Things in the library 30th June...

Things to organise your time...
If you have been following this blog or our library bulletin (sent out on Mondays to all SCH staff) you will probably know that we like Evernote. They have an interesting blog post on organising your time more productively using a matrix, by allocating tasks to Important, Not important, Urgent and Not Urgent. They have a template of the matrix which you can use in your Evernote - or you could still use this sytem without Evernote.
You can read more about this subject in 'The 7 habits of highly effective people'  by Stephen Covey which is available to borrow in the library shelved at  WM105 (C)

Things about health and the environment...
'...urban greenspace is a necessary component for delivering healthy, sustainable and liveable cities. Interventions to increase or improve urban green space can deliver positive health, social and environmental outcomes for all population groups, particularly among lower socioeconomic status groups. There are very few, if any, other public health interventions that can achieve all of this...' (WHO, 2017).
You can attend a seminar entitled 'Is the evidence of links between natural environments and health informing policy and practice?' by Dr Becca Lovell. on Tues 11 July 2017 16:00 to 17:00 at Humanities Research Institute, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield, S3 7QY  free but you can book your place:  https://evidence-of-links.eventbrite.co.uk

Things about children with substance abusing parents...
Children of parents with drug and alcohol use disorders often grow up under severe stress and are at greater risk of developing psychological and social problems. However, a substantial proportion of affected children adapt to their distressing life conditions and show positive development in terms of their mental health. These children are described as resilient. One difference between resilient and maladapted children is the presence of protective factors. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the current state of the research concerning protective mental health factors in children of parents with alcohol or drug use disorders.

Things about boxes...
Scotland’s Baby Box scheme is a Scottish Government initiative to provide a free Baby Box for all babies due in Scotland from 15th August 2017 onwards. Babies can sleep in the box itself, which is made of sturdy cardboard and comes with a mattress with protector, a fitted sheet and a cellular blanket. The box is delivered filled with a range of products for the child’s first weeks and months, including clothes, baby care items, books and a play mat. This report discusses the pilot scheme.

Things about safety...
The NSPCC have published their 'How safe are our children? 2017' a comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK. Their report compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across the 4 nations in the UK for 2017.
The report sets out 20 different indicators. Each indicator looks at the question of 'how safe are our children?' from a different perspective. They also include historic data, to help track progress over time.

Things about overweight infants and Atopic Dermatitis...
This report in BMC Pediatrics suggests that overweight in infancy may contribute to the development of AD in early life, highlighting the need for child health-care professionals to address potential overweight and atopic disease when advising infants’ caregivers.

Things about nursing education...
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is seeking views on a wholesale review of the standards that UK trained nurses will need to meet before they can work as a registered nurse. The consultation also sets out proposals for a new education framework for nursing and midwifery education. The proposed framework details a range of new outcome focused standards for education institutions and practice placement partners. There is a consultation open until 12 September 2017 - have your say they want to hear from as wide a section of society as possible

Things to enjoy...
A good read
Our reading Group meets on Wednesday 5th July at 17:15 for about 1 hour. we will be discussing 'Elizabeth is Missing'...whether you have read the book or not do come along and join us.

A good pud
Lots of lovely berries around now so why not try a summer fruit crumble?

Things in the library 23 June 2017

Things happening today...
Stronger Together Vigil in Sheffield this Friday 22 June 2017
A vigil is being held in Sheffield for the victims of the Finsbury Park Mosque attack, Grenfell Tower tragedy and the London and Manchester attacks. It takes place at 6:30pm on Friday 23 June at Barker’s Pool in the city centre and has been organised by community leaders, working with the council. Shahida Siddique, Chief Executive of FaithStar, said: “We organised this event to enable people of faith and no faith to come together in solidarity and unity in the face of adversity."  Faith and community leaders will speak at the event, which will be opened by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, followed by a minute’s silence. The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Anne Murphy, said: “The people of Sheffield are coming together to show solidarity and to stand together to remember all those affected by the recent incidents and tragedy in Manchester, London Bridge, Grenfell Tower and Finsbury Park. “We will also be paying tribute to our emergency services and I will be asking people to join me in a minute’s silence.”

Things about mental health...
Localis, an independent cross-party think tank, has launched a new report on young people’s mental health. The report aims to identify what the system requires to be able to work better to both offer immediate help to those with serious conditions and a wide and flexible variety of support for all those who feel they need it. This was carried out with data obtained from Freedom of Information requests to CCGs and Foundation Trusts in England; interviews with experts in the field; roundtables of NHS and local government leaders; and focus groups with young people themselves. The Children’s Society and NSPCC also contributed as members of an advisory panel.

