Friday 11 December 2020

Things in the library 11 Dec...

Things closing for Christmas... 

These are our closing dates for Christmas - I am posting them now as I am on annual leave next week so this will be the last blog before Christmas.

Mon 21 Dec  Closed for Stock Taking

Tues 22 Dec – Sun 3 Jan  Closed for Christmas & New Year

We will reopen Mon 4 Jan 2021

As always there is a book drop box outside the library if you need to return items whilst we are closed.

Things finished, until the next one...  

The recent Randomised Coffee Trial is receiving good feedback from people who took part. Some people found it difficult meeting online without disturbing colleagues in their workplaces. Not much we can do to help with that I'm afraid - hopefully people will be able to meet up again physically at some point next year - you will perhaps have to encourage your colleagues to sign up too!. Some people based on the Acute site went for a socially distanced walk in the park. Meeting virtually is not ideal but it does make it easier to meet colleagues from different sites. We expect the next RCT to be in February with sign-up being available anytime from now until the end of January.

Things about autism...

This article was highlighted to us from our colleagues in CAMHS 'The effectiveness of parent training for children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analyses' it is available on open access. 

Things about training... 

If you are clinical staff you may be directed to use Clinical Skills Net for some of your training.  If so and you have not previously registered to use this, then please email the library and tell us your NHS email address, staff assignment number (you can find this when you log in to ESR) and your staff category/job role. We will then set up your account so you can access the courses.

Things to attend... 

The next Journal Club meeting is on Tuesday 15th  December 13:00 - 14:00.

Venue: Virtually & from the Education & Skills Centre. Click here to join the meeting.

Paper: Primary care faecal calprotectin testing in children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease: a diagnostic accuracy study



Things about Christmas past... 

I have just been re-reading Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' as I try to do each year. One of the things I always enjoy is the glimpses of life in 1843, of the Cratchit’s Christmas pudding he writes:

"A great deal of steam! the pudding was out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day! That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house and a pastry cook's next door to each other, with a laundress's next door to that. That was the pudding."

Not many people make their own puddings these days and if they do I hope they don't use their washing machines, but if you have left over Christmas pudding this year there are many options. I have seen one suggestion that you fry up a slice to go with a full English breakfast in the place of black pudding!. Perhaps a little more conventional is Christmas pudding ice cream.


Illingworth Library staff would like to wish everyone a 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year



Friday 4 December 2020

Things in the library 4th Dec...

 ***Reminder we are closed all day Monday 7th December for staff training***

Things without mulled wine... 

We had a  great time online on Wednesday evening choosing the books we are going to read next year in the Reading Group. The selection will be being emailed out to the group shortly so if you want to be kept informed please contact the library to be put on the mailing list. Our highest scoring book this year was The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham followed by the Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. 

Hopefully this time next year we will be meeting in person again.


Things about care leavers... 

Coram Voice in collaboration with the Rees Centre have published a report looking at how care leavers feel about their lives 'What makes life good'. Findings from a survey of 1,804 care leavers, collected in 21 English local authorities between 2017 and 2019, include: the majority of care leavers had moderate to high well-being, but 30% had low well-being; 24% of care leavers reported a disability or long-term health problem, against 14% of 16- to 24-year-olds in the general population; and care leavers also reported higher levels of loneliness (22%), high anxiety (33%) and feeling unsafe where they live (16%)


Things about mental health...  

The Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Social Research Institute has published a report looking at the mental ill-health of young people at age 17 in the UK. Findings from data from more than 10,000 young people who have all been taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a nationally representative study of teenagers born in 2000-02, include: 16% of teenagers report high levels of psychological distress at age 17, 24% of young people report self-harming, and 7% report self-harming with suicidal intent.


Things about safeguarding... 

Article 39 reports that a Court of Appeal judgement, given on 24 November, declared that the Secretary of State for Education acted unlawfully in failing to consult the Children’s Commissioner for England and other children’s rights organisations before making “substantial and wide-ranging” changes to legal protections for children in care in England. Article 39 launched the legal challenge after the government removed and watered down 65 safeguards for children in care in England through The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.


Things about COVID-19... 

