From the President
Welcome to September's ebulletin.
As predicted, work continued apace on the English health reforms over the summer in anticipation of their discussion in the House of Commons this week and the House of Lords later in the year. We have prepared suggested amendments on our key areas of concern in the bill and have been lobbying members of both Houses of Parliament personally and by letter. Once the outcome of the debates in the House of Commons is clear, we will be focusing on the forthcoming discussions in the Lords in the hope that they will be able to address any remaining issues – of which we expect there to be a substantial number. I intend also to talk these through with the Public Health Minister, Anne Milton, when I meet her later this month.
Meanwhile, we are contributing to the various opportunities for engagement offered by the Department of Health as its work to clarify roles, responsibilities and organisational arrangements evolves. I realise this a difficult time for members in England, not least because of the continuing lack of clarity, and I am enormously grateful to all of you who, despite all the other pressures, have taken the time to discuss the issues with those in a position to influence national or local decisions. Every individual voice really does help!
The Board away-day on 22 September will be an opportunity for us to take stock of the impact of the reforms and of the economic situation on public health capacity and activity across the UK. Please make sure your representative on the Board knows what you think is currently going well – and what isn't – so that we get as complete picture as we can.
We will also be revisiting FPH's Strategic Plan 2007-12 at the away-day, and it would be very helpful if you could take a look at it, reflect upon whether it is still relevant and appropriate and let your representative have your views.
As President, it's important to me to get out and about to meet as many of you as I can. FPH's office in St Andrew's Place is very pleasant, but it can be (literally) a bit of an ivory tower, so if you would like me to come and talk with you and your colleagues please let me know and, diary permitting, I'll be there.
Lindsey
FPH news
Public health articles - summary pieces
FPH has contributed to a series of articles discussing the health proposals and their understanding of public health put together by the Local Government Improvement and Development Healthy Communities Team. These articles were published in full on Monday 5 September with online discussions from some of the authors throughout this week debating the various topic areas.
The articles gathered together for this Community of Practice hotseat show the huge potential of the transition of public health to local councils, and some of the concerns. The Local Government Group has been working closely with the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal Society for Public Health, the British Medical Association and the Association of Directors of Public Health to identify areas of commonality and difference.
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Primary Care Live
FPH has secured 50 free places for FPH members at Primary Care Live at ExCel in London on 19-20 October 2011. The places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. To register your attendance please call 0845 056 8339 quoting DIS-FPH-1X.
The event is billed as London's largest gathering of nurses, GPs and primary-care practitioners.
Highlights include:
- Complementary birthing therapies showcase: the latest innovations in complementary therapy for mothers and babies
- Woundcare demonstration: see the latest innovations in woundcare
- Scenario planning & role play: childhood and obesity communication workshop/roleplay
- Demonstrating compliance clinic: assessing and assuring GP compliance
- Keynote agenda: the ideal opportunity to get an overview of primary care in one visit
- Lunch discussion tables: your chance to sit face-to-face with your peers and discuss key challenges in your sector
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Public Health Today
The subject of September's issue of Public Health Today will be ageing. There will be a debate between Professor Joe Collier and Baroness Finlay on assisted dying, as well as articles on ageing in relation to, among other subjects, mental health, transport, biology, work and poverty.
There will also be an interview with Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and an article by former BMJ editor Richard Smith on the damage that doctors do to health.
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Journal of Public Health
The subjects of articles appearing in the next edition of the Journal of Public Health include the health effects of lead on vulnerable populations, variation in death rates in deprived parliamentary constituencies, and the cost effectiveness of public health interventions.
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Consultation on Specialty Guidance for Revalidation
As part of the AoMRC's work on producing comprehensive and comparative guidance for all specialties for collecting evidence for revalidation, we have produced a draft document outlining the requirements for public health specialists.
The aim is for all specialties to share the basic framework, with addendums added for individual areas where required. This working document is now available for consultation among our members. If you think that there are improvements that can be made to this document, please send comments to revalidation@fph.org.uk by 16 September 2011.
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ACCEA - Consultants Clinical Excellence Awards for England and Wales
The Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) is currently advising ACCEA on new awards for 2012, with a decision anticipated in September 2011. It is expected that the 2012 round will open in October with a closing date of 9 December 2011 for national awards.
FPH will notify all members via the e-bulletin when applications are open. ACCEA will also be announcing the results of the 2011 round in the autumn at the same time as the Government's response to the DDRB review is made available.
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Online Members' Area
The new FPH online members' area is up and running. You can update your membership information, tell us about policy areas you're interested in, find out about the work of FPH, and about opportunities to get involved.
The area is still in the early stages of development, but we're working on it so that you'll be able to pay your subscription fees, register for the conference and other FPH events, and get access to pre-published copies of FPH reports.
To get started, just follow the link from the FPH homepage and where it says 'Activate account' simply enter your email address and click 'submit'. If your email address matches the one we have logged on our register, then a notification will be emailed to that account with a password.
If your email address doesn't match, then contact omasupport@fph.org.uk
Public health news
Centre for Workforce Intelligence report and recommendations for specialties
The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) has published its recommendations on training numbers for medical specialties in 'Shape of the Medical Workforce; Informing Medical Training Numbers'. The report is supported by medical specialty recommendations.
The purpose of the report, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, is to provide information that will help commissioners, providers and others plan the number and type of training places for medical specialists for 2012 and beyond.
The report takes a slightly different approach to last year. Instead of making recommendations for a single year, the CfWI is taking a medium-term view and is making recommendations for two to four years, by specialty and geography. The new approach will support more effective planning and implementation.