Things about digital therapies...
NICE is to start assessing new digital therapies that will help treat more people with anxiety and depression. Guided self-help, which can track people’s mood or advise on breathing exercises for example, is recommended by NICE guidance to help treat mild to moderate anxiety and depression. As part of NHS England’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, NICE has been asked to assess digital applications or computer programmes, which will sit alongside face-to-face, phone and online therapy.

Things about prebiotics...
A consensus statement has been issued this week on pre-biotics. In December 2016, a panel of experts in microbiology, nutrition and clinical research was convened by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics to review the definition and scope of prebiotics. Consistent with the original embodiment of prebiotics, but aware of the latest scientific and clinical developments, the panel updated the definition of a prebiotic: a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. This definition expands the concept of prebiotics to possibly include non-carbohydrate substances, applications to body sites other than the gastrointestinal tract, and diverse categories other than food. The requirement for selective microbiota-mediated mechanisms was retained. Beneficial health effects must be documented for a substance to be considered a prebiotic.  Ultimately, the goal of this Consensus Statement is to engender appropriate use of the term 'prebiotic' by relevant stakeholders so that consistency and clarity can be achieved in research reports, product marketing and regulatory oversight of the category.

Things about Gypsy & Traveller communities...

Research in Practice offers advice to improve social work practice with Gypsy and Traveller communities. Key points include: work more collaboratively with agencies across geographical boundaries; recognise and support the distinct cultural identity and needs of Gypsy and Traveller children; when working with people who have fear and suspicion of Children’s services, ask if they would like to have an advocate from a local Gypsy and Traveller group or a trusted friend to join them in meetings and to offer additional support.

Things to eat...

So something healthy today...why not try this 

gloriously green summer soup packed with herbs, vegetables and flageolet beans - served chilled - which will give you two of your daily portions of fruit or veg.

Things in the library 16 June

Things about healthy eating...
A new survey commissioned by Diabetes UK has found that 66 per cent of adults eat three or fewer portions of fruit and/ or vegetables a day- well below the recommended five portions- and 46 per cent won't eat any fruit at least three days a week.




Regulatory things...

Care Quality Commission (CQC) are consulting on a further set of proposals which will help shape the next phase of regulation of health and social care in England. For the next eight weeks anyone with an interest is encouraged to have their say.  

The proposals include:

• Changes to the regulation of primary medical services including the frequency and intensity of CQC's inspections 
• Improvements to the structure of registration and CQC's defintion of 'registered providers' 
• Further information on how CQC will monitor, inspect and rate new models of care and large or complex providers

Child dental health things...

This resource produced by Public Health England outlines how health professionals can help prevent tooth decay in children under 5 as part of ensuring every child has the best start in life. 

New things in the Library... 

Meena Balasubramanian, from Sheffield Children's Hospital Clinical Genetics Department has published the following book ...Clinical and Molecular Heterogeneity of Osteogenesis Imperfecta. It is now available in the Library.

The library regularly replaces the book stock and there are a number of new titles available. A selection is shown below but the complete list can be seen on the library catalogue.


Things to be aware of... Female Genital Mutilation...
NHS Digital has published an experimental statistics report on female genital mutilation (FGM)  in England for the period January- March 2017. Figures show there were 2,102 attendances reported at NHS trusts and GP practices where FGM was identified or a procedure for FGM was undertaken. Barnardo's children's charity is also providing advice to professionals of the signs that a girl may be a risk of undergoing FGM as 'cutting season' approaches.


Things about returning to practice...

The Health and Care Professions Council's guide provides information for professionals returning to practice after a break of more than two years.

It's a wrap! Yorkshire pudding things...
Try this Yorkshire Pudding wrap  from the BBC Good Food website for a change to the traditional Sunday dinner classic! Follow the recipe or watch the video.

Things in the library 9 June...

Things about cystic fibrosis...
An article in European J Pediatrics was published this week on 'Factors associated with changes in health-related quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis during 1-year follow-up' the authors conclude:

"In the group as a whole, HRQoL improved significantly over time. However, changes over time were significantly influenced by age: below 12 years of age, HRQoL improved in most patients whereas a deterioration was observed in most children >12 years. Strategies how to preserve or ideally to improve HRQoL in adolescence should be developed"


Things about antibiotics...

The World Health Organisation has released the latest edition of its essential medicines list which is updated every two years. WHO has grouped antibiotics into three groups—access, watch, and reserve—indicating which can be used for common infections and which should only be used in rare circumstances.

