Community Practitioner back issues from February 2008:
'Something must be done': the campaign to prevent reality television shows from exploiting vulnerable families and infants has garnered widespread support, yet regulators have been slow to respond to the challenge.(COMMENT)
Feb 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was Edward VIII as Prince of Wales who memorably said 'Something must be done', as he observed the grinding poverty and desperate queues of the unemployed in 1930s Britain. His words are particularly apt when it comes to the debate about the ...
'Losing confidence' in the NMC: Unite/CPHVA has said it is 'losing confidence' in the NMC's ability to regulate public health practice.(NEWS)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Following the NMC's decision that specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs) will have to maintain their registration on the nursing or midwifery parts of the register, Unite/CPHVA has expressed concern at the appropriateness of the NMC continuing to regulate public health ...
Anger at chancellor's three-year pay deal announcement: the chancellor's announcement on three-year pay deals for public sector workers has prompted concern about a lack of protection against inflation and a dictatorial stance from the government.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Unite has expressed anger at the chancellor's announcement that public sector workers will be subject to three-year pay deals. While not opposed to longer-term deals, it is concerned that members may not be protected against increases in inflation. Unite head of the public ...
Dates set for Unite/CPHVA annual conference: the Unite/CPHVA annual conference will be held on 20 to 22 November in Harrogate, and submissions are now being accepted for presentations.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The dates for this year's Unite/CPHVA annual professional conference have now been confirmed as 20 to 22 November. Themed Focusing on families, it will take place in the Harrogate International Centre. Unite/CPHVA professional officer Briege Coyle stated: 'This year's conference ...
NHS reform plans 'incompatible'.(NEWS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) campaign has branded Gordon Brown's first major speech on health policy as 'incompatible' with health minister Lord Ara Darzi's interim report on the NHS. KONP chair Professor Wendy Savage stated: 'Brown has rejected the wide call from NHS staff ...
School nurse to receive MBE.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The journal congratulates Viv Crouch, the school nurse at Bath and North East Somerset PCT who has been selected for an MBE in this New Year's honours list for services ...
Expertise sought for NICE guidance.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Unite/CPHVA receives many requests to support the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance programme for England and Wales. Topics for which members with expertise are sought include immunisation, alcohol disorders in adults and adolescents, children in care, ...
Perinatal mental health conference.
Feb 01, 2008 ... The UK and Ireland Marce Society (UKIMS) is holding its perinatal mental health South-West regional meeting on 13 March at Buckfast Abbey in Devon. Invited speakers include Imperial College London professor of ...
Evidence submitted for Bercow Review.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Unite/CPHVA has submitted evidence to the Bercow Review of Speech, Language and Communication Needs. It emphasised the importance of early intervention and support based on a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency approach. As health visitors and ...
2008: National Year of Reading.
Feb 01, 2008 ... The National Year of Reading will include activities that aim to inspire everyone to read more, focusing on ...
12 March: No Smoking Day.
Feb 01, 2008 ... The 25th No Smoking Day will take place on 12 March, and will encourage those trying to stop smoking to focus on a manageable initial target--the first week. Free motivational text messages and email support will be on hand to ...
Call for vitamin D boost.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Department of Health is encouraging pregnant and breastfeeding women to boost their vitamin D intake during winter. More children are thought to be presenting with vitamin D deficiency, and incidence could be as high as one in 100 children in minority ethnic groups. Darker-skinned ...
Parent know how project.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Unite/CPHVA and Netmums are partners in the Parent Know How project, to provide advice to mothers via the Netmums internet-based discussion groups. Unite/CPHVA is seeking a ...
Annual health check.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The Healthcare Commission is accepting responses to the consultation on its annual health check until 12 March. Its focuses include ...
Long-term care funding.
Feb 01, 2008 ... Caring Choices has published the results of its consultation on funding for long-term care, in ...
Nursing consultations to close this month: Unite/CPHVA is encouraging its members to respond to two important consultations on pre-registration education and post-registration careers.(NEWS)(Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Unite/CPHVA members are being encouraged to take part in the consultations on pre-registration education and post-registration careers before they close to responses, on 8 and 15 February respectively. Unite/CPHVA professional officer Rita Newland stated: 'It is crucial that ...
