% from 2007/8. There were in excess of 570,000 online enquiries, up 20%. NPIS has encouraged the use of online enquiries as a first point of call for information while its telephone service is devoted to more complex cases. More than 57,000 telephone enquiries were answered in 2008/09, an increase of around 9%.
Annual Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 35 (4th September 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 36 (11th September 2009)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 81, September 2009 (11th September 2009)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, September 2009, Edition 54 (September 2009)

SOCIAL CARE

Exercise Prometheus (10th September 2009)
Exercise Prometheus is a Department of Health funded exercise for the social care sector to assess and develop its resilience planning in readiness for a second wave of the pandemic swine flu. Designed as an 'off the shelf' package primarily for use by local authorities in partnership with their local providers of social care, the exercise has been developed by the Health Protection Agency from experience gained in previous pandemic influenza exercises.
Guidance