• WHO recommends that antibiotics in the access group, which includes amoxicillin, be available at all times to treat common conditions.
• The watch group includes antibiotics that are recommended as first or second choice treatments for a small number of infections. In this group are ciprofloxacin to treat cystitis and upper respiratory tract infections which, WHO says, should be dramatically reduced to avoid further development of resistance.
• The third group, reserve, includes antibiotics that should be considered last resort options and used only when all other drugs have failed, such as for life threatening infections from multidrug resistant bacteria. The antibiotics colistin and some cephalosporins should only be used when all other treatments have failed in a bid to combat anti-microbial resistance

Things about chronic illness...
Serious chronic illness can have a detrimental effect on school attendance, participation and engagement, leaving affected students at risk of failing to meet their developmental potential. An improved understanding of factors that help to explain or mitigate this risk can help educators and health professionals deliver the most effective support. This meta-review 'Understanding the school experiences of children and adolescents with serious chronic illness: a systematic meta-review.' critiqued the available evidence examining the link between six chronic illnesses (asthma, cancer, chronic kidney diseases, heart diseases, cystic fibrosis and gastrointestinal diseases) and children's and adolescents' school experiences and outcomes, as well as investigating the medical, school, psychosocial and sociodemographic factors that are linked to poorer or better school outcomes.

Things to read...
If you didn't manage to make it to our  Reading Group this week now is the time to start reading the next book 'Elizabeth is Missing' for our meeting on Wed 5th July at 17:15.  Our last book 'Black Diamonds' scored 67% from the group.
'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.'

Things to see...
At the Graves Gallery, above the Central Library in Sheffield  (next to the Lyceum), they have an exhibition entitled 'An Earthly Paradise: Gardens in Art' which explores the diverse ways artists have represented these uniquely personal spaces in their work.
The exhibition sees the return of a major work to the city, Stanley Spencer’s Zacharias and Elizabeth (1913-14). The painting, co-owned with Tate, goes on display alongside highlights from Sheffield’s visual art and Ruskin collections, including paintings and works on paper by Paul Cézanne, James Tissot, Evelyn Dunbar and more. The exhibition is on until 12th August and is open Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 4pm  (Wednesdays 1pm – 6pm), entry free.

Things to hear...
At the City Hall on Friday 30th June there is a concert 'The Music of James Bond with The Hallé' , the greatest themes and songs of 007 ...listen to the sounds that gave musical voice to the films in catchy title sequences and haunting songs performed by vocalists Alison Jiear and Matthew Ford with the Hallé orchestra.

Things to taste...
With the elderflowers coming into bloom I think we are going to attempt an elderflower gin this weekend at home! If I have enough flowers left I might try these fritters too.

Things in the library 2 June

Things being monitored...NHS Performance.

This is the 23rd report by the King's Fund and aims to take stock of what has happened over the past quarter and to assess the state of the health and care system. It provides an update on how the NHS is coping as it continues to grapple with productivity and reform challenges under continued financial pressure. Read the report here.

Ultra tough things
The BBC reports that US scientists have re-engineered a vital antibiotic in a bid to wipe out one of the world's most threatening superbugs. It fights bacteria in three different ways, making it much less likely that the bugs can dodge the attack. It is yet to be tested in animals and people, however. The Scripps Research Institute team hope the drug will be ready for use within five years if it passes more tests.

Hot and cold things..

The BBC reports that Washing hands in cold water 'as good as hot'. US scientists say they have poured cold water on the theory that washing hands with hot water kills more germs than unheated water. The small study of 20 people found using water at 15C (59F) left hands as clean as water heated to 38C (100F). The report, in the Journal of Food Protection, suggests this could help cut electricity bills in restaurants. In the UK, NHS experts say people can use cold or hot water to wash their hands. They say hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds and stress the importance of using enough soap to cover the whole surface of the hands. Their guidance focuses on rubbing hands together in various ways to make sure each surface of each hand is clean. 

Things about emergency asthma care

Joined-up solutions are needed to provide asthma care faster as EDs struggle to meet standards, according to a new audit by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. The report published 26 May audited 14,043 children and adults with moderate and acute severe asthma presenting to 201 Emergency Departments (ED).  It shows that many EDs are finding it challenging to adhere to the time standards set by the British Thoracic Society and RCEM. It is thought that this, in part, reflects the increasing demands on EDs with higher volumes of patients with increasingly complex health needs.

Stylish things...

Style Sheffield is here! As part of Sheffield BID’s Alive After Five campaign, city centre businesses are hosting a series of stylish events from the 1st to the 8th June. Join independent boutiques and your favourite high-street brands for a week of VIP shopping,demonstrations and fashion shows. Don't worry, there are still a few tickets left so don't miss out, check out the programme of bookable, free events being held 1 - 8 June. There's a few fringe activities as well. View the programme here.

Marinated things..

This smoky roasted veg, marinated feta and lime dish looks great for summer evening meal.