Scottish review flawed: Unite/CPHVA members in Scotland express more concerns over proposed new role.(Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The implications of the Review of Nursing in the Community recommendations (1) mean that health visitors, school nurses and district nurses will cease to exist in Scotland. Their roles would be absorbed into a new service model--the community health nurse, with a strong, long-term ...
Breastfeeding friendly: the Baby Friendly Initiative has proven its effectiveness, so why is it not more widespread?.(NEWS FEATURE)
Feb 01, 2008; ... It has been more than a year since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) produced guidance on postnatal care (1), which essentially recommended that all maternity providers should implement the UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI). Yet according ...
An induction programme for health visitors.(PROFESSIONAL)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Abstract Bradford South and West PCT developed a comprehensive induction programme for newly-qualified health visitors in order to enhance the support offered to these practitioners. This study examined the experiences of a group of health visitors who have undergone this ...
Health visiting and community matrons: progress in partnership.(PROFESSIONAL)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Abstract Since primary care services face their biggest challenges in the reorganisation of the NHS, a major theme for future service delivery is the effective management of clients with long-term conditions. Nationally, PCTs are committed to preparing experienced, senior nurses ...
The expectations of families and patterns of participation in a Trailblazer Sure Start.(PROFESSIONAL)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Abstract The aim of this case study was to evaluate the local impact of an innovative Sure Start located in the east of England. The evaluation addressed the expectations of parents/carers for themselves and their children, and the extent to which Sure Start contributed to their ...
The Children's Plan: what the government's new Children's Plan means for community public health nurses.
Feb 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The recently-published Children's plan (1) consolidates previous education and health guidance and policies for England--in particular, Every child matters, (2) Youth matters, (3) Aiming high for disabled children (4) and Care matters. (5) Largely ...
Hello, gorgeous: Gavin Fergie on coping with the new year's challenges.(LIGHTEN UP)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Another year is upon us, and although it seems Christmas has long passed, the uncomfortable feeling akin to heartburn usually associated with seasonal over-indulgence is still there. Not as a result of some prolonged feasting at CPHVA Towers, but more to do with the proposals put forth on ...
Head lice: this month, in the Picture looks at the identification and treatment of head lice.(IN THE PICTURE)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a child has an itchy head, the reflex thought is head lice infestation--which will almost certainly be correct. Children aged four to 11 years are the most affected, and it is most prevalent in girls and those in urban areas. Caused by Pediculosis ...
CNN code of conduct: a voluntary code of professional conduct for community nursery nurses (CNNs) working in community and primary care settings.(PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES)
Feb 01, 2008 ... This code was revised by the Unite/CPHVA CNN Professional Forum in October 2007. 1 Applicability 1.1 To enable a person to work unsupervised with children, it is recommended by the Unite/CPHVA that this code be introduced in all NHS organisations. 1.2 ...
Late introduction of solids does not prevent atopic disease.(CLINICAL PAPERS)
Feb 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two studies question the value of delaying solids Two studies have provided further evidence that delaying the timing of the introduction of complementary foods beyond four to six months of age does not prevent the occurrence of atopic disease, ...
Many commonly-held medical beliefs are untrue.(CLINICAL PAPERS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Several common medical or medicine-related beliefs are unproven or untrue, a study has found. US researchers selected seven medical beliefs commonly espoused by both physicians and members of the general public, for critical review and searched for evidence to support or refute ...
Cases of viral meningitis set to rise.(CLINICAL PAPERS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Viral meningitis is common, but many cases go unreported, according to researchers from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London. And due to the increasing incidence of genital herpes in the UK, they warn that cases of meningitis caused by the Herpes simplex virus are set to ...
Autism prevention study launched.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... A study of interventions that attempt to prevent autism has been launched by researchers at the University of Washington (UW). About one of every 20 US infants who have an older sibling with autism will develop the disorder. A total of 200 infants six months old or younger and with an ...
Genetic defects linked to body abnormalities in childhood cancer.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Children with cancer have a higher prevalence of body abnormalities, such as asymmetric lower limbs and curvature of the spine, suggesting that the genetic defect responsible for the abnormality may play a role in the development of cancer, a study has concluded. Researchers in ...
Tips to prevent adverse drug events in older adults.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... About one in three older persons taking at least five medications will experience an adverse drug event each year, and about two-thirds of these will require medical attention, according to clinicians. Approximately 95% of these reactions are predictable, and about 28% are preventable, say ...
