Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

The state of children’s mental health services 2020/21 Children’s Commissioner

(This report examines the progress that has been made over the past five years as well as looking at the impact the Covid crisis has had on children’s mental health. It finds that while there has been an expansion of children’s mental health services over the past four years, services are still nowhere near meeting the needs of many hundreds of thousands of children.)

Young people’s mental and emotional health: trajectories and drivers in childhood and adolescence Whitney Crenna-Jennings; January 2021

(Based on data from the Millennium Cohort Study, this report reveals insights into the determinants of young people’s wellbeing, including how it is affected by their relationships, background, and use of social media. The study examines the personal experiences of young people in England, at age 11, 14 and 17. The research shows that while the wellbeing of all young people declines by the end of their teenage years, there is a strong gender divide within this: girls see far lower levels of wellbeing and self-esteem than boys – driven by a sharp fall of both during mid-adolescence.)

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine advice for adults living with HIV.
British HIV Association (BHIVA) & Terrence Higgins Trust (THT); 2021.

(The British HIV Association (BHIVA) & Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) have issued guidance on COVID vaccines for people living with HIV. The COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be protective in people with HIV and are recommended. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that all adults living with HIV should have the vaccines currently on offer, regardless of their CD4 count.)

Advice for women seeking contraception, abortion and other sexual and reproductive healthcare during the COVID-19 second wave.
Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH); 2020.

(The updated advice includes new information on menopause services as well as updates on contraception, abortion, and emergency removals of long-acting reversible contraception. It also contains useful links for women in all regions of the UK, to help them access further advice and care. The advice can be shared with patients and local communities.)

Building public trust: a response to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy predicament.
Journal of Public Health; 2021.

(This study suggests that a more ‘localized’ public education and role-modelling from public officials and health authorities can help a lot in building public trust. The study aims to contribute to the further development of public health mechanisms in the rolling-out and distribution of vaccines against COVID-19.)

Health charities and the NHS: a vital partnership in peril?
National Garden Scheme; 2021.

(This report highlights the crucial services and leadership that health care charities provide for the NHS, both of which have been shown to be critical throughout the current pandemic. It sets out the pressing need for better recognition of and healthy engagement with health care charities by policy-makers, and the benefits that this would bring.)

Stronger Together: A Co-production Webinar series Ambition for ageing

(Between 9th February – 25th March, Ageing Better programme partners are coming together to showcase their learning through a webinar series on Co-Production, coordinated by Ageing Better Sheffield. The webinars aim to inspire others to use the principles of co-production to work collaboratively to achieve a collective aim.)

Time to Talk Day

February 4th is Time to Talk Day, a campaign to change the way people think and act about mental health problems

A small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference. We know that the more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness that too many of us with mental health problems are made to feel.

Time to Talk Day is the day that we get the nation talking about mental health. This year’s event might look a little different, but at times like this open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. Your help is needed to start the conversation this Time to Talk Day – together we can end mental health stigma.

Click here for more information and to sign up for free resources to get people talking.

Good communication with patients

Third phase of the NHS response to COVID-19 letter

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert

The challenge Covid-19 poses means that clear, concise and timely communication with patients is more critical than ever. This guidance, and accompanying supporting documents, present providers with core principles that will help deliver personalised, patient-centred communications to patients who are waiting for care.

For more information and resources click here.

Library Bulletin

Making Every Contact Count

The new edition of ‘Making Every Contact Count’ bulletin is now available to view and download.

MECC-Bulletin-Jan-2021Download

This edition features current awareness for the following topics (with relevant articles related to the Covid 19 pandemic):

Smoking Cessation

Healthy Weight

Healthy Eating

Alcohol

Physical activity

Please remember to contact katie.roper@lscft.nhs.uk with any topics you would like to see in future bulletins.

Feel Good February

We have a new collection of books in the library designed to make our staff feel good

The last 12 months have been a very difficult time and the library team are hoping that these new books will help to lift the spirits of our hard working staff.