The Rees Centre reports on the latest findings from the Co-SPACE study tracking children and young people’s mental health throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The report finds that for participating primary school aged children behavioural, emotional, and restless/attentional difficulties have generally decreased from July, throughout the summer holidays, and as children returned to school in September.


Things about becoming parents... 

The NSPCC has released two podcasts on the Baby Steps perinatal educational programme, designed to help prepare people for becoming parents. Baby Steps has been adapted and delivered virtually since March 2020 and the podcasts discuss: how the NSPCC and external partners have delivered services during the pandemic; and the research and evaluation carried out to gather insight about how the programme has been run since lockdown began.


Things about food in movies... 

A quirky little article I spotted this week found that, across 14 946 foods and beverages, 73% of movies earned less healthy food nutrition ratings and 90% earned less healthy beverage ratings, even though only 12% of foods and beverages were visibly branded products. Moreover, the movie-depicted diet failed federal recommendations for saturated fat by 25%, fiber by 45%, and sodium by 4% per 2000 kcal, featuring 16% higher sugar content and 313% higher alcoholic content per 2000 kcal than US individuals actually consume.

This qualitative study suggests that popular US movies depict an unhealthy diet; depicting unhealthy foods and beverages in media is a sociocultural problem that extends beyond advertisements.

Something to think about when watching all those Christmas movies!


Things about post-Brexit and MHRA... 

From 1 January 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be the UK’s standalone medicines and medical devices regulator. Stakeholders need to get ready for new rules from 1 January 2021.

Things to eat... 

Following on from the movie film food I found this website suggesting food to match films (spaghetti with 'Lady & the Tramp' obviously!)...my unhealthy choice would be Quick almond croissants with 'Breakfast at Tiffany’s' though I expect I will make more crumbs when eating than Audrey Hepburn!





Friday 27 November 2020

Things in the library 27th Nov...

Things about balance... 

Young children growing up today have access to more screen-based experiences than any generation before them. Whether through smart televisions, on-demand streaming video, YouTube or mobile touchscreens, a remarkable amount of infant- and toddler-directed content vies for young children's attention. A quick YouTube search for ‘educational video toddler’ brings up a list of animated videos with nursery rhymes and songs, many with millions and millions of views, but none with evidence of educational value. Although research on background television documented its ability to interrupt parent–child verbal exchange  and play, little is known about how modern media activities influence children's everyday experiences, particularly the important serve-and-return interactions  that occur around play, reading and daily outings. In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, ‘Screen Use Relates to Decreased Offline Enrichment Activities’ explores the displacement hypothesis: the idea that child the more time children spend with screen-based activities, the less time they engage in pretend play, health-related behaviours (eg, physical activity and sleep) or social interactions with caregivers or peers. In the modern digital environment, there are many reasons—ranging from tokens and rewards for prolonged gameplay  to the satisfying design of toy unboxing videos—why children would grow to prefer screen-based activities to more health-promoting (albeit boring) ones. 

Things online... 

Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age. Online conference: 1pm-3pm, 11th-14th January 2021

Digital technology continues to evolve at an extraordinary rate, providing children and young people with countless opportunities for learning, development and socialisation. It also presents ever increasing threats to their wellbeing and safety which have intensified during the Covid pandemic. Safeguarding young people today requires all practitioners, parents and carers to be up to speed with how to safeguard online. The 4th national conference on Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age, which takes place online, will provide essential learning for the entire children’s workforce. They are bringing together leading online safety experts and safeguarding professionals to equip you with the understanding, skills and confidence to ensure children and young people stay safe in the digital age. 

The online conference takes place over four consecutive days with a series of two-hour, CPD-certified live sessions from Monday 11th to Thursday 14th January 2021 between 1pm and 3pm.

Things exciting...

It is our Reading Group Virtual Christmas party this week on Wednesday 2nd December - bring your own mulled wine. We are discussing The Silver Sword but also choosing our reading for the next year from the excellent suggestions put forward by our group. if you want to be part of this please email the library to ask for the link or to be put on the mailing list.

...and don't forget

We have a great selection of leisure reading you can borrow so make sure you stock up before Christmas!


Things about baby food... 

A cross-sectional survey of all infant food products available to buy in the UK online and in-store collected in 2019. Nutritional content and product descriptions were recorded and compared with an existing 2013 database. Fewer foods are now marketed to infants aged 4 months, but there has been no overall reduction in the sweetness of products and the increase in snack foods and the sweetness of savoury foods is a concern.

