Things in the library 7th Sept...

Things about play...

The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at the importance to children of play and physical activity. Recommendations for government include: putting out-of-school activity at the heart of the plan to reduce obesity; and focussing on play and activity in policy responses to challenges faced by children, including mental health issues and excessive use of technology.

Things about Looked-after children...

This report by Social Market Foundation analysed inspection data from Ofsted, which assesses local councils’ services for children in need of help and protection, looked-after children and care leavers. The analysis showed that 63% of Local Authorities in England are providing services for these children which either “require improvement” or are simply “inadequate.” The calculations based on these figures show that this means that 47,085 children – 65% of all looked-after children – are looked after in Local Authorities that are deemed to be falling short of a good standard. Of those children, 13,790 are receiving care services judged as “inadequate”, the worst possible grade.

Things about infant-feeding...

Academics at Coventry University have created a new website to help midwives and health visitors support both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding parent. iFeed aims to fill a gap in the help offered to parents due to children’s centre closures, over-stretched maternity and health visiting services, as well as to ensure parents who bottle feed receive more support. The creators were inspired to build the website following their own research into infant-feeding and the information parents told them they wanted on the subject. It is hoped that it will provide a trusted resource for health professionals.

Things to give your opinion on...
The government is seeking views on whether the sale of energy drinks to children should be stopped. This consultation closes at on 21 November 2018.
It also asks for views on:

• what products should be included in any restrictions
• what age limit a ban should apply to
• whether sales of energy drinks from vending machines should be restricted
• whether there are any changes that would be more appropriate than a ban on sales to children or that could be applied as well as a ban

Things to read...
The next book we are reading for the meeting on Wed 3rd October is Ian McEwan's book 'The Children Act' (recently released as a film starring Emma Thompson) do come and join us for a chat about it along with drinks and nibbles. We meet in the Illingworth library (F Floor Stephenson Wing) at 17:15 for about 1hour.

Things to enjoy in Sheffield...
The full program for the Sheffield's 'Off the Shelf' literary festival (6-27 October) is now available. Some events book up very quickly so do check the website - something for everyone. Writing events, children's events and authors and poets to meet.

Things to eat...

(c) Jules Clancy 

I came across this free ebook this week with some nice recipes in it for 5 ingredient dinners. A nice feature is that she also gives variations for dairy-free, vegan where possible. I rather fancy the self-saucing ginger puddings! The author of this e-cookbook is Jules Clancy who lives in Australia and writes, blogs and photographs food.

Things in the library 31st Aug...

Things about mental health...
Health chiefs have drawn up new guidance to encourage doctors to place mental health therapists in practice surgeries – bringing more mental and physical health services under one roof. These new therapists will be integrated into primary care teams and focus on common mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, particularly where this occurs in patients with a long term physical health condition such as diabetes, respiratory or heart problems. Evidence suggests nine out of 10 adults with mental health problems are supported in primary care and broadening the range of services for patients, means local health services are better equipped to deal with patients’ physical and mental health needs.

Things about well-being...
The Good Childhood Report 2018 has been published by The Children's Society.
This report examines the state of children’s well-being in the UK. It finds that one in six (16 per cent) of more than 11,000 children aged 14 surveyed reported self-harming. It looks at the reasons behind the unhappiness which increases the risk of children self-harming. The report urges the Government to make sure that every child can talk to a counsellor in their school.

Things about Duchenne muscular dystrophy...

• This article in Acta Paediatrica looks at parent-child communication and the timing of interventions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy care.
• In the news this morning a possible treatment option is hitting the headlines - it is based on research using gene editing in dogs - if you want to read more the the details of the study are here and some comments on it here

Things about prenatal opioid exposure...

This american article discusses direct neurotoxic, indirect, and stress-related pathophysiologies of prenatal opioid exposure on neurodevelopment of children.

Things after a no-deal Brexit...

The Government has put together a collection of information and guidance relating to health and care organisations and industry about planning for a potential no-deal Brexit.

Things to do...

The annual Art in the Gardens event, held in Sheffield Botanical Gardens, is arguably the largest outdoor art exhibition in the north of England with artists, craft makers and visitors coming from throughout the UK. This event is an opportunity to buy the perfect piece of art or craft direct from the artists, whilst enjoying the perfect surroundings that the gardens have to offer.  Thousands of pieces of art and craft on show and for sale. Sheffield Botanical Gardens, 1 - 2 September 2018 10.30am - 5.30pm

Things to eat...

September always makes me thing of autumn woods and fungi.....not suggesting you collect your own unless you really know what you are doing...but this Jamie Oliver vegetarian and gluten-free Mushroom Bourguignon sounds worth making.

Things almost back to normal...

We will be open evenings again next week Mon-Wed until 7pm.

Things in the library 24 Aug...

Things open and closed...

