President's update - Big Issues

Thinking caps on – it's Big Issue time. In terms of the FPH's increasingly important advocacy role, what do you feel are the big issues we should focus on?

We had some discussion of public health priorities at the summer conference – and the issues that came up then were alcohol, obesity, climate change, mental health and wellbeing – not forgetting the continuing struggle with smoking and the all-pervasive challenge of health inequalities.

But these are all so big that, with only limited capacity within the FPH, we're having to think really hard about which we prioritise and what particular aspects of each we could find a useful niche in. Or is there some other big issue you feel we should prioritise? And what specific contribution could we as the FPH make?

To trigger your thoughts, here are some current initiatives:

• We have just been awarded a grant to scope the potential of a toolkit to support local multi-agency teams in tackling alcohol misuse.
• We are working with Heart of Mersey and the National Heart Forum on the public health impact of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.
• And, also with the NHF, we are co-hosting fringe meetings at the three main party conferences to advocate the role of the built environment in promoting physical activity.

So let's hear from you. The FPH's new enlarged Policy Committee has its first meeting next month and would very much welcome your ideas. Please email them to comments@fph.org.uk by Friday 14 September.

Many thanks and best wishes

Alan Maryon-Davis

2007 FPH Workforce Census

By now all Faculty members and associates in the UK actively working in public health should have received a personalised 2007 Faculty of Public Health Workforce Census.

Please complete the forms and return them in the pre- paid envelope as soon as possible.  The data collected in this census is vital to inform and shape FPH policies on workforce, training numbers and public health resources.  It will complement data collected in other projects looking at the public health workforce in the UK.

If you have not received a census form, or if you have any queries, please contact Elin Sandberg, Senior Administrator – Public Health Workforce.

Director of Practitioner Development

In November 2006 the Faculty of Public Health Board agreed to develop a set of professional standards for those working at practitioner level in public health. To drive this work forward we are seeking to appoint a Director of Practitioner Development within the Faculty.

This individual will ensure that the Faculty's agreed work programme on the development of public health practitioners is both developed and implemented, and will report to the Faculty Board through both the Academic Registrar and the Vice President.

The role requires excellent communication and project management skills as well as a broad understanding of the public health workforce at all levels. The successful applicants will be asked to provide details of similar successful projects in which they have played a lead role. The Faculty wishes to work in partnership with other standard-setting and regulatory bodies to gain support for this work as it progresses.

Interested applicants should contact FPH Chief Executive, Paul Scourfield ( paulscourfield@fph.org.uk), as soon as possible for full details of this important honorary post. The final deadline for applications is the 12 October 2007.

Part A Examiners required

The Faculty of Public Health would like to expand its current pool of Part A MFPH examiners. As experienced professionals in public health, our examiners help to ensure that educational standards are tested and maintained over time.

The term of service is usually three years , with a maximum of a further three-year extension.

For further details, please see the full Part A Examiners Advertisement [pdf], or contact partaexams@fph.org.uk

Public Health Skills and Career Framework - consultation

An important consultation has been issued on the public health skills and career framework.

This UK-wide framework is intended as a route map for public health, spanning the three categories of the public health workforce - specialists, practitioners and the 'wider workforce'. It is multi-disciplinary, multi-agency and multi-professional.

The Faculty of Public Health will be submitting a response to this consultation and would welcome your comments on the proposals. If you would like to contribute to the Faculty's response, please send your comments to comments@fph.org.uk by 3 September 2007. Alternatively you can respond directly to the consultation by using the response form [Word].

Download the consultation version of the Public Health Skills and Careers Framework [663KB pdf] for comment.

Party Conference Fringe Events

FPH and the National Heart Forum are hosting fringe events at this year's party conferences in September and October entitled Sprawling suburbs, spreading waistlines: Can transport and planning policies help build healthier communities?

The events will look at how transport and planning policies are unintentionally building barriers to physical activity; how we can instead design towns, streets and buildings that encourage physical activity; and why this is so important for public health.

For further information visit our conference website

Improving the process of death certification

The Department of Health is seeking comments on is proposals for improving the death certification process in England and Wales, in order to address the weaknesses in the system identified by the Shipman Inquiry.