Things to take note of...  

Some changes in our opening hours coming up. We will be closed for staff training some or all of  Monday 7th Dec (precise details next week and in the library bulletin). We will also be closed for Christmas from 21st December (this day we will be doing our annual stocktake) until we re-open on 4th January.





Things Hygge...  

I have really missed being able to go to the university restaurant for their Hygge season this year but as we are seemingly destined to spend more time at home over the winter it is something to embrace. Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets To Happy Living, says “The true essence of hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness and it’s basically like a hug, just without the physical touch,”  A few things to make your life more Hygge..candles, cosy blankets, hot chocolate, a good book, a board game instead of screentime, mindfulness  and perhaps a warming stew cooking in the slowcooker. I notice that Sandi Toksvig is starting a new series on BBC Radio 4 about Hygge starting on 2nd Dec at 18:30.

So something to cook...

This traditional Danish meal was a very popular amongst poor Danish farmers for the simple reason that it is cheap, quick to make and very satisfying. For non-Danes, it provides a glimpse into a very traditional type of Danish meal Burning Love - (Brændende Kærlighed)



Friday 20 November 2020

Things in the library 20 Nov...

Things happening soon...

Our next Reading group and Christmas Party will be on 2nd Dec at 18:30 via Microsoft Teams. please contact the library if you would like the link. If you are a regular attendee don't forget to submit your choice of books that we might read next year. The book we are discussing in December is The Silver Sword by Ian Seraillier.

Things about health librarians... 
A report to an All-Party Parliamentary Group Mon 2 Nov 2020 clearly outlines the true value of NHS Library and Knowledge Services having both a direct and indirect effect on the care patients receive. They make a positive impact on services as a whole, providing an economic value of millions of pounds to the NHS.

Health Education England (HEE) commissioned the report Library and Knowledge Services Value Proposition: The Gift of Time.  This identifies key benefits of a library and knowledge service within an NHS organisation and, specifically, the specialist roles embedded within NHS teams.    

Health librarians and knowledge specialists make the gathering of information as easy as possible for healthcare professionals, relieving the burden of sourcing and synthesising evidence while enabling NHS organisations to meet their statutory obligations to get evidence into practice across the service. A recent speaker at SCHs Clinical Summit -Sue Lacey Bryant, National Lead for NHS Library and Knowledge Services, HEE said: 

“We are passionate about the positive impact that librarians and knowledge managers have on the quality of care. Our regional library teams will now work with NHS organisations and local library services to help the NHS fully realise all these benefits.

We will continue to work with trusts, Integrated Care Systems and Arm’s Length Bodies to make sure that NHS library services are adequately resourced; aligned with local priorities and able to support the organisation to adopt NICE guidelines and CQC standards”

Things about time...

The library can give you a great gifts...not just for Christmas... and that is the gift of time...let us do the things we are good at leaving you free to do yours. There are many things we can do to save you and your colleagues time and if you look at a summary of the feedback we receive for our services below you will see there are many other benefits too! Find out more about how we can help you on our website.

Effect on Patient Care
Diagnosis
7%
Choice of tests / treatment / drugs
18%
Other
24%
Advice given to patients/carers
16%
Unnecessary hospital admission
2%
Unnecessary outpatient visits
4%
Unnecessary costs
9%
Unnecessary surgery, tests /procedures / radiography
13%

Effect on Service

Reduced risk or improved safety
9%
Improved the quality of patient care
17%
Saved money or contributed to financial effectiveness
5%
More informed decision making
20%
Contributed to service development or delivery
14%
Facilitated collaborative working
9%
Contributed to personal/professional development
25%


Things crafty...
If you are missing the opportunity to poke around in craft workshops you might be interested in the Digital Craft Festival Nov 27- 29 with demonstrations, live events and activities for adults and children. Some events need booking and others are freely available. Also there links to crafters websites if you are looking for different present ideas. 
Note to self...must direct my family here!