With staff off in various places next week I am all by myself so will be opening 8:45 to 17:00 Tuesday to Friday next week. Sarah seems to have been meeting wolves in Mongolia!

Things to drink or not to drink...
Alcohol hitting the headlines today following an article in The Lancet published yesterday. if you want to read the full article the link is here. This article is freely available but many that are published are not. If you have an NHS Open Athens account you will be able to access many resources; if you are a consultant or involved in teaching University of Sheffield students ask us about an honorary contract so you can access University resources too.


Things about crying infants...

A systematic review about the effect of manual therapy interventions for healthy but unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants that aims to provide information to help clinicians and parents inform decisions about care.



Things looked at in a different way...
One of the things that we learn about in the Microsystems coaching to help service improvement is re-framing. This YouTube video of a TED talk is work watching to see a different way of analysing problems.

Things about health and environment...
Some advance dates for your calendar if you are interested in the events organised by IWUN (Improving wellbeing through urban nature) in Sheffield. Details and booking for the first one

9 Oct 18 - Chris Skelly - Microbiome and its relationship with human health and the public health implications.
11 Dec 18 - Prof Alister Scott - Mainstreaming green infrastructure in UK planning
15 Jan 19 - Vicki Houlden - Happy Cities: The Relationship Between Urban Greenspace Characteristics and Mental Wellbeing
12 Feb 19 - Dr Miles Richardson - Improving Well-being through Noticing Urban Nature
12 Mar 19 - Dr Julian Dobson & Dr Nicola DempseyIdentifying green space interventions for our health and wellbeing in the Sheffield context
14 May 19 - Prof Anna Jorgensen - Improving Well-being through Urban Nature – A vision for the future

Things about scurvy...

A case report in Archives of Disease in Childhood highlights three recent cases referred for leg pain and refusal to walk. All children had no significant medical history, symptoms had started months before and subtly advanced. A nutritional screening revealed low or undetectable levels of ascorbic acid. This, along with the clinical and radiological findings, led to a diagnosis of scurvy. Vitamin C supplementation was started with rapid improvement of the children's clinical condition. Scurvy is a rare disease in the 'first world', but there are anecdotal reports of scurvy in children without any of the known risk factors for this condition. In these cases, a selective diet was the only risk factor.

Things about smoke...
Third hand smoke to be precise...the studies in this review demonstrate the harmful effects of THS on health in cells, in animal models, and in people including children. However, in people, the long-term effects remain unknown and more research is needed. These studies show that knowledge about THS and its potential harmful effects are poorly understood among the general population. For this reason, THS should receive greater emphasis in education and awareness policies.

Things about nursing careers...
It can be difficult to weigh up the different options and to map out a clear pathway for the supply of registered nurses. The latest version of the infographic highlights the costs and benefits of the different nursing supply options and the timescales to be expected to recruit a registered nurse. It has also been amended for employers to see the new routes into the extended nursing family such as the nursing associate role and the nursing degree apprenticeship. Previously the routes into nursing have been limited, with a university degree being the main way to train registered nurses. The introduction of the nursing degree apprenticeship gives a new opportunity for employers to train nurses. This and other new routes are explored in this infographic  from NHS Employers.

Things for the Bank Holiday... if you are off work have a great time

 So how about some nice lemon tarts to make for afternoon tea...

...or if you want a great meal how about this simple Spanish-style chicken bake  which I made last weekend.

Things in the library 17th August...

Things to attend...

The next journal club will be Tuesday 21 Aug 1-2pm, in the Education and Skills Centre, F Floor, Stephenson Wing. Paper: "General practitioner referrals to paediatric specialist outpatient clinics: referral goals and parental influence" Journal Club is open to all health professionals and is a fun, informal way of learning to criticize papers and gather evidence to change practice. At each meeting a speaker presents a critical appraisal of a research paper, using a recognised appraisal tool such as CASP
Group members then have an informal discussion to determine whether or not current practice should be altered in light of the presenter's findings

Things to buy...
We have some old editions of books available for sale - first come first served....please check out the trolley in the library or click this link to view the list . If you are registered with the library we can save items for you and we will add the the cost of them to your library account...please note this is a commitment to buy...we will not reserve items for you to look at and then decide you don't want to buy.

Things about CAMHS...

A briefing paper published by House of Commons Library on 'Children and young people’s mental health – policy, services, funding and education' is available. It includes: background on CAMHS services; government policy in CAMHS since 2010; select committee enquiries; mental health in schools; further reading suggestions.

