News | Community Practitioner

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

Children’s mental health services face postcode lottery, warns new report

Children in need of ‘low-level’ mental health services – vital preventative and early intervention services for problems such as anxiety, depression or eating disorders are facing a postcode lottery. So found an investigation by the Children’s Commissioner for England.

Round upHealth and wellbeing, Vulnerability, Mental Health

Big story: a tough start in life

A report by the Health and Social Care Select Committee finds that children in England are not being supported in their critical first 1000-day period. Journalist Juliette Astrup takes a look at the recommendations and the reactions.

Regional/CountryHealth and wellbeing, Growth and development

India: free lunch boosts children’s test scores

Primary school children given free school lunches have significantly better learning outcomes.

Regional/CountryNutrition, Education

Australia: self-poisoning in children doubles in 10 years

The number of Australian children intentionally poisoning themselves with drugs such as paracetamol and antidepressants has doubled in the past decade, say scientists.

Regional/CountryHealth and wellbeing, Mental Health

Finland: smoking in pregnancy risks ADHD in children

Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have children who develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a study suggests.

Regional/CountrySafeguarding, Growth and development

Ireland: screen use and obesity linked to short-sightedness in children

Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, heavy use of screens and reduced daylight are making short-sightedness in children more likely, researchers have found.

Regional/CountryHealth and wellbeing, Nutrition

USA: parents put unhealthy amounts of toothpaste on children’s brushes

Parents are squeezing potentially unhealthy amounts of toothpaste onto their children’s brushes, a study suggests.

Regional/CountryGrowth and development

UK: PTSD strikes one in 13 youngsters

One in 13 young people in the UK have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before reaching the age of 18, new research suggests.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Mental Health

England: stress and bullying push staff wellbeing to five-year low

Wellbeing levels have hit a five-year low in the NHS, with two in five staff feeling sick from stress last year, according to the NHS staff survey.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Jobs, Professional

Scotland: shortage of paediatric doctors endangering children’s health

A shortage of paediatric doctors is putting children at risk, warns a new report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Jobs, Professional

Wales: lesson plans to teach young people healthy messages

Encouraging young people to take responsibility for their health is now easier with the launch of an online resource containing lesson plans and practical information for those who deliver key public health messages.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Nutrition, Education

England: mental health support for NHS staff overhauled

The government is planning to provide better mental health and wellbeing support to NHS staff.

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Mental Health

Northern Ireland: more than 6500 attacks on NHS staff in 2018

More than 6500 nursing staff and healthcare workers were attacked last year, according to figures released by Northern Ireland’s five health trusts.

Regional/Country Employment, Jobs, Professional

Scotland: new guidance on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

A new SIGN guideline has been introduced to help better identify fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Regional/Country Health and wellbeing, Growth and development

Northern Ireland: child autism diagnoses double in five years

The number of children being diagnosed with autism has more than doubled in five years, a BBC investigation has revealed.

Regional/Country Behaviour, Growth and development

Scotland: avoidable child death rate overtakes rest of the UK

The number of avoidable deaths among children and young people are higher in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Regional/Country Vulnerability, Safeguarding

Wales: diabetes prevalence reaches 7.4%

The prevalence of diabetes is higher in Wales than any other UK country, new analysis by Diabetes UK Cymru shows.

Regional/Country Immunisation & illness