Things to make... 
We ate this Simple Thai noodle soup during the week, very quick and easy and absolutely delicious. Though could really have done with Nigel Slater not listing 'a small jug' of vegetable stock...just use enough so you will end up with 2 good bowlfuls. Also I would do rice noodles just before you want them so save them from sticking together if left on oneside (they did separate with boiling water poured over them)!







Friday 13 November 2020

Things in the library 13th Nov...

 Things about child mental health... 

The proportion of children experiencing a probable mental disorder has increased over the past three years, from one in nine in 2017 to one in six in July this year.

The rate has risen in boys aged 5 to 16 from 11.4% in 2017 to 16.7% in July 2020 and in girls from 10.3% to 15.2% over the same time period, according to The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2020 report, published recently by NHS Digital, in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics, the National Centre for Social Research, the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter.

The likelihood of a probable mental disorder increases with age, with a noticeable difference in gender for the older age group (17 to 22 year olds); 27.2% of young women and 13.3% of young men in this age group were identified as having a probable mental disorder in 2020.

This report looks at the mental health of children and young people in England in July 2020, and how this has changed since 2017. Experiences of family life, education and services, and worries and anxieties during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are also examined. The findings draw on a sample of 3,570 children and young people aged between 5 to 22 years old, surveyed in both 2017 and July 2020

...and response 

Mental health support for children and young people must be accelerated and expanded to meet growing levels of need, Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sarah Hughes responding to findings from NHS Digital said:

 “The significant rise in mental ill-health amongst children and young people is both undeniable and extremely concerning. While the Government have pledged more support for children and young people in schools, it is all too clear that this support must be both sped up and scaled up, to meet growing levels of need.

The study shows clear links between family circumstances and children and young people’s mental health. Whilst greater support for children’s mental health services is necessary, a holistic approach is vital to promote good mental health from the earliest opportunity. We have long been calling for greater support for parents and investment in whole family approaches to child mental health.

The findings once again highlight the impact of poverty and inequality on children and young people’s mental health, with far higher rates of child mental health problems in households which were struggling to pay bills.

Attempting to increase support for young people without a cross-government approach to mental health will have limited success. Now more than ever, it is critical that government departments, the NHS and local systems come together to address mental health, not just through increased investment in individual support but by tackling the ingrained disadvantages which make some young people much more likely to face poor mental health.

Our Commission for Equality in Mental Health has been highlighting the impact of poverty and other inequalities on the mental health of children and adults and will be sharing its conclusions in November. Our learning from the Commission has emphasised the need to strengthen our understanding of these inequalities and to unravel the factors which put children at risk of poorer mental health and the ways they intersect, compound and multiply.

The survey also shows evidence of regional disparities in mental health problems among children, with prevalence rates ranging from 10% in London to 20.5% in the West Midlands. This requires further exploration but it is clear that more regional approaches to understanding need and investment may be needed.

Any support for young people which does not acknowledge the wider causes of distress and deprivation, such as poverty, poor housing and discrimination, will have limited value. Now, more than ever, it is vital that a cross-government approach is taken to ensure young people are given the best chance of a mentally healthy future."

 Things about obesity...

The latest annual figures on childhood obesity in England have been released by NHS Digital.

The National Child Measurement Programme, 2019-20 provides data on the heights and weights of children in Reception and Year 6 in England during the 2019-20 school year and provides data on the number of children who are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obese or severely obese. Breakdowns include gender, deprivation and ethnicity for both age groups.  

At a national level, analysis indicates that these figures are directly comparable to previous years, for all breakdowns.  However, at a local authority level, this is not possible for all cases.

This is because the collection period for schools to measure their children runs from September to August each year.  By 20 March 2020, schools had closed to many children in the UK, in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  Some local authorities were either in the process of weighing their children for the NCMP or had not yet started. 

This had a significant impact on the volume of data collected across the country.  At a national level, the data quality analyses indicate that the figures presented in this release are comparable to earlier years, and the population measured is reflective of previous years, though at a lower volume

Key Facts:

  • In Reception, obesity prevalence has increased 9.7% in 2018-19 to 9.9% in 2019-20
  • In Year 6, obesity prevalence has increased 20.2% in 2018-19 to 21.0% in 2019-20
  • Boys have a higher obesity prevalence than girls for both age groups In Reception, 10.1% of boys were obese compared to 9.7% of girls. In Year 6, 23.6% of boys were obese compared to 18.4% of girls
  • Children living in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be obese, than those living in the least deprived areas
  • 13.3% of Reception children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 6.0% of those living in the least deprived areas.
  • 27.5% of Year 6 children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 11.9% of those living in the least deprived areas
  •  Things about unhealthy food... 

