News

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

HV strike success

The long-running Lincolnshire health visitors’ dispute is coming to an end with a pay victory that sees the vast majority of the workforce being upgraded.

Big story: down with social media?

The evidence around the ill effects of social media and long periods of screen time is not straightforward, writes journalist Juliette Astrup. She looks at the latest research on how young people can make the most of online positives and blot out the dark side of the internet.

Safeguarding, Mental Health

Help for HVs facing fitness-to-practise proceedings

Nurses, midwives and nursing associates involved in fitness-to-practise (FtP) proceedings can now access a new, free and confidential support service.

Regional/CountryProfessional

England: mother and baby app used by local maternity systems

The Mum & Baby app designed in London that provides women with information throughout pregnancy and new motherhood is being picked up by services across England.

Regional/CountryProfessional

NHS in Scotland struggles to stay in the black

The health service in Scotland could suffer a £1.8bn shortfall in less than five years without reforms, Audit Scotland has warned.

Regional/CountryProfessional

District nurse student numbers are on the up

The number of students enrolled in district nurse education is up by almost a fifth.

Regional/CountryProfessional

Northern Ireland: multidisciplinary teams roll out across the regions

The transformation of care at GP surgeries is stepping up with the regional roll-out of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs).

Regional/CountryProfessional

England: ‘five praises a day’ leads to better behaved children

Children who are praised by their parents at least five times a day are better behaved, calmer and more attentive than those who are not.

Regional/Country Professional, Behaviour

Immunotherapy for peanut allergy protects but doesn’t cure

Eating small amounts of peanuts can prevent reactions in peanut-allergic people, but doesn’t cure them, say researchers.

Regional/Country Allergies

Unlocking the mysteries of adolescent mental health

A £35m government-backed research programme into teenage mental health issues has been announced.

Regional/Country Mental Health

Northern Ireland: children are eating seven times more treats than recommended limit

Children are eating seven times more unhealthy foods such as crisps, biscuits and sweets than they should be, a report shows.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Nutrition

Wales: mumps strikes in universities

Public Health Wales (PHW) has urged people to ensure they have been vaccinated following cases of suspected mumps in universities.

Regional/Country Immunisation & illness

Scotland: tooth decay in children falls to new low

The number of children with no obvious sign of tooth decay has reached a record high.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing

News in numbers: December/January

A breakdown of community health news this month, in numbers. Download the PDF, here. 

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Professional, Mental Health

Young mothers have greater risk of children with autism

Age at first birth is ‘strongly associated’ with a greater chance of having a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research.

Research Growth and development

BMI and university degree predict adolescent obesity

The BMI of mother and child and the mother’s education are the three simple predictors of a child being overweight or obese by the time they are a teenager.

Research Health and wellbeing, Education

Eating fish reduces risk of child eczema and asthma

Children should be introduced to fish or cod liver oil from about a year old, research suggests, after showing that those who ate fish early had a significantly reduced risk of eczema, wheezing and asthma.

Research Health and wellbeing, Nutrition
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