The collection includes books from several different genres, including:

  • Romance
  • Cooking and baking
  • Gardening
  • Fantasy
  • Humour

The full collection is on the display in the library throughout February. Please feel free to visit the library to browse the books or see our catalogue here and email us with any requests: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk. If you are unable to visit the library we can post the books out to you.

The library team would like to thank all the staff in the trust for their contribution to coping with this pandemic. If there is anything that we can help you with please email us: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk


Covid 19

Current awareness updates

Ethnic inequalities in Covid-19 mortality: a consequence of persistent racism Runnymede Trust

(This briefing (published in collaboration with the Centre of Dynamics of Ethnicity) discusses the reasons for ethnic minority people experiencing a much higher risk of Covid-19-related death. Ethnic inequalities in relation to Covid-19 mirror longstanding ethnic inequalities in health. A large body of evidence has shown that these inequalities are driven by social and economic inequalities, many of which are the result of racial discrimination.)

PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) – Public Health England; Updated 26th January 2021

(Eligible health and social care providers can order PPE through the portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic)

COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England; Updated 28th January 2021

(Genomically confirmed case numbers for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation.)

Risk related to the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA – first update European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

(This risk assessment presents the latest available information on the recent emergence of three variants of concern, VOC 202012/01 identified in the United Kingdom (UK), 501Y.V2 identified in South Africa, and P.1 identified in Brazil and Japan)

COVID-19 in children and the role of school settings in transmission – first update European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

(The aim of this document is to provide an update on the knowledge surrounding the role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the role of schools in the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the experience in the EU from August–December, 2020. This document also addresses transmission to and from staff in school settings, school-related mitigation measures including risk communication, testing, contact tracing and the efficacy of partial and full school closures. This document draws upon and updates evidence presented in the previous report from ECDC on this topic, which was published on August 6, 2020 [4]. This report does not consider educational settings related to young adults or adults, such as universities or vocational schools or any school with overnight stays, such as boarding schools. This report does not consider the epidemiology of COVID-19 in relation to new variants of SARS-CoV-2, for which robust evidence on the potential impact in school settings is not yet available, such as one recently observed in the United Kingdom [2].)

COVID-19 rapid evidence summary: Sarilumab for COVID-19.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.

(Preliminary evidence from the REMAP‑CAP study has suggested that sarilumab is beneficial in adults with severe COVID‑19 who are critically ill and receiving respiratory or cardiovascular organ support in an intensive care setting. Sarilumab was given within about 24 hours of starting organ support.)


COVID-19 rapid evidence summary: Tocilizumab for COVID-19.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.

(Unpublished preliminary evidence from the REMAP‑CAP study has suggested that tocilizumab is beneficial in adults with severe COVID‑19 who are critically ill and receiving respiratory or cardiovascular organ support in an intensive care setting (all randomised within 24 hours of starting organ support).)

Perspectives from the front line: The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BME communities.
NHS Confederation BME Leadership Network; 2020.

(A report into the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on BAME communities based on interviews with BME NHS leaders, clinicians, community organisations and service users, as well as a survey of more than 100 members of the BME Leadership Network. Overwhelmingly, participants point to long-standing inequalities and institutional racism as root causes.)

Meet the Author

Katie Fforde

Katie Fforde is a popular best-selling author of modern day romance books. She believes that falling in love is the best thing in the world, and wants all her characters to experience it, and her readers to share their stories.

Katie first started writing when her mother gave her a writing kit for Christmas, and once she started she just couldn’t stop. She has now written 28 novels. Her first, Living Dangerously, was published in 1995 and her most recent, A Springtime Affair, was published in paperback in January this year.

Each of Katie’s books explores a different profession or background and her research has helped her to bring these to life. She has been a porter in an auction house, tried her hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and has even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

Katie has kindly answered a few questions for us about books that have entertained and inspired her and her work as an author. Read the interview here.

Read more about Katie, her love of writing and her career on her website and blog or follow her on Twitter or Facebook.