    A new consultation has been launched by Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport on proposals to ban online adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt in the UK to tackle the obesity crisis and get the nation fit and healthy. 

    Research shows children are exposed to over 15 billion adverts for products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) online every year.

    Evidence shows that exposure to HFSS advertising can affect what children eat and when they eat, both in the short term by increasing the amount of food children eat immediately after being exposed to an advert, and by shaping longer-term food preferences from a young age.

    The new consultation, which will run for 6 weeks (closing at 11:59pm on 22 December 2020), will gather views from the public and industry stakeholders to understand the impact and challenges of introducing a total ban on the advertising of these products online, to help people live healthier lives and tackle childhood obesity. More information and you can respond online.

    Things to attend... 

    Journal Club
    When: Tuesday 17th  November 13:00 - 14:00pm
    Venue: Virtual & from the Education & Skills Centre
    Presenter: Praveena Mahadevan 
    Paper: Use of anti-reflux medications in infants under 1 year of age: a retrospective drug utilization study using national prescription reimbursement data

    Please email the library for a copy of the paper or if you would like a calendar invite.


    Things to make... 

    These Carrot and apricot breakfast bars can be kept in the fridge for a few days, ready to provide an instant healthy breakfast or snack. They’re packed with raw carrot, oats, dried apricots and seeds, and given plenty of fragrant flavour with orange and lemon zest and a little cardamom.




    Friday 6 November 2020

    Things in the library 6 Nov...

     Things still open... 

    The Illingworth Library will be remaining open during 'Lockdown 2'. The opening hours are 8:45 - 17:00 Mon - Friday but most of our services are available remotely, so there is no need to come into the library if you do not wish to do so. 

    We will be issuing books as normal during this time and so will be continuing to charge fines.

    If your book is due for return and you are not able to (or do not wish to) do so in person then please renew it to avoid charges. You can renew books by logging in to your library account online http://illingworth.cirqahosting.com/ or by using the library app, by phone or by email.

    If you do visit the library please only do so if you are well. You must wear a mask , observe social distancing and use the hand sanitisers and wipes provided for you.

    Things to celebrate...

    The winner of our library catalogue treasure hunt was Louisa Wallbridge and Tom Mann won a prize for recommending someone new to take part in the Randomised Coffee Trial, both these events were part of our library 70th birthday celebrations. Well done both of you!






    Things to read and plan... 
    Our next Virtual Reading Group meeting is 2nd Dec where we will be discussing The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier and choosing books to read next year.  It is our Christmas party so members may dress in festive garb, have hats, mince pies and mulled wine…or just turn up online completely normal if  they wish! The meeting will start at 18:30 but may last longer than normal. Contact the library if you wish to be added to the mailing list.
    The Silver Sword is taken from accounts of actual events, the silver sword became the symbol of hope and courage which kept four deserted and starving children alive through the years of occupation in Warsaw, and afterwards on the search to find their parents.


    Things about society...  
    A free, online festival showcases the University of Sheffield’s world-leading social science researchers and their work on tackling some of the greatest problems facing society today.

    Join them from 7-15 November for a series of talks, debates, films, podcasts and interactive exhibitions. This is part of the national ESRC Festival of Social Science. Details of events and exhibitions can be found on these links.

    Things about disadvantge during Covid-19...
    Oxford Brookes University has published a study looking at family life and early child development in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. Findings, based on the experiences of over 500 parents of under-3-year-olds, include: 90% of families reported an increase in enriching activities (like talking, reading and playing together) during lockdown; however, during, but not before, lockdown socio-economically disadvantaged parents were less likely to engage in enriching activities with their children. 
    They recommend that

    • Children from disadvantaged families should be given extra support to promote their early development
    • Communal outdoor spaces and libraries should be closed only as a last resort in lockdowns

    Things about child growth... 
    In the news today a study which aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. If you want to read more than the news headlines then the full article is available. their interpretation of results is that the height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks. Some very colourful infographics!

