Things in the library 26 Feb...

 Things to join...

I don't know where February has gone but already it is nearly time for the next Reading Group meeting. This month we are discussing Ben Elton's 'High Society' about the pervasive nature of illegal drugs within society. If you want to join us please contact the library for the link - we meet online on the first Wednesday of every month at 18:30 for about 1 hour.  Our next book will be 'Once upon a River' by Diane Setterfield. 

Things about digital technology... 

Digital technology can support the NHS to deliver high quality specialist care more efficiently. To achieve these digital advances, the right environment for innovation, education and collaboration needs to exist. On the 24 March there is an event as part of National Health Executive's NHE365 Festival  'Achieving Digital Efficiency' - a topic in which has been a top priority during the global pandemic.

Things online...

As well as Reading Group going online we have developed more of our training to be available in this way and this could be something we continue even after the pandemic. It is useful for people based away from the Acute site of the hospital and hopefully will also reduce the number of people not turning up for booked training.

We now run our popular Critical Appraisal Course online. Please email the library if you would like to participate. There needs to be a commitment from participants to engage with all three elements of the course.

Virtual Critical Appraisal Course (SCH employees only)

The course is in 3 parts and all 3 must be completed, a certificate is awarded on completion

Part 1 Course slides and workbook

Part 2 Article appraisal

Part 3 Microsoft teams meeting to discuss workbook answers and article appraisal

Things about Girls... 

For over a decade, Girlguiding’s research has captured girls’ and young women’s lives, highlighting their views, experiences, and the challenges they face. From gender stereotypes to body image concerns, girls and young women continue to face unequal pressures and barriers to living confident and full lives. Now, as well as these, they are confronting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has radically changed their lives and opportunities and shaped their perspectives. Through this recent publication 'Back in lockdown: Girls’ and young women’s hopes and fears for the future', girls’ and young women’s voices reveal how they’re coping with the profound changes that have occurred in their lives over the past year. They tell us about the things they’re finding hard, what they’re concerned about and their hopes for the future. This research builds on the Girlguiding's previous survey with girls and young women in May 2020. 

Things about SEN... 

This House of Commons Library briefing sets out the system of support for children and young people in England aged 0-25 with special educational needs (SEN). The briefing provides an overview of the new system introduced in 2014, the transitional arrangements, and how the new system differs from that which preceded it. It also includes a brief history of the movement towards reform that preceded the 2014 changes, and information on the impact of the new system available to date.

Things about carbs and fats... 

A recent study in Nature Medicine was highlighted recently by NIH Research Matters.  The amount and types of food available to the average person have changed over time. These changes are believed to contribute to the rise in obesity by promoting increased calorie intake. Excess weight can cause various health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 

There has been a great deal of debate over what aspects of our food have promoted obesity. High carbohydrates are believed to result in large swings in your body’s insulin levels, which may cause increased hunger and calorie consumption. High-fat foods may promote increased calorie consumption because they contain more calories per bite and can leave you feeling less full. 

In the research when on the low-fat diet, the participants ate 550 to 700 fewer calories per day than when on the low-carb diet. Despite the large differences in calorie intake, they reported no differences in hunger, enjoyment of meals, or fullness between the two diets.

People lost weight on both diets, but only the low-fat diet led to a significant loss of body fat. The low-fat diet resulted in higher blood glucose and insulin levels compared with the low-carb diet. This is a concern because variable glucose levels can be a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

“Interestingly, our findings suggest benefits to both diets, at least in the short-term. While the low-fat, plant-based diet helps curb appetite, the animal-based, low-carb diet resulted in lower and more steady insulin and glucose levels,” Hall says. “We don’t yet know if these differences would be sustained over the long term.”

The researchers note that the study was not designed to make diet recommendations for weight loss. Results may have been different if the participants were actively trying to lose weight. Further, results may be different outside the lab, in which all meals were prepared and provided in a tightly controlled clinical environment. Factors such as food costs, food availability, and meal preparation constraints can make adherence to diets challenging.

Things about digital resilience... 