Things about pollution and prams...
Sometimes health news items make you think 'where on earth has that come from',  'is it true' and no doubt as health professionals you may have parents/carers then asking you about various 'scares'. Recently I spotted this "Babies and young children in prams can be exposed to up to 60% more pollution than adults, a study suggests," BBC News reports. My first stop when wanting to check things out like this is always NHS Behind the headlines which is really useful. They discuss where the story came from, the original research and interpretation and then their own conclusion about the story. In this case:

This review does not present enough evidence to say definitively that babies are exposed to more pollution than the person pushing the pram. The widely reported figure of 60% higher levels of pollution came from a single US study. The other studies found in this review had mixed results, with some indicating higher levels at adult height compared to pram height.
The review was also neither able to say if the style or type of pram made any difference to exposure to pollutants, nor whether using a cover would be better or actually trap in any pollutants.
Despite the limitations of this study, there is evidence outlining the effects of pollution and its negative effects on the development of diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and childhood asthma, therefore tackling air pollution is already a government priority. This research does not have the methodological strength to add anything new to current research in the area however.

Things to eat...
This Basque style salmon stew is always a summer favourite - although I cook it in a little stock until the spuds are almost done before adding the tomatoes.

Things in the library 10 Aug...

Things about community health...

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published findings from a survey of 188 newly trained paediatricians. The survey found that only 9.6% of newly trained paediatricians took up a consultant post in community child health – the specialty which is also responsible for assessing children for abuse or neglect. The RCPCH believes that around 80 more community paediatricians are needed each year for the next five years to help sustain and improve these services. See all the details in this report CCT and CESR Class of 2016: Where are they now?

Emerging things...
Today, eight health and social care regulators and other bodies have signed a new agreement to help them share concerns with each other more effectively. The CQC says" The ‘Emerging Concerns Protocol’ seeks to provide a clearly defined mechanism for us to share information and intelligence that may indicate risks to users of services, their carers, families or professionals".  To see the protocol and the organisations that have signed up to it, click here.

Things to see...
The University of Sheffield has launched a special photography exhibition which celebrates the contribution of their non-UK EU colleagues. 'A Part of Sheffield' shares the stories of colleagues who have made a life and home in Sheffield. Portrait photographer and local Sheffield resident, Jeremy Abrahams, was commissioned to photograph a group of staff who represent a range of occupations and departments across the University, and a range of other EU countries. Each participant is represented by a series of portraits and documentary-style images of them at work and in familiar places in Sheffield. The photography helps to tell their stories about what it means to be a part of Sheffield and how they contribute to the University and the City, whilst highlighting their personal concerns about the vote to leave the EU and the sense of uncertainty and change that this has brought. You can visit the exhibition in the following locations:
6 - 17 August - Jessop West Foyer
20 - 31 August - The Diamond Ground Floor Exhibition Space

Things about exercise & mental health...
In The Lancet Psychiatry this week a cross-sectional study about the association of mental health and physical exercise . Their interpretation of the findings is that "In a large US sample, physical exercise was significantly and meaningfully associated with self-reported mental health burden in the past month. More exercise was not always better. Differences as a function of exercise were large relative to other demographic variables such as education and income. Specific types, durations, and frequencies of exercise might be more effective clinical targets than others for reducing mental health burden, and merit interventional study."

Things to help you listen...



The Samaritans wants to encourage people to listen to the really important things their friends, family and colleagues need to tell them, and to actually devote some time and attention to being better listeners. When people feel listened to, it can save a life. Suggestions for becoming a better listener are here in their SHUSH listening tips.





Things to eat...
Kate's choice this week ...a lovely recipe for herby chicken & potato salad that is quick to prepare.

Things in the library 3 Aug ...

Things about anti-social behaviour...

Sensation seeking was found to be a strong predictor of antisocial behaviors for youth across two different sociocultural contexts in this study. High parental monitoring buffered the association between sensation seeking and antisocial behaviors, protecting individuals with this trait. Low parental warmth was associated with high levels of antisocial behaviors, regardless of the sensation seeking level. Among those with high parental warmth, sensation seeking predicted antisocial behaviors, but the levels of antisocial behaviors were never as high as those of youth with low parental warmth.This study's findings underscore the relevance of person–family context interactions in the development of antisocial behaviors. Future interventions should focus on the interplay between individual vulnerabilities and family context to prevent the unhealthy expression of a trait that is present in many individuals.

Things about physical activity...
NICE will not update the guideline on physical activity for children and young people. The majority of new evidence was found to be broadly consistent with the current recommendations. They found new evidence on multicomponent interventions and after-school programmes, which was not fully in line with the current recommendations; however, no impact is expected due to high heterogeneity in study findings and small sample sizes in studies. They also found new evidence on the effect of classroom equipment and active video games, which are not mentioned in the guideline. Further research is required in these areas before the impact on recommendations can be considered. More information  on the 2018 surveillance and a link to the current guidance can be accessed here.