    Things to make... 
    No big bonfire parties this year for us sadly though we will still be setting off a few fireworks tomorrow and eating some festive fare. Probably we will be streaming the event to our son in the Netherlands, to whom I had to post an emergency pack of stuffing this week so that he can also make our famous pork sandwiches! Given my store of apples I might have a go at these homemade toffee apples







     

    Friday 30 October 2020

    Things in the library 30 Oct...

     Things in the library not so much... 

    Now we are in Tier 3 restrictions the library staff are taking it in turns to work in the library so there is only ever one of us physically in the library, the others will be working at home. So if you come into the libray there may be a short delay if we are dealing with another customer or taking a phone enquiry. The library remains open Mon-Fri 8:45 to 17:00, please adhere to our social distancing and safety guidelines.

    Things to attend...

    'Ella Minnow Pea' is the book being discussed this week at Reading Group. Please contact the library if you would like the Teams link for this meeting on Wed 4th Nov at 18:30 till 19:30. 

    Journal Club on Thu 5th Nov at 8:00 till 9:00 the paper being presented is 'The addition of fluoxetine to cognitive behavioural therapy for youth depression (YoDA-C): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial'. Please contact the library if you need a copy of the paper. This is the link for joining in virtually.


    Things about health care... 

    The Care Quaity Commission recently published 'The state of health care and adult social care in England 2019/20'. The report looks at the trends, shares examples of good and outstanding care, and highlights where care needs to improve.In their summary they say: 

    Over the summer, CQC reviewed the way health, social care and other local services worked together in 11 parts of the country. There were differences in the way they responded to the pandemic, but there is evidence that the places with established working relationships and an understanding of need in their local area were better able to care for their local population in a time of crisis. 

    The reviews have brought into focus the learning that needs to be used to help plan for a longer-term response to the virus. It is essential that the right support is available for all parts of a local health and social care system to drive improvements where they are needed, and to involve voluntary and community organisations in promoting health and wellbeing.

    In social care, COVID not only exposed but exacerbated existing problems.The sector, already fragile, faced significant challenges around timely access to PPE, testing and staffing – and coordinated support was less readily available than it was for the NHS.

    Things about health inequalities... 

    RCPCH has joined a new campaigning coalition; the Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA). The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA) is calling for the Government to: 

    1. Introduce a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities.

    2. Government to commence use of the socio-economic duty, section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, which would ensure vulnerable people be considered in every policy decision they make

    3. Adopt a ‘child health in all policies’ approach to policy-making 

    The RCPCH say

    The evidence consistently shows that poverty and inequality impact a child’s whole life, affecting their education, housing and social environment and in turn impacting their health outcomes. Our State of Child Health indicators reveal a widening gap between the health of children from wealthy and deprived backgrounds. We are pleased that one of our key calls to Government – that they should adopt a ‘child health in all policies’ approach to decision-making and policy development is being echoed by the alliance. This would limit the unintended bad consequences of cross-government policies on child health. 

    Things about sleep... 

    Research from the Mental Health Foundation on Taking Sleep Seriously: Sleep and our Mental Health has been published. Their review of the existing research, alongside new polling, highlights the important role sleep plays in the context of:


    Mental health problems: Sleep problems can be both a symptom of, and a contributor to, mental health problems. Treatment for sleep problems can help improve mental health. There is some evidence that treating sleep problems may help reduce depression symptoms in the general population, suggesting it may be an avenue for preventative mental health care.

    Family: Parents (particularly mothers) of young children experience significant changes to the quality and quantity of their sleep which can affect parental mental health and contribute to stress in families. Bedtime routines can help to build good sleep habits in children from an early age.

    School: Adolescents’ routines, including school schedules, may affect the amount of sleep they get, which has implications for their mental health. School-based sleep education programmes can be used to increase student knowledge about the importance of sleep and how to develop healthy sleep habits.

    Workplaces: The characteristics of a workplace affect our sleep and our mental health. In our survey, 37% of working adults reported that their work (for example, workload, problems with colleagues and worries about job security) reduces the amount of control they feel they have over their sleep. Employers should ensure they support good sleep and good mental health at work by promoting a choice of shift, offering healthy sleep programmes to staff, promoting a good work-life balance and consulting experts and worker representatives to develop flexible work schedules.

