Monthly Bulletin - Issue 34 - October 2007

President's update

In my travels around the UK so far two big issues keep cropping up. How can we persuade the UK Health Departments and the NHS to really take public health seriously? And will there be enough jobs for public health consultants as they come off the production line?

Sir Derek Wanless' latest report was certainly a rap over the knuckles for government in terms of its lack of investment in prevention and health improvement. And the sheer size of the problem was brought home even more forcibly by last week's Foresight Report by the Chief Scientist.

Certainly we're not short of political rhetoric. At Brighton, Bournemouth and Blackpool , all three health spokespeople were singing from the same songsheet about fairness, efficiency, empowering patients, empowering communities and the crucial importance of prevention. The Secretary of State, Alan Johnson, has made it his personal mission to do something meaningful about reducing health inequalities. And the devolved administrations are also all ‘on board' with this pubic health agenda.

But where's the money? Health has just received a not-as-bad-as-expected settlement in the Comprehensive Spending Review. The vital thing now is to make sure that public health gets a much bigger slice of the pie – not just at local level, but also regionally and nationally. And this of course will have a profound effect on future public health jobs.

I will be making strong representations on the issue of public health funding and workforce at forthcoming encounters with NHS Chief Exec David Nicholson and England CMO Sir Liam Donaldson.

Best wishes

Alan Maryon-Davis

Annual Public Health Lecture

The Faculty of Public Health is delighted to announce that this year’s public health lecture is to be given by the Right Honourable Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Public Health.

The FPH would like to invite its members to attend this event, which will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on 3 December 2007, 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RG. Registration for the lecture will begin at 4.15pm.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception to be held in the Schering Suite from 6.00pm.

Places are limited so to confirm a place please send an email Karen Tidy, by no later than Friday 23 November. Please note places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

We hope you will be able to attend what promises to be a stimulating and thought-provoking event.

Switching to the 2007 Curriculum

As you are aware, all trainees in specialty training, starting from 1 August 2007 are training to the new 2007 curriculum.

Trainees appointed prior to this can transfer to the 2007 curriculum if they wish. However, please consult the FPH website for guidance on the process of switching to the 2007 curriculum and whether the switch would be feasible and beneficial to your situation.

New Network Groups

Sustainable development

Sustainable development - particularly with regards to climate change - has emerged as one of the top public health priorities for the 21st Century. And it's important that the FPH - and public health as a whole - play its part.

A new Sustainable Development Network Group has been launched to provide a forum for debate and knowledge sharing on current developments and possible strategies, and to provide insight into the whole sustainable development agenda.

Get passionate about the environment and join the debate!

Heart Health Network Group launched

The Obesity Network Group has now been expanded to include all topics relating to cardiovascular health - including obesity, physical activity, nutrition and smoking.

The new group, called Heartnet, will provide a forum to discuss these critical issues and to share good practice with others passionate about protecting the UK's cardiovascular health.

If you were a member of the Obesity Network Group - don't worry - you won't need to rejoin.

If you're not registered on the FPH Network Group system, sign up with the system, join the relevant group and get posting. 

Survey of International Trainee Placements

The FPH International Trainees Group is carrying out a survey of trainees past and present to identify opportunities and difficulties in organising international training placements and to get feedback on experiences.

If you are or have tried (successfully or not) to organise any international placement during training, please complete the short questionnaire and return it to Sue Mann as soon as possible.

Please also forward it to other colleagues for whom it is relevant. The results of the survey will contribute to proposals on international training for consideration by the FPH International Committee.

Download the survey [Word document]

Climate change & health conference

FPH President Alan Maryon-Davis will be one of the panel guests at a Royal College of Physicians (RCP)Conference looking at the impact of climate change on health on 29 January 2008.

Speakers such as Sir David King, who delivered the Royal Society of Health lecture at the recent FPH Annual Conference, will examine the implications for future human health and wellbeing, and what, if anything, the medical profession can do.

See the RCP website for further information.

 

Cancer Research UK Training Fellowships

Cancer Research UK is offering three-year graduate research training fellowships in cancer public health or epidemiology.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 7 January 2008 and further details are available at fellowships.cancerresearchuk.org.

 

Events

October 2007

Global warming and infectious disease: human and animal hazards
29 October 2007
RSM Series of Evening meetings on Climate Change
London
For further information see: Royal Society of Medicine website

November 2007

HTA Conference 2007
1 November 2007
New Connaught Rooms, London
For further information see: HTA website

 

Global warming and food production: will we starve?
12 November 2007
RSM Series of Evening meetings on Climate Change
London
For further information see: Royal Society of Medicine website

 

Reducing the Harm Caused by Alcohol: A Coordinated European Response
13 November 2007
Royal College of Physicians, London
For further information see: RCP website

 

Climate Change: Implications for the Human and Natural Environment
Short Course
14 November 2007
York
University of the West of England
For further information see: UWE Website

 

Linking Health and Planning: A health map for urban planning
Short Course
15 November 2007
York
University of the West of England
For further information see: UWE Website

 

Understanding Spatial Planning for Public Health Professionals
Short Course
16 November 2007
York
University of the West of England
For further information see: UWE Website

 

Waste – a public health issue
16 November
London
The Royal Society of Medicine
For further information see: RSM website

 

FPH Scottish Affairs Committee Conference
15-16 November 2007
Airth Castle Hotel, Falkirk in Forth Valley
For further information see: www.publichealthconferences.org.uk/scotland_2007

 

Sexual Health: Emerging answers and mixed messages
15 November 2007
Royal Institute of Public Health, London
For further information see the registration form [pdf]

 

Introductory Medical Statistics Course
26-27 November 2007
National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London
For further information see the course flyer [pdf]

 

BHF National Centre for Physical Activity & Health Annual Conference:
Evaluation in a nutshell – turning theory into good practice
28 November 2007
East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
British Heart Foundation & Natural England
For further information see www.bhfactive.org.uk

 

Action for the health consequences of climate change
26 November 2007
RSM Series of Evening meetings on Climate Change
London
For further information see: Royal Society of Medicine website

December 2007

CEMACH Report Launch: Saving Mothers' Lives
London: 4 December 2007 (Royal National Hotel)
Cardiff: 5 December 2007 (Mercure Holland House)
Manchester : 6 December 2007 (Lancashire County Cricket Ground)
Glasgow: 6 December 2007 ( Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons)
For further information see: www.cemach.org.uk

 

Food Security or Food Democracy?
Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture, Tim Lang - Professor of Food Policy, City University
6 December 2007
London
Pesticide Action Network UK
For further information see the PAN UK website

 

Epidemiology: an introduction to concepts, theories, principles and methods
10-14 December 2007
Edinburgh
For further information see the University of Edinburgh Community Health Sciences website

 

Neighbourhood Planning for Physical Activity
Short Course
14 December 2007
Bristol
University of the West of England
For further information see: UWE Website

January 2008

Climate Change And Its Impact On Health
29 January 2008
London
Royal College of Physicians London
For further information see the RCP website