Chemotherapy has improved long-term survival in breast cancer.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In women with hormone-resistant breast cancer (oestrogen-receptor negative breast cancer), even the older chemotherapy regimens of the 1970s and 1980s were safe and have improved long-term survival, according to a large (96 trials) updated meta-analysis by the Early Breast Cancer ...
Limited health literacy has lifestyle consequences.(Survey)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Around 11% of British adults aged 18 to 90 years have marginal or inadequate health literacy, a survey has found. To measure the prevalence of limited functional health literacy in the UK, and examine associations with health behaviours and self-rated health, researchers ...
Helping carers.(RESOURCES)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Following the recent announcement of the Department of Health's Putting People First programme, elderly people and the families who care for them are set to receive more control over the services and help they receive from the state. Described as a 'ministerial concordat', the programme ...
Healing the inner city child: Creative arts therapies with at-risk youth.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Healing the inner city child Creative arts therapies with at-risk youth Vanessa Camilleri Jessica Kingsley Publishers (2007) 24.99 [pounds sterling] ISBN 9781843108245 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The fact that this book is focused on 'at risk' American youth, ...
An elephant in the room: A manual on training and diversity.(Brief article)(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Book of the month An elephant in the room A manual on training and diversity Blair McPherson Russell House Publishing (2007) ISBN: 978190554116, 22.95 [pounds sterling] This short publication provides a range of materials designed to raise the profile of ...
New home safety leaflet and pack from Child Accident Prevention Trust.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Every year, almost half a million children under five are injured in accidents at home. Accidents are a leading cause of childhood death, disability and serious injury, second only to cancer as the main cause of death in childhood. Every week, around five children are killed in accidents, ...
Dismay at NMC change for SCPHNs.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Dear editor, I am studying for a postgraduate diploma as a specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN) in health visiting, having entered midwifery as a direct-entry applicant. In order to maintain midwifery registration, you need to show 450 hours practice over ...
Too little, too late.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... I was very concerned to hear of the government's plan to give 120 [pounds sterling] to all antenatal mothers at seven months. It is much too late in pregnancy to make a difference, as the foundation stones for growth have already been laid down. If the government still considers ...
Meridian comment.(Letter of the month)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In response to James Quinn's interview in the December issue: * I attended project implementation team meetings, and quality, standards and clinical outcomes were not discussed * Our district nurses and health visitors did not set targets for face-to-face ...
Ideology of integrated working: integrated working is much more than simply 'working together'. It is about producing an environment of trust and cooperation where agencies share information and responsibility to become truly client focused.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Introduction Much has been published around the Victoria Climbie Inquiry (1) and how services and systems failed to prevent this vulnerable child from falling through the net. The Inquiry called for radical change in the management of public services for children and families ....
New pay arrangements for working unsocial hours.(YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK)
Feb 01, 2008; ... A key part of the original Agenda for Change terms and conditions was the arrangement to pay for working unsocial hours. This was piloted alongside other terms and conditions of service in the 12 'early implementer' sites in England. The piloting commenced in June 2003 and a review of the ...
How to Teach Baby Massage.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 24 January 2008 On-going dates available. In-house tailored courses in London and across the south of England are available. Improve mother-infant interaction (Cochrane Review), attachment and infant mental health by learning to ...
Perinatal maternal mental illness course for trainers.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 4 March 2008, Reading University Three-day residential course: covers awareness of maternal mental illnesses, their impact, detection and treatments, including supporting the mother-baby ...
How to teach baby massage.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 13 March 2008 On-going dates available. In-house tailored courses in London and across the south of England are available. Improve mother-infant interaction (Cochrane Review), attachment and infant mental health by learning to teach ...
Breastfeeding: international perspectives.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 29 March 2008 Village Hotel, Headingly, Leeds Masterclasses 28 March, conference 29 March. Speakers from USA, Sweden, and Australia - adoptive nursing; the seven natural laws of breastfeeding; SIDS, dummies ...
Rhythm Kids Workshop.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... On-going dates One day fun-filled workshop for baby massage teachers. Enhances child's language, muscle, cognitive and vestibular development, as well as their ...
Baby yoga workshop.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 31 March 2008 Venues across the UK Two-day workshop for qualified baby massage teachers. An excellent course to enhance teaching skills already developed. Supports bonding and attachment, parenting ...
Postgraduate diploma/MA in child studies.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... 1 September 2008 Kings College Strand Campus Child Studies Unit A multidisciplinary approach to children and young people. The course can be taken either full ...