If you would like to co-ordinate the Faculty's response to this consultation or contribute to it then please email Lindsey Stewart by 7 September 2007.

A copy of the consultation can be found on the DH website.

Scottish Public Health Conference

Thursday 15–16 November
Airth Castle Hotel, Falkirk

This year's Scottish Public Health Conference is being organised by the Faculty with the West of Scotland NHS Heath Boards. The theme of the Conference - 21st Century Trends – Threats and opportunities for Public Health - recognises the importance of developments that are taking place with climate change, globalisation, demographic and social change, service provision, communications and new technology and how these changes affect public health.

Registration details will be available on the FPH conference website shortly. In the meantime, for further details, contact: Danielle.Honore@shsc.csa.scot.nhs.uk /Tel: 0131 275 7747

Book early to secure accommodation at Airth Castle Hotel.

New Cardiovascular Health Working Group Chair

We are delighted to announce that Professor Simon Capewell has been appointed as new Chair of the Faculty's Cardiovascular Health Working Group.

Simon has been a longstanding member of the committee and takes over from Professor Alan Maryon-Davis.

Inside Medicine: Public Health

In its series focusing on medical specialties, the BBC News website recently inteviewed FPH President, Alan Maryon-Davis on working in public health.

Read the full interview on the BBC website.

BMJ Health Intelligence - Free Trial

BMJ Health Intelligence brings together evidence, data, cost effectiveness information, local projects, policies and guidelines in one easy to use, web-based resource. It can help to quickly identify important public health trends in a local area, and decide which interventions and commissioning strategies may be most effective.

Key features of BMJ Health Intelligence include:

• Updates with the latest evidence
• Expert reviews and summaries the place evidence into context
• Public health data integrated from multiple sources
• Geographical mapping tool for comparative analysis
• Policies, targets and guidelines summarised for each topic
• Commissioning: aims, objectives and action points
• Cost-effectiveness comparisons for public health interventions
• Quality indicators for commissioning

BMJ Health Intelligence will arrange a free trial for your or your organisation. To take advantage of this offer, please contact Sue O'Gorman (sogorman@bmjgroup.com/ 0207 383 6562).

Connecting for Health, Information Standards Board
Reference Group Members

The Information Standards Board provides an independent mechanism for the assurance and sign-off of information standards to support care delivery.

There is an opportunity to join the reference group team who contribute to the appraisal of standards and make recommendations to the board on their approval – assuring that the standards are safe, implementable and fit for purpose.

Applicants must draw on proven experience of the application and usage of information standards in the different healthcare communities. At this time, applications are invited from those with clinical, public health and technical backgrounds.

You should be prepared to commit up to 30 days per year, as an NHS secondee or self-employed individual, and contracts are renewable annually. Ongoing training is provided which will also contribute to personal development.

For more information please contact Jane Crabtree (jane.crabtree@nhs.net / 0113 397 4347). Deadline for applications: 14 September 2007.

Events

Only FPH sponsored events are listed below, however a list of public health events across the UK is available at www.publichealthconferences.org.uk/all_events.php. If you would like to list your event, please email news@fph.org.uk.

Sprawling suburbs, spreading waistlines
Party Conference Fringe Events
17 & 24 September & 1 October
For further information see www.publichealthconferences.org.uk/partyconferences2007.php

25 September 2007 - Child Public Health Interest Group AGM
The Child Public Health Interest Group (C-PHIG) will be presenting a keynote lecture by Professor Leon Polnay on Ensuring the ‘community' is not lost in paediatric training at the forthcoming BACCH annual scientific meeting at Reading University on 25 September.

C-PHIG will also be holding its AGM during the conference and there will be networking opportunities with a drinks reception prior to the AGM. Visit the C-PHIG or BACCH websites for more information.

Patient Safety Research - Shaping the European agenda
24-26 September 2007
Porto, Portugal
UK Faculty of Public Health, University College London, WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety
For further information see www.patientsafetyresearch.org

21st Century Trends – Threats and Opportunities for Public Health
15-16 November 2007
Airth Castle Hotel, Falkirk in Forth Valley
Faculty of Public Health Scottish Affairs Committee

For further information see: www.publichealthconferences.org.uk/scotland_2007