Things in the Library - June

 Things changing a bit...

From now on the blog will be published once a month, on the last Friday of each month, giving you a bumper blog full of things we think you might want to know.

Things about NHS libraries...

13th-17th June is NHS Library & Knowledge Services Awareness Week. We think we're pretty great of course, and we hope that if we have helped you to find evidence, to organise your emails, to find an article that you just can't find anywhere, to reference that weird document, or to find that blue and white book that you saw last year but can't remember what it's called or who it's by - that maybe you think we're great too!

Things about health inequalities...

The Health Foundation and the Association for Young People's Health have mapped the inequalities experienced by young people from different groups. People aged 10-25 in the poorest areas of the UK will die earlier than their peers in the least deprived areas, and will live 18 more years with ill health. Rachael McKeown says:

"Young people growing up in deprived areas are less likely to have access to resources and support that allow them to live healthy lives. They are more likely to live in overcrowded housing, with limited access to the space and tools needed to exercise, learn and look after their health. Because they may experience transitions in all of these areas during their teens, adolescence is a defining period for young people’s health. Inequalities between individuals and groups can become established and embedded at this time."

Things about health visiting...

The NSPCC has published a news story looking at health visiting services in England and calling on the government to ensure all families receive the five face-to-face health visits they’re entitled to. Findings from analysis of Public Health England data include: in 2021, 19% of babies didn’t receive their 12-month health visitor review by the time they were 15-months-old. 25 organisations, including the NSPCC, have written to the government in an open letter calling for the rebuilding of the health visiting service and highlighting the importance of checks in identifying and supporting new parents experiencing or at risk of mental health problems.  

 Things about nurses...

The BBC has reported that nearly half of the new nurses and midwives registered to work in the UK in the past year have come from abroad. More than 23,000 nurses and midwives have been recruited from abroad, a record high, with most coming from India and the Philippines. It is hoped that the number of new nurses in the UK will keep increasing - the overall number of nurses currently in training has started to rise after the reintroduction of some funding support for student nurses in England in 2020, three years after bursaries were scrapped.

Things to make...

I have some béchamel sauce to use up this weekend, so being from Teesside OF COURSE I have to make myself a parmo. Most of the time I eat vegetarian but the parmo is one thing I make an exception for because heritage is important. This recipe is from North East Recipes, though I have to take exception to a parmo being listed under 'Geordie recipes'! It looks horrible, it's about as unhealthy as you can get, but it tastes just like heaven (or, 2am in a kebab shop in Middlesbrough).

Things in the Library 20th May

Things about SIDS...

There has been a lot of news this week about a research paper by Harrington et al, Butyrylcholinesterase is a potential biomarker for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It was a small study in Australia which found  lower levels of an enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase, which helps control the autonomic nervous system, in babies who went on to die from SIDS than babies who went on to be healthy or die from other causes. The study has been reported on widely, and The Atlantic have published an article called How a SIDS Study Became a Media Train Wreck pointing to a lack of rigour in the scientific reporting. Regardless of any sensationalist reporting, it is a very interesting research study which could go on to have a big impact. 

Things about eating disorders...

The Nuffield Trust has been exploring the waiting times for children & young people with eating disorders seeking treatment in England. The number of children waiting for urgent treatment is at a record high due to the pandemic - from Q1 2020/22 to Q3 2021/22,  waiting lists more than trebled for routine treatment and were more than two times higher for urgent treatment. They say:

 "The increase in referrals during the Covid-19 pandemic may indicate a worsening of children and young people’s mental health. Additionally, many risk factors for eating disorders have been exacerbated during the pandemic, such as social isolation, loss of routine, and difficulties accessing face-to-face clinical appointments."

Things for neurodiverse nurses...

The Royal College of Nursing has released some new guidance providing support to nursing staff and students who are neurodiverse. The publications include information on how to shape a more inclusive workplace, gain equal access to training and professional development, as well as advice on recruitment processes, job applications and reasonable adjustments.

Things about allergies...

The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15 year old who died from an allergic reaction to a baguette which wasn't labelled with allergens, have set up a clinical trial on oral immunotherapy. The trial will see whether commonly available food products, such as milk and peanuts, can be used under medical supervision to treat those with food allergies, and will be led by the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Things about physical activity...

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has published research which shows that the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns led to an around 13% decrease in the amount of exercise being done by children. Perhaps most interestingly, activity levels did not return to higher levels after lockdowns and have remained lower. The study also revealed an increase in time sedentary time. The UK Chief Medical Officers  recommend all children and young people should take part in an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. This is an activity that gets children slightly hot, slightly sweaty, and out of breath. The Chief Medical Officers also advise children should limit the amount of time they spend being sedentary.  

Things to do...

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, Weston Park May Fayre is happening on Sunday 22nd May, between 11am and 5pm. There will be children's rides, a craft marquee, board games, Stormtroopers, food, drinks, and some amazing sideshow and street entertainment  including Dr Phantasma's Sideshow, Professor Jon’s Flea Circus Show, and the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band.

Things to make...

This ginger and lime cheesecake recipe is for individual puds, but can easily be scaled up to make a big one. Perfectly light, perfectly creamy, perfect.

Things in the Library 13th May

Things about mental health...

This week is World Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme is loneliness. The connection goes both ways - poor mental health leads to loneliness and loneliness leads to poor mental health. It can mean the world to check in on a friend or colleague if you suspect they may be feeling lonely. Mental Health UK have created a Connect for Mental Health Board to encourage building meaningful connections with friends, acquaintances, family or colleagues for this week and beyond.

The Health Foundation have published a blog discussing contextual factors in young people's mental health. How increasing cost of living, missing school due to Covid 19, and having unemployed parents can have great impact on the mental health of children and young people, who may feel like they don't want to add a further burden to their families by being open about their struggles. 

    "Focusing on the NHS side of young people’s mental health tells only part of the story. Mental health     problems do not come into existence only at the point of referral to NHS services. The young people     behind these statistics are part of wider society, workers or in education, and part of families, often        families under strain."

Things about DynaMed...

Last week library staff had a training session on how to use DynaMed, which is a point of care tool that we have recently subscribed to. We were really impressed with how simple it is to use, and the depth of information provided. You can subscribe to alerts in your speciality, use the calculators, and search for drug interactions. Each topic has a succinct overview plus detailed information on diagnosis, management, complications, prevention and guidelines. You can easily log in with Open Athens. Let us know if you'd like to be shown how to use DynaMed!

Things to read...

You still have time to read this month's reading group book, The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. It's an absolute classic about an African American girl growing up in the South in the early 1900s, and there is certainly lots to discuss. It's still available to borrow from the library, as is the rest of our leisure reading collection.

Things about paediatric sepsis...

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are running a one-day course on how to manage paediatric sepsis. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the early signs of sepsis 
• Appraise parents’ assessment of their children
• Explain which is the most appropriate antibiotic to choose 
• Discuss current issues in fluid resuscitation 
• Estimate which inotrope to use, when and how much
• Compare differences in children with complex health conditions
• Differentiate between orders of immunodeficiency 
• Analyse appropriate management strategies in these cases. 
• Practise and assess your knowledge and skills through sepsis simulation scenarios.

Things about strength training...

The New Scientist has reported that only one in twenty adults in England are exercising their muscles enough. Strength exercises such as lifting weights and body weight exercises are really important for improving strength in muscles, which can help mobility as you age. The UK’s weekly health guidelines, which recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity a week – including two bouts of strength training.

Things about child safety...

NSPCC Learning has published a report as part of the Together for Childhood project which aims to make local communities safer for children by helping local partners and families come together to prevent child abuse. The report discusses the evaluation approaches used to look at the effectiveness of Together for Childhood. For the Transformative Evaluation, 37 stories from community members and partners about the biggest changes they have experienced during their involvement with Together for Childhood, were collected. A selection of these stories have been shared in the report which reveals changes such as improved knowledge and awareness around preventing abuse. The report finds that the variety of changes cited in the stories demonstrates the added value of joining up different services, professionals and communities.

Things to make...

This week I'll be making one of my favourite spring recipes, baked ricotta with asparagus and jersey royals (though I have to admit I cut back on the salt in this recipe!). Love a jersey royal!

Things in the library 6th May

CAMHS National Summit 2022...

This national conference focuses on transforming mental health services for children and young people, ensuring early intervention, and developing integrated services with clear care pathways from first intervention to crisis and inpatient care. The conference will also look at national developments and learning from the Covid-19 pandemic and how CAMHS has had to adapt and innovate to provide effective care. The conference will address suicide prevention and learning from suicide and also safeguarding and CAMHS. 

Things about eye tests...

A life-saving test that allows doctors to spot a rare form of eye cancer in babies in the womb is being rolled out by the NHS in England this week. Now, thanks to a new NHS test developed at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, babies identified as being at risk of developing retinoblastoma can be monitored and treated sooner – increasing the chance of saving their eyesight and potentially their lives. Symptoms of retinoblastoma are hard to detect and a diagnosis can normally only be made once the tumour has progressed and the eye can’t be saved. The new non-invasive test can detect changes in the genes in DNA and is likely to identify around 50 infants with retinoblastoma each year, in the latest example of the NHS harnessing the power of genomics to diagnose and treat patients faster and more effectively.

Things about language... 

In their article in the BMJ, Caitríona Cox and Zoë Fritz argue that outdated medical language that casts doubt, belittles, or blames patients jeopardises the therapeutic relationship and is overdue for change. According to Fritz "we need to change the language we use so that we don’t (unintentionally!) undermine the therapeutic relationship. We (doctors) are taught phrases like ‘presenting complaint’ and use them unthinkingly. But the patient isn’t complaining- they are telling us about their symptoms."

Things about the Heath and Care Act...

The Health and Care Bill was passed into law in England on 28 April 2022. The new Act establishes 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which will replace Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across England from 01 July 2022. Under the new Act ICBs will have to report annually on how well they are delivering their duty to safeguard children and young people. 

Things about Ofsted...

Ofsted has released a five-year strategy detailing its goals to raise standards in education and children’s social care. The strategy sets out the introduction of a more risk-based and proportionate approach to regulation and inspection to help keep children safer. The report highlights a number of areas of concern, including: online harm, the prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment and unregistered settings where children may be cared for in unsafe environments. Ofsted aim to inform safeguarding practices through the measures outlined in the strategy, and identify systemic safeguarding issues.  

Things about food and gaming apps...

How children use meal-delivery apps and the rising popularity of online gaming could be driving obesity across Europe, the World Health Organization has said. Europe's highly digitalised food environments affect what, when and how people eat and should be monitored more closely, the report says. Meal-delivery apps, for example, play a significant role in increasing consumption of high-fat and high-sugar food and drinks. Online gaming, which is hugely popular among children, has also been linked to poorer diet, unhealthy behaviour and more time sitting rather than being active. The report also points out that "obesity is "a complex disease" and much more than the combination of an unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity".

 Things to make...

I love spring - everything about it. The blossom, the light jacket weather, and the fact that it makes me want to eat green things. This spring veg and lemon broth is a lovely light meal, perfect for this time of year  I sometimes add some chilli flakes for an extra bit of delight.