Public Health North East

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Regional Director’s Update

This week’s call from the British Medical Association for a total ban on alcohol advertising attracted significant media interest and will probably strike a chord with many people.

The proposal includes sports events and music festival sponsorship as well as an end to offers such as happy hours and two-for-one promotions.

Doctors – especially those who treat conditions associated with excessive drinking – are understandably frustrated by the mounting evidence of the damage people are doing to themselves at an increasingly young age.

The excessive consumption of alcohol can blight the lives of a significant number of people, both the people who indulge in it and those around them – not to mention the impact on the NHS and the police.

The Government points out that alcohol-related violence has fallen by around a third since 1995 and a proposed mandatory code will introduce tough new powers to tackle irresponsible sales.

The Department of Health recently consulted on banning the worst types of irresponsible promotions such as 'all you can drink' offers and has invested £10 million in its Know Your Limits campaign which arms people with the facts about drinking.

It is also the case that the code for broadcast advertising of alcohol has been tightened by Ofcom after extensive review and consultation.

But as the BMA point out, advertising is only part of the problem. The price of alcohol – substantially less in relative terms now than a number of years ago – and almost 24-hour availability are also significant factors.

I welcome the report and await developments with interest. Meanwhile here in the North East we are aiming to change the culture around alcohol.

Over the next few years Balance, the first regional alcohol office in the country, will be striving to alter our mindset about drinking so being drunk is no longer socially acceptable.

A difficult task, we all agree, but possibly a longer lasting way to change behaviour than banning advertising completely now.

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

RAG riches

This section provides an update on the work of the ten regional advisory groups set up to implement the North East’s Better Health Fairer Health strategy.

A charter for A Good Death which aims to ensure people die with dignity will be launched for consultation next month.

Carers Cook4Life

A group of carers from County Durham have just completed a four-week Cook4Life course…following a successful taster session during Adult Learner’s Week.

The participants – from Chester-le-Street Carer’s Support - decided they wanted to know more about how to cook healthy meals on a budget.

Teessiders quit in thousands

Almost 5,000 Teessiders gave up smoking in the year ending in March 2009 thanks to the NHS, according to official statistics.

Figures released by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care show that 4,954 people who set a quit date successfully achieved their goal.

Liam switches to healthy lifestyle

North East youngster Liam Robinson (pictured) has lost weight and gained confidence - thanks to the NHS National Child Measurement Programme.

The ten-year-old is now leading a healthy lifestyle with a diet packed with fresh fruit and vegetables and regular exercise.

Boccia first for Boro
The first Communities for Health Initiatives grants to encourage healthy living have been award by Middlesbrough Council.

Community and voluntary groups were invited to apply for up to £5,000 to run projects aimed at making more local people more active or to encourage healthy eating as part of the Healthy Town programme.
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Expert patient programme
People with long-term health conditions can become ‘expert patients’ by enrolling on a free self-help course in the North East this autumn.

It is designed to help such people maintain their health and improve their quality of life by learning how to manage their condition effectively.
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Derwentside diabetics' diet guide

People with diabetes across the Derwentside area are being invited to participate in special guided supermarket tours.

They will take place each month on a rotational basis throughout the year between the Stanley branch of ASDA and the Consett branch of Tesco.

New sexual health service

A new project in the North East is providing more opportunities for young people to access sexual health services.

North Tyneside Primary Care Trust has developed a new outreach service as part of ongoing efforts to reduce teenage pregnancy rates.

Hartlepool beating heart disease

Hartlepool is beating one of the region’s biggest killers - heart disease.

Figures published in the Health Service Journal reveal the town had the biggest relative decrease in premature deaths from cardiovascular disease between 2000 and 2007.

Fun for the over 50s

‘Its never too late to feel great’ is the message from the NHS public health team for County and Darlington.

They are encouraging people ovber 50 in the Easington area to take part in a programme of light fun activities in an effort to become healthier.