Things in the library 24 Feb...

Things for sale...
We have a new selection of books we are selling (old editions) now available in the library. Please email for a copy of the list ...but first come,first served and we can't keep things for you unless you are registered with the library.



Things about children with complex needs...
The Council for Disabled Children and The True Colours Trust have published Understanding the needs of disabled children with complex needs or life-limiting conditions: what we can learn from national data? This paper shares the findings of a data analysis carried out between August and October 2016. The main aim of the project was to explore what national data reported by health, education and social services show about disabled children and young people with complex needs or life-limiting conditions. The figures estimate that numbers have increased dramatically by over 50% since 2004, from 49,300 to 73,000 children and young people.

Things to comment on...
NICE is producing new guidelines to help people who work with children spot and stop abuse or neglect. It outlines how social workers, teachers and police officers, along with others working outside healthcare, can spot the signs of abuse or neglect and how they should act faced with a range of differing circumstances.The guidelines includes physical, mental and sexual abuse as well as newly recognised forms of abuse such as female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual exploitation, child trafficking and forced marriage.It outlines soft signs that in themselves do not indicate abuse but warrant further consideration and harder warning signs that professionals should investigate. The draft is available for public comment in a consultation.

Things about hygiene...
NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – has published final guidance recommending all children and young people, from pre-school to university age, be taught the importance of hand washing and managing some common infections themselves. These recommendations aim to educate the general public in how they can contribute in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.




Things that are smart...
Asthma UK recently published a report 'Smart asthma: Real-world implementation of connected devices in the UK to reduce asthma attacks' The report sets out the opportunities and possible pitfalls as we digitise asthma. They have consulted industry, expert clinicians, eminent academics and policy specialists in the course of developing this report. They state that "to make new technology stick it must help healthcare system efficiency and allow providers to make a fair profit. However, our overriding and unapologetic duty is driving improvement for the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma, and the families who have lost a loved one as a result of a failure in asthma care. It is for these people’s sake that the recommendations in this report should be seriously debated and considered, and the future implementation of digital asthma care taken up at the highest levels of the NHS."

Things about the long-term future of NHS...
The Centre for Policy Studies issued a report this week authored by Maurice Saatchi entitled 'An NHS Royal Commission From fighting fires to lasting settlement'. They conclude:
"Whatever the view, however, a Royal Commission on the long-term future of the NHS would offer signifi cant benefits, not least because of the huge looming challenges, such as the ageing population, the increasing prevalence of long-term conditions and the inflationary pressures of medical innovation. Only a Royal Commission can secure the bipartisan support needed to establish the lasting reforms required to ensure the world-class 21st Century health system that we all want to see."

Things to flip...
Yes...pancake day or 'Shrove Tuesday' is next week on Feb 28th. Christians traditionally used up food that couldn't be eaten during Lent, which was a time for fasting and penance, by making pancakes. If you want an easy recipe to follow here is one from Mary Berry. I should point out one error though as the article includes the phrase "any uneaten pancakes " ...not something I have personally ever experienced in our house!

Things artistic...
In some areas of the world this weekend will also see carnival parades and celebrations which, when we lived in the Netherlands, were a great fun time indicating that spring was on its way. This painting 'The Fight Between Carnival and Lent'  by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1559) depicts the contrast between two sides of contemporary life, as can be seen by the appearance of the inn on the left side - for enjoyment, and the church on the right side - for religious observance. The busy scene depicts well-behaved children near the church and a beer drinking scene near the inn. At the centre is a well, showing the coming together of different parts of the community, and other scenes show a fish stall and two competing floats.
The picture is full of symbolism (the meaning of some of which is now conjecture). I am always fascinated to look at the details on these paintings as a depiction of everyday life from over 450 years ago.