Public Health North East

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Regional Director’s Update
Although I highlighted the launch of the regional alcohol office Balance in last month’s newsletter, I make no apology for revisiting the major issue of excessive drinking which so blights our society.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has fuelled the debate by calling for an alcohol pricing policy. He suggests a minimum price of 50p per unit.

The evidence is clear that the higher the minimum price the lower the levels of consumption, so this must be worth serious consideration.

But just increasing the price of cheap drink in supermarkets will not solve what is a deep-seated problem in the UK.

Our longer term aim is to change the culture around alcohol, especially here in the North East where binge drinking levels are among the highest in the country.

Sir Liam also called for society to recognise the effect of ‘passive drinking’ in his annual report for 2008.

He wants to see a shift in public opinion on alcohol similar to the move to smoke-free public places, so that being drunk is no longer an aim of drinking nor socially acceptable.

He makes recommendations to the Government about tacking the harm caused by alcohol - particularly the collateral damage to society, family members, the NHS and the economy.

Professor Stephen Singleton
Regional Director of Public Health

Welcome to the monthly e-bulletin produced by Public Health North East. It is designed to keep you up to date on the latest developments in the region. Please send details about any public health-related events to simon.p.mills@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

Minding your own business

A scheme to raise awareness of workplace mental health issues and services is being trialled in Newcastle.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to encourage employers to improve the way they deal with mental health in the workplace.

Deaf group joins health drive

An innovative project in Newcastle is helping deaf people to eat more healthily and get more exercise.

Deaflink - a Newcastle Healthy City based project working with deaf and deaf blind people – has developed a range of resources in an effort to make accessing information and support on healthy eating and exercise easier.

Joining up services

Patients in four pilot sites in the North East will benefit from a trial to see how health and social care services can join together to increase quality.

The scheme has been designed to look beyond traditional health and social care boundaries to explore how services can be improved.

Firefighters help smokers to quit

A local fire service is joining forces with the NHS in an innovative move to prevent fires and help smokers quit.

Fire prevention officers at Wallsend community fire station are set to receive special training to provide advice and information to residents on the stop smoking services available from the NHS.

Suspected cases spark measles jab plea

Public health experts on Teesside are urging parents to vaccinate their children against measles after several suspected cases were reported in the Stockton area.

With the uptake rate for the Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine in Stockton at only 88%, this means 12 out of every 100 children is at risk of contracting the disease.

Facelift for play area

A children’s play area in Middlesbrough which will help the fight against obesity has officially re-opened following a major refurbishment.

The Bonnygrove Park play area has been completely revamped thanks to more than £180,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, the Playbuilder scheme and the recently launched Health Towns initiative.

All change for CSIP

New arrangements are now in place following the establishment of deputy regional directors of social care and the demise of the Care Services Improvement Partnership.

The National Institute for Mental Health in England team has been rebranded as the North East Mental Health Development Unit.

Lynn backs bowel cancer campaign

‘Look after number one by looking after your number twos’ is the main message in the latest phase of the two-year-old campaign to reduce premature deaths from bowel cancer on Teesside.

Former Watchdog presenter Lynn Faulds Wood was in the area last week to help launch this phase of the successful Tees Bowel Cancer Screening programme.

New health chief

Dr Fu Meng Khaw has been appointed as the new director of public health for North Tyneside.

He took up his position with North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and North Tyneside Council last week.

TV’s Liz urges cancer checks

A breast cancer survivor is urging women to come forward for life saving breast cancer checks as new figures reveal more women around the country than ever before are taking up the opportunity to be screened.

Mother-of-two Liz Bage, 65, of Whitley Bay was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram check up in July 2007.

Breakfast4Life has lift off

Local retailers are joining forces with the government’s Change4Life campaign to offer discounts on fresh fruit and vegetables at their stores.

The ‘Breakfast4Life’ initiative will see 12 corner shops across the North East offer vouchers to local schools for money off their fresh fruit and vegetables in a bid to encourage families to start their day with a healthy breakfast.

Ten firms sign up
Ten firms have signed up to an initiative in North Durham to help them keep their workers healthy.

The small to medium sized organisations will now take part in the County Durham Working for Health award scheme.
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