    Social inequalities: There are inequalities in the quality and quantity of our sleep linked to our environment, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, financial stability, and experiences of trauma. In our survey, a quarter (25%) of UK adults reported that worrying about money matters, including bills, negatively affected their sleep in the past month. Of those who were unemployed, more than a quarter (27%) reported experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings due to a lack of sleep.

    Things to make...

    The disability equality charity Scope have a recipe for sleepy flapjacks -  which might be just the thing to make at the end of a very wet half-term holiday! I notice in their method they don't say when to add the banana but my guess is you just mash it in with everything else!  

    150 grams of oats

    150 grams of peanut butter

    100 grams of honey

    1 or 2 ripe bananas mashed

    1. Melt peanut butter, mix in oats and honey ...and bananas

    2. Spread onto a greased baking tin.

    3. Cook for 20 minutes at 175 or gas mark 5.

    Cut into squares before it cools completely.


    Friday 23 October 2020

    Things in the library 23 Oct...

     Things to do... 

    Don't forget to take part in our Catalogue Treasure Hunt and the chance to win a £30 gift voucher.

    Don't forget to sign-up to take part in our November Randomised Coffee Trial - Ruth Brown (Deputy Chief Executive, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust) tweeted about them this week 

    "works really well and great way to meet up with new people". 

    Sixty people signed up so far - and if you recruit new participants you might win a prize!

    Working at home things ... 

    If you are working at home as we go into Tier 3 remember we can still support you and provide services for you. We can do literature searches, train you virtually, you can join in our reading group, we can supply your articles and we can help you meet up with new people in the trust (see RCT above). Just contact us via our email address illingworth.library@nhs.net or via our Book a Librarian form. 

    If someone in your family is having to work from home due to COVID-19 it is worth checking out if they are eligible for tax-relief for job expenses.

    Things about Paediatricians of the Future... 

    The RCPCH launched their 'Paediatrician of the Future' document this week, setting out their vision for the future of paediatric training across the UK. Healthcare is changing, and this has been incredibly evident over the last few months. But while COVID-19 has forced innovations at a rapid pace, they were already aware that the paediatrician of the future would face different challenges to those of consultants today.

    The Paediatrician of the Future: Delivering really good training, is their guide to the principles for postgraduate paediatric training and how to apply them within local training programmes. This document, written in collaboration with consultants and trainees across the four nations, sets out the College’s vision for the future of training and will form part of the submission to the General Medical Council (GMC) in early 2021.

    Their vision for paediatric training explores a more holistic approach to child health, with mental and physical health seen as one alongside an increased focus on prevention and equity. For trainees, there will also be more flexibility with opportunities for out of programme study and an encouragement for trainees to find learning opportunities at every stage.

    Things about safeguarding... 

    An article in the most recent issue of  Paediatrics and Child Health discusses the topic of  the difficult subject of honour-based violence. Honour-based violence is fundamentally different to domestic violence or other forms of violence against women. Honour-based crimes are violent crimes or other forms of abuse that are carried out in order to protect the so-called ‘honour’ of a family or community. The code of ‘honour’ to which it refers is set by the male relatives of a family, and women who break the rules of the code are punished for bringing shame upon the family. Violence against women and girls includes domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, forced prostitution, child abuse and pornography. It also includes honour-based violence and forced marriage that go hand in hand. Honour-based killings are seen as the most extreme form of honour-based violence, however the degree of abuse and violence that women may be subjected to even without or before being killed can be extreme.

    Things about food banks...

    There are many more finding this time very difficult in Sheffield, a situaltion which is only likely to get worse. There is a network of foodbanks in Sheffield and if you want to help out with donations or practical help they are listed here.

    Things to read... 

    Our reading group has continued to meet every month this year - switching (almost) seamlessly to a virtual group. If you would like to be informed of the link each month then please contact the library ans ask us to put you in the mailing list. Our next meeting is on Wed 4th November and our current book is Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn and our December meeting is Silver Sword (a children's classic) by Ian Serraillier.


    Things cheap and nutritious...

    Switch your normal jacket potato to a sweet potato and choose a filling such as tuna for a cheap quick and healthy meal.