NSPCC Learning has released a podcast looking at the NSPCC's InCtrl service, designed to prevent technology-assisted child sexual abuse by supporting children and young people to build digital resilience. The podcast discusses: concerns that lead to children being referred to InCtrl; how practitioners work with young people on their online behaviour; the importance of involving parents and carers; and how children and young people’s views have been incorporated into the development and implementation of the service. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript : Building children and young people’s digital resilience

Things to make...

A beautiful spring-like day today but still cold. So a perfect meal would be this vibrant  Green pesto minestrone which is really easy to make.

Things in the library 2 Oct ...

 Treasure now available... 

We are so sorry to anyone who tried to take part in our Treasure Hunt and found they could not access the quiz (and huge thanks to the person who informed us of the problem this week). As a result we have extended the quiz deadline till 30th October this is the link and it's well worth competing as the prize is a £30 book token donated by Blackwells which can be used in store or online.

Things coming soon...

Our popular Randomised Coffee Trial will be running in November, details coming soon. If you have not taken part in one of these before do consider doing so as it is a great way to meet and chat to other opeople in the trust who you might normally never meet. You will be given a link to sign up then we will randomly match you to someone else...you then arrange to meet either on site or via Microsoft teams for a 30 minute chat about anything you like. Particularly at the moment it is a good way to 'bump' in to someone and have a conversation.

Things to attend...

Our next online reading group is on Wed 7th October at the new time of 18:30 till 19:30. Our book is 'Versions of Us'. If you like chatting about books do come and join us - you have to provide your own drinks and nibbles now we are not meeting in the library. if you are interested email the library to ask to be put on the mailing list.

More things to attend... 

Thursday Journal Club is re-starting- sadly without the home-made muffins - email the library if you cannot access a copy of the paper or if you require access details

• When: Thursday 8 October 8:00 am - 9:00 am
• Venue: Virtual & from the Lecture Theatre
• Presenter: Sahawash Jamali
• Paper: COVID-19 in children: analysis of the first pandemic peak in England

Things about sport... 

The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit’s (CPSU) annual campaign to raise awareness of the importance of parents' involvement in youth sport takes place in the week 5-11 October 2020. The theme is ‘Let’s talk about keeping children safe in sport’. During the week the CPSU will be sharing guidance on the types of things sports clubs should have in place to keep children safe and how parents can get help with any concerns they might have.

Things about disability...

Temporary Coronavirus Act provisions debated in the House of Commons on Weds 30 September could substantially restrict or curtail important, hard-won rights that disabled people rely on for their quality of life, says a new report by the Women and Equalities Committee. The Committee insists that they must not become new norms, setting back disabled people’s rights by many years. Read the Report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus, disability and access to services: interim  Report on temporary provisions in the Coronavirus Act  There are implications for Education, Health and Care Plan duties to young people with SEND.

Things about self-harm... 

In September 2020, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention launched their report on the inquiry into support available for young people who self-harm. This inquiry was carried out by a panel of parliamentarians on behalf of the APPG on Suicide and Self-Harm, with support provided by Samaritans.

Things about childhood... 

The Children's Commissioner has published a report into Childhood in the time of Covid. Children have fewer health risks from Covid-19 and yet they have suffered disproportionately from the nation’s efforts to contain the virus. This report aims to set out, in one place, the key ways in which children’s lives have been impacted as a result of the Covid-19 crisis – the nation’s biggest test since the Second World War. In doing so, it provides a roadmap for what must be done to enable children to recover from their experiences, and how their needs must be put first in the event of further lockdowns.

Things to make... 

Instead of a pasta bake why not use gnocchi for a change - you can probably substitute them for pasta in any recipe or try this easy vegitarian recipe for Gnocchi & tomato bake

Things in the library 1st Nov...

Things about English Language skills...
Every Monday morning during term-time we have a tutor in the library from Sheffield College helping with basic skills in English & Maths. However the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) at University of Sheffield is looking for volunteers to join classes so that trainee teachers can practise their teaching. These Free English classes are not part of a course and you don't have to work or study at the University to attend. If you wish to join these classes, you will do so as a volunteer not a student. The classes are a great way of learning English in a relaxed environment and volunteers in the past have really enjoyed and benefitted from them. To join their English classes you must:

• Be over 18 years old.
• Live in the UK and be able to attend face-to-face classes at the ELTC.
• Be able to attend at least 80 per cent of the classes.