Infant massage course.(Courses)
Feb 01, 2008 ... On-going dates Venues across the UK Five-day accredited course for health professionals with a focus on supporting familes, enhancing bonding and parent-infant interaction. Bespoke neonatal ...
Conference annual draw.(Noticeboard)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The CPHVA Education and Development Trust would like to thank everyone who supported this year's annual draw at conference. The winner of the 100 [pounds sterling] prize was Beverly Wall, ticket no. 0422. For further information ...
Anaemia clinic.(Noticeboard)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... We are a health visiting team within Rosehill Sure Start in Derby city. Our client group is multi-cultural and childhood anaemia is prevalent among children in our area. We currently screen all children at 13 months in our locality by a finger prick test. Unfortunately, the ...
Children with additional needs.(Noticeboard)
Feb 01, 2008 ... The special interest group for children with additional needs (SiG) will be holding a meeting on 8 February 2008, at 35 King Street, London WC2E 8JG 10am-2pm. We would like as many people as possible to attend, and will be sharing examples of good practice. Election of officers ...
Domestic violence reporting.(Noticeboard)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... In Bournemouth and Poole PCT, we are formally receiving information from the police regarding every domestic violence incident where there are children as part of the family. Some practical problems with the dissemination and recording of information are emerging. I would ...
'Losing confidence' in the NMC
Feb 01, 2008; ... Unite/CPHVA has said it is losing confidence' in the NMCs ability to regulate public health practice Following the NMC's decision that specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs) will have to maintain their registration on the nursing or midwifery parts of the register, ...
'Something must be done'
Feb 01, 2008; ... The campaign to prevent reality television shows from exploiting vulnerable families and infants has garnered widespread support, yet regulators have been slow to respond to the challenge. It was Edward VIII as Prince of Wales who memorably said 'Something must be done', as he observed ...
Anger at chancellor's three-year pay deal announcement
Feb 01, 2008; ... The chancellor's announcement on three-year pay deals for public sector workers has prompted concern about a lack of protection against inflation and a dictatorial stance from the government Unite has expressed anger at the chancellor's announcement that public sector workers will be ...
Nursing consultations to close this month
Feb 01, 2008; ... Unite/CPHVA is encouraging its members to respond to two important consultations on pre-registration education and post-registration careers Unite/CPHVA members are being encouraged to take part in the consultations on pre-registration education and post-registration careers before they ...
NHS reform plans 'incompatible'
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) campaign has branded Gordon Brown's first major speech on health policy as 'incompatible' with health minister Lord Ara Darzi's interim report on the NHS. KONP chair Professor Wendy Savage stated: 'Brown has rejected the wide call from NHS staff and ...
NEWS: IN BRIEF...
Feb 01, 2008; ... School nurse to receive MBE The journal congratulates Viv Crouch, the school nurse at Bath and North East Somerset PCT who has been selected for an MBE in this New Year's honours list for services to health care. She recently pioneered the portable 'clinic In a box' scheme, which ...
Scottish review flawed
Feb 01, 2008; ... Unite/CPHVA members in Scotland express more concerns over proposed new role The implications of the Review of Nursing in the Community recommendations' mean that health visitors, school nurses and district nurses will cease to exist in Scotland. Their roles would be absorbed into a new ...
Dates set for Unite/CPHVA annual conference
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Unite/CPHVA annual conference will be held on 20 to 22 November in Harrogate, and submissions are now being accepted for presentations The dates for this year's Unite/CPHVA annual professional conference have now been confirmed as 20 to 22 November. Themed Focusing on families, it ...
Breastfeeding friendly
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Baby Friendly Initiative has proven its effectiveness, so why is it not more widespread? It has been more than a year since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) produced guidance on postnatal care', which essentially recommended that all maternity ...
Hello, gorgeous
Feb 01, 2008; ... Gavin Fergie on coping with the new year's challenges Another year is upon us, and although it seems Christmas has long passed, the uncomfortable feeling akin to heartburn usually associated with seasonal over-indulgence is still there. Not as a result of some prolonged feasting at CPHVA ...
An induction programme for health visitors
Feb 01, 2008; ... Abstract Bradford South and West PCT developed a comprehensive induction programme for newly-qualified health visitors in order to enhance the support offered to these practitioners. This study examined the experiences of a group of health visitors who have undergone this programme and ...