Things about dissection...and dinner...
Anatomy Lab LIVE is a touring human body-based anatomy event.  Their 2019 tour (Sheffield 16/2/2019) focuses on surgery and the corrective intervention methods used to treat pathology. After your two course evening meal the drapes will go up (literally) and a fully working state of the art operating theatre will reveal the patient. The surgery will offer a unique chance to follow a complete surgical procedure from start to finish observing and dissecting real anatomical specimens. All samples used in the performance are harvested from spent swine material, the surgical team use these as they are the most ethical and closest to human possible The level of content is undergraduate and offers CPD refresher for current healthcare practitioners.

Things about self-regulation...|

Self-regulation encompasses a range of skills, including controlling your own emotions, interacting positively with others, avoiding inappropriate or aggressive actions, and carrying out self-directed learning. This review looked at universal self-regulation interventions (those that were aimed at whole groups/cohorts of healthy children or teenagers), rather than those aimed at children with particular needs. Activities included mindfulness and yoga, family-based, exercise-based and social and personal skills-based tasks. This is a comprehensive review of rigorous evaluations including 49 trials mainly from the US providing moderate to strong evidence on effectiveness.

Things with muffins...
The next journal club will be Thursday 9 August 8.00 am - 9.00 am, in the Education and Skills Centre, F Floor, Stephenson Wing. Paper: Practice Change From Intermittent Medication Boluses to Bolusing From a Continuous Infusion in Pediatric Critical Care: A Quality Improvement Project. Journal Club is open to all health professionals and is a fun, informal way of learning to criticize papers and gather evidence to change practice.

Things on a tightrope...
Just across the road from the hospital there is the Western Bank Library Exhibition Gallery. The current exhibition is 'Circus Performers: Extraordinary Feats from Ordinary People' the exhibition examines the stories behind the pioneering showmen and Circus performers who have thrilled audiences around the world. From the equestrian skills of Philip Astley to human cannonballs, visitors can discover the reality behind the amazing talents of acrobats, aerialists, animal tamers and clowns and learn what made and continues to make them so special. Open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 7pm, Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 12pm until 6pm (excluding holidays).

Things to make and freeze...
The blackberries will soon be ready for picking - if you don't want to make pies or jam then why not try making this blackberry compote which is really easy and would then bring a taste of summer along with ice-cream later in the year. If you don't want to scrabble around in the undergrowth out in the countryside (the best way!) you could always try pick your own fruit (I think the nearest is at Dronfield Woodhouse)...contact them to find out what fruits are available...website not up-to-date)

Things in the library 27 July...

Things the government says...
The Government response to the joint report of the Education and Health and Social Care Committees on 'Transforming children and young people's mental health provision: a green paper' has been published.

Things about HPV...
It was announced this week that adolescent boys will be offered the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to protect them from cancer. The vaccine not only protects men from HPV-related diseases – such as oral, throat and anal cancer – but also helps reduce the overall number of cervical cancers in women, though a process known as ‘herd immunity’.The extension of the vaccine to boys follows the success of England’s HPV vaccination programme for girls and the recent introduction of one for men who have sex with men. The programme is expected to vaccinate thousands of boys in England each year. This statement sets out the conclusions of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on extending the HPV vaccination programme to adolescent boys in the UK.

Things about quality of life...
Epilepsy in children negatively impacts on caregiver quality of life (QOL). The study [in Journal of neurology] aimed to evaluate the relationships between patient factors [demographics, clinical factors, health-related quality of life (HRQL)], contextual factors (socio-economic factors), caregiver mood, and caregiver QOL, and whether family factors mediate the relationship between patient HRQL and caregiver QOL. They conclude that:

"Patient HRQL and caregiver mood were more important correlates of caregiver QOL than seizure severity in medically intractable epilepsy. The findings are significant in delineating variables (caregiver mood and family factors) that are potentially modifiable, and show promise for improving caregiver QOL."

Things about parental pre-operative anxiety...

This systematic review and meta-analysis looks at studies assessing the effectiveness of audiovisual (AV) interventions aimed at reducing anxiety in parents whose children are undergoing elective surgery. Their primary outcome was parental anxiety. Secondary outcomes included children’s preoperative anxiety and postoperative outcomes; parental satisfaction, knowledge, and need for anesthesia information. If you cannot access the full text of this article (or any other) than SCH staff can request from us using our online form 

Things to read...
It is our August reading group meeting next week (Wed 17:15 in the library) we will be discussing 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' so do come and join us over a drink and nibbles. Our next book for Sept is the classic 'Catch 22'. Don't forget we have quite a large collection of leisure books available for you to borrow for your summer holiday reading - come and have a browse of check what we have online.



Things flapping about...

This summer we have constantly been serenaded by seagulls...no the tide hasn't come in to Sheffield ...they are nesting close by. This week we spotted the juvenile birds walking around on the roof.



Things to make without heat...
If you are finding it too hot to cook at the moment there is a nice collection of recipes here to tempt you