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Join the Good Medical Practice debate
The GMC is currently reviewing its core guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice (GMP). It is addressing different GMP–related themes through its website. This month it is asking 'What do you want to see in GMP?'
Go to the GMC website to find out more and let them know your views.
In this issue:
From the President
FPH news
FPH events
Public health news
FPH in the news
Public health events
FPH events
Quality, Public Health and Scotland: Improving Standards in a Changing Climate
Date: 10-11 November 2011
Venue: Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Scotland
FPH IN SCOTLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Scotland's health is improving, but the major challenges of obesity, tobacco, alcohol misuse and mental ill health or illness remain. The demands on health improvement and healthcare services and the climate in which we operate are changing not least due to demographic changes, new technologies and financial pressures.
How should the public health community continue to promote and secure changes to improve health in this increasingly challenging climate? What are the key elements of successful leadership in times of hardship and how can best practice be inspired?
These are just some of the questions we will explore in this year's programme which will feature keynote presentations from a range of influential speakers.
Further information and to submit an abstract.
Closing date for abstracts is 27 June 2011.
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The Next Generation: Public Health Careers for the 21st Century
Date: 20 September 2011
Venue: Examination Schools, Oxford OX1 4BG
One-day conference for those interested in pursuing or developing a career in public health.
The purpose of the conference is to identify the future shape of careers in the context of societal and demographic changes and current and emerging public health challenges.
This is an opportunity to:
- Hear national leaders in public health
- Contribute your own ideas
- Join interactive workshops
- Network with public health professionals
- Feed ideas into the public health workforce strategy
- Attend the launch of SPHINX, an online public health international networking and exchange site.
Registration is £50 and includes lunch and refreshments. To book your place and for more information please visit the conference website.
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Public Health Conference in Wales
Date: 21 September 2011
Venue: Swalec Stadium, Cardiff
The Welsh Government's strategic action plan for reducing inequities in health, Fairer Health Outcomes for All, will provide a framework for the conference.
Cochrane Lecture:
Following the conference, Professor Stephen Palmer will be delivering the Faculty of Public Health's Cochrane Lecture.
Delegates will be given the opportunity to attend the day conference and the lecture or attend either of the two.
Registration:
A full agenda will be published shortly but anyone wishing to attend should register their interest here. Information will then be sent out to allow delegates to register for a range of breakout sessions.
The conference is free to attend for anyone working in Wales with a cost of £200 for anyone attending from outside Wales.
The event is being organised by Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government in partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association and Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
For further information go to the NHS Wales website.
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Research Careers in Academic Public Health
Date: 21 October 2011, 10am-4.30pm
Venue: Wellcome Collection Conference Centre, London NW1 2BE
This FREE, one-day event is aimed at anyone interested in pursuing or developing a research career in academic public health. It has been organised by the Medical Research Council (MRC), the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Wellcome Trust in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health.
The event has a strong practical focus and includes a selection of short research talks from established researchers and research fellows.
Registration forms should be emailed to the Medical Research Council by 4pm on 28 September 2011.
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Children's Public Health in the Foundation Years (pregnancy to five years): A professional update
Date: 9 November, 9.30am to 4.30pm
Venue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 5-11 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SH
The Faculty of Public Health, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Department of Health are pleased to invite local consultants in public health to a professional update event on children's public health. Recent years have seen significant developments in knowledge, evidence and practice relating to early child development and public health, and we are keen to support the profession in its local leadership role for children.
The event includes presentations on the latest evidence from national experts as well as the opportunity to explore what this means for local working in the context of changes in the public health system.
Further information on the event.
To register your interest, please contact Karen Tidy, FPH Events Officer.
Spaces are limited to 100 attendees. This is a free event.
FPH in the news
McDonalds adds calorie info to menus
Sky News
'Keep the bulldozer in the garage' pleads opposition as SNP unveils record 16 bills
The Scotsman
The power struggle at the heart of the NHS reforms
Pulse
On the FPH blog
"Without proper safeguards and a solidly regulated public health system, the compensation lawyers, the media and Her Majesty's Opposition will all have an absolute field day."
Public health events
For more information on any of these events please visit the FPH events website
Multiple Risk Behaviours in Adolescence: Causes, Consequences, Prevention and Interventions
Date: 09 September 2011
Venue: Victoria Rooms, University of Bristol
Health Protection 2011
Date: 13-14 September 2011
Venue: Warwick University
Health and Social Care Conference 2011
Date: 14 September 2011
Venue: Central London
Society for Social Medicine 2011 Conference
Date: 14-16 September 2011
Venue: Warwick University
Leadership for Quality
Date: 22 September 2011
Venue: Royal College of Physicians, 11 St Andrews Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4LE
Assets for Health and Wellbeing Across the Life Course: International Conference
Date: 26-27 September 2011
Venue: British Library Conference Centre, Euston, London
Global Health 2011: Policy for Sustainable and Effective Healthcare
Date: 29-30 September 2011
Venue: BMA House, London
Finding Young Medical Authors: From Inspiration to Ink
Date: 19 October 2011
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, London
Global Health Education for Tomorrow's Doctors
Date: 20 October 2011
Venue: The Austin Court, Birmingham, B1 2NP
Quality, Public Health and Scotland: Improving Standards in a Changing Climate
Date: 10-11 November 2011
Venue: Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Scotland
Global Public Health Conference: Trading Health
Date: 16 November 2011
Venue: London
Concepts of Epidemiology: Seventh Crash Course
Date: 05-09 December 2011
Venue: University of Edinburgh
Population Health - Methods and Challenges
Date: 24-26 April 2012
Venue: The ICC Birmingham
For more information please visit the FPH events website
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