News

What’s happening in the world of public health? We take a look at the latest stories affecting the professions.

Lincolnshire HVs strike for a month

Lincolnshire health visitors will strike for a month over the council’s ‘divide and rule’ jobs move, which could see some lose tens of thousands of pounds over their working lives.
 

ResearchCareers, Jobs, Professional

Big story: teaching the truth about FGM

Lessons raising awareness about female genital mutilation are to be taught in secondary school classrooms from next year. But is that too late, asks Journalist Juliette Astrup.

Regional/CountrySafeguarding

China: Probiotics may help obese children shed weight

Probiotic supplements could help obese children lose weight, new research suggests.

Regional/CountryNutrition, Growth and development

Finland: Stress in pregnancy linked to child personality disorders

Children born to women who experience severe stress when pregnant are more likely to develop a personality disorder by the age of 30, a new study suggests.

Regional/CountryHealth and wellbeing, Behaviour

Sweden: Anaemia in early pregnancy is related to increased risk of children’s autism and ADHD

A cohort study looking at more than 500,000 children and their mothers has linked maternal anaemia early in pregnancy with an increased risk of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability in the child.

Regional/CountryVulnerability, Behaviour, Mental Health

England: Parental involvement unlocks children’s academic attainment

Parental engagement has a positive effect on a child’s academic attainment, regardless of age or socioeconomic status, according to a new report.

Regional/CountryEducation

England: Summer-born children are more likely to suffer depression in childhood

The youngest children in the school year are 30% more likely to develop depression than their older peers, according to analysis of data from more than a million UK children.

Regional/CountryMental Health

Norway: Infant gluten intake raises risk of type 1 diabetes

A child’s intake of gluten at age 18 months is linked to their risk of later developing type 1 diabetes, new research suggests.

Regional/Country Nutrition, Growth and development

Spread training and skills money to HVs and SNs, says LGA

Government funding of £210m for nurses to improve training and skills should be expanded to cover health visitors and school nurses, the Local Government Association (LGA) says.

Regional/Country Employment, Jobs, Professional

Nursing directors of the future’ graduate at Stormont

The first cohort of nurses to complete a course designed for potential nursing directors of the future has graduated.

Regional/Country Employment, Jobs, Professional

Controversial Named person scheme scrapped

The Scottish Government has scrapped its controversial plan to appoint a named person to safeguard the welfare of every child in the country.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing

Parents fail to stop children’s centre closures

Campaigners fighting the closure of 19 children’s centres in Buckinghamshire have lost their High Court battle – clearing the way for the county council to replace 35 children’s centres with 16 family centres.

Regional/Country Vulnerability

Psychiatrist ‘workforce crisis’ damages CAMHS

A psychiatric ‘workforce crisis’ is most acute in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), according to the latest census from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Regional/Country Mental Health

Baby bundle pilot to give families the ‘best start’ in life

Parents of newborns are to be offered a package of gifts including clothing, bathing and play items and information leaflets in a new scheme being piloted in Swansea Bay.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing

Suicide and self-harm prevention strategy is launched

A five-year plan to reduce rates of suicide and self-harm has been launched by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.

Regional/Country Vulnerability, Mental Health

Child health is stagnating, survey says

Some areas of child health, including obesity and mental health, are stagnating, according to the latest Scottish health survey.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing

Drug-poisoning deaths reach record levels

Deaths from drug poisoning have reached their highest ever levels in Wales, up by 78% over 10 years, according to a new report by Public Health Wales (PHW).

Regional/Country Vulnerability
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