If you are interested in attending, please look on their website for times and days, and complete a simple application form.

Things about mental health support...
All NHS doctors and dentists in England now have 24/7 access to confidential advice and support through NHS Practitioner Health. More than 180,000 doctors and dentists can get confidential advice and support, in person or over the phone, if they’ve faced a stressful incident at work or feel they are struggling with their mental health. Staff can access support 24/7 through a dedicated phoneline (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.) and a crisis text service available through the night. The service is currently staffed by 200 experts whose training is tailored to understand the specific circumstances of clinical life.
Feedback from those who piloted the service has been very positive:

88% said the service had a positive impact on their wellbeing
85% said it had a positive impact on their ability to work or train
Text NHSPH to 85258 for the out-of-hours crisis text service or call 0300 0303 300

Things about teenagers...
Research in Practice has shared a webinar highlighting key messages from research around keeping teenagers safe and the role that parents can play in this.

Things about children in care...
Children in the care system are not getting their legal right to an essential ‘buddy’ as more than two thirds of local authorities admit leaving them on waiting lists, Barnardo’s reveals. A Freedom of Information Request (FOI) by the charity found that 1,202 vulnerable children were waiting to be matched with an Independent Visitor to support them, which is a  20 per cent increase since 2015.
The FOI was submitted to 152 local authorities in England, all of whom responded. It found that ten local authorities stated that they do not provide an Independent Visitor service despite the Children Act 1989 placing a statutory duty on them to do so.
The FOI was carried out in collaboration with the National Independent Visitor Network, NIVN, which is hosted by Barnardo’s. The NIVN believes that local authority funding cuts have hampered their ability to recruit volunteers and match them with children. Finding volunteers from BAME groups to match children who want to befriend someone from their own cultural background has also proved challenging.
There are currently around 75,400 children in care in England yet only 2,653 (3.5 per cent) of them have been provided with an Independent Visitor. Independent Visitors are volunteers who are separate from social care services. They offer emotional support, a trusting and stable friendship and enable the child to have fun and share in recreational activities.

Things about SEND...
The House of Commons Education Committee has published a report on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) following an 18-month inquiry into Government reforms aimed at placing children and young people at the heart of the SEND system. Recommendations include: a more rigorous inspection framework for local authorities, with a greater focus on SEND in school inspections; a direct line for parents and schools to appeal directly to the Department for Education where local authorities appear not to be complying with the law; powers for the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to investigate complaints about schools; and the development of more employment and training opportunities for post-16 young people.

Things in abundance...
Abundance is a volunteer based organisation in Sheffield that rescues, shares, cooks, and processes fruit which may otherwise go to waste from right across Sheffield. Most of the trees we pick are in private gardens, where they leave 10% of fruit for wildlife. If they pick a public fruit tree we leave at least a third of the fruit unpicked so it is available to the community. Tree owners have the first share, then they donate the fruit they don’t want, volunteers have some and they share the best fruit with the community (e.g. food banks, lunch clubs, support centres). The rest they cook, preserve or juice together in the community. Everyone who joins a preservation workshop gets the recipe and a jar of chutney to take home. Their next event is Broomhall Apple harvest if you want to get involved.

Things about RCTs...
The latest Randomised Coffee Trial (other drinks available) has just finished in SCH so I will be sending out the feedback forms next week - please let us know how it went. The next one will probably be in February.

Things to read...
Reading group next Wednesday 17:15  - do feel free to join us we are a friendly bunch - we will be talking about The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and at our 4th of December meeting  we will be choosing our reading for next year.

Things in advance...
We will be closed during the day on Wed 13th November for staff training and planning - however will be open in the evening as normal until 19:00pm.

Things to make...
Has to be apples...no apologies two weeks running...last weeks tarte tatin was delicious! This baked apple recipe is a standard 'go to' dessert in our house as it is so quick and easy...I even manage it without a grown-up to help!

Things in the library 20th Sept...

Things about obesity...

The Royal Society for Public Health has published Routing out childhood obesity.  This report outlines recommendations for transforming the street environment, particularly around schools, with the ambition that all children should have access to a healthy route home

Things about breastfeeding...

A significant increase in composite and non-verbal IQ at 5-years of age was associated with short-term breastfeeding. This study in Acta Paediatrica adds to a growing body of evidence that short-term breastfeeding promotes healthy cognitive development.

A new review on SEND...

The review aims to improve the services available to families who need support for children with additional needs, equip staff in schools and colleges to respond effectively to their needs as well as ending the ‘postcode lottery’ they often face. It will conclude with action to boost outcomes and improve value for money, so that vulnerable children have the same opportunities to succeed, as well as improving capacity and support for families across England.

Things for Early Years...
Save the Children has published its Early Learning Communities Toolkit aimed at improving early learning for children growing up in poverty in communities across the UK. The charity’s mission for its UK work is to secure a sustainable reduction in the number of children growing up in poverty, and to narrow the early learning gap between children growing up in poverty in their better-off peers.

Things about autism...

A campaign 'Not Enough' has been launched by national Austistic Society based on the findings of an inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA) and the National Autistic Society into the impact of the Autism Act, 10 years after its introduction. A survey of around 11,000 autistic adults and their families in England and evidence sessions in Parliament found that there is simply not enough care, support and understanding in our society for autistic people. This is having devastating consequences for autistic people: widespread isolation, mental health problems and people falling into crisis.

Things from the Children's Commissioner...

The Children’s Commissioner has published A manifesto for children.  The manifesto calls on Britain’s political parties to include a six-point plan in their election manifestos to transform the life chances for disadvantaged children and to help children to thrive. The key themes are: supporting stronger families, providing decent places for children to live, helping children to have healthy minds, keeping children active, providing SEND support for those who need it, and creating safer streets and play areas.

Things fresh and fruity...
It's great to see the fresh fruit and veg stall in front of the Royal hallamshire Hospital is continuing the thrive. It is open 8am to 4pm Monday - Friday and I find it very useful as I walk past in the morning. Hoping it might come to SCH soon too! Also the flower planters have been growing 'Pick your own' herbs all summer...though people are still putting their cigarette butts out in them 😖 but a great initiative - well done STH.

Things about mental health...
The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership has published Mental healthcare in young people and young adults.  This review looks in detail at the mental healthcare provided to young people from the unique perspective of the overlap between physical and mental healthcare, the quality of physical and mental healthcare provided and how patients with mental health conditions use healthcare services.  The aim of this study was to identify areas of care that can be improved for all patients aged between 11 and 25 years.

Things autumn fruity...

(C) National Trust

So this weekend should be great to get out and pick some blackberries...or you can buy them if you prefer a less thorny occupation! This is what I shall be making this weekend - Blackberry and Apple Crumble.

Things in the library 26th July...

Things too hot...
We were no doubt not alone in being rather too hot yesterday...28 degrees most of the day...we do alternate between closing windows and blinds and opening the fire door to try our best to get some airflow but unfortunately we also have to contend with pigeons flying in and perching on the bound copies of The Lancet! Did you know that the Lancet was so named, when it was founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley an English surgeon, not only after the surgical instrument called a lancet but as also after the architectural term "lancet arch", a window with a sharp pointed arch, to indicate the "light of wisdom" or "to let in light". No pigeon brains here!

Things to attend...

Journal Club will be meeting on F Floor of Stephenson Wing next Tuesday 13:00 - 14:00. the paper being discussed is 'Paediatric dosing errors before and after electronic prescribing' and a supplementary paper 'Electronic Prescribing Reduced Prescribing Errors in a Pediatric Renal Outpatient Clinic'. Journal Club is open to all health professionals and is a fun, informal way of learning to criticise 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. Muffins and drinks provided.

Things launched...

The CCG and local authority in Sheffield have launched their Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-24 committing to reducing and eliminating health inequalities in the city.
The CCG has also published its improvement plan setting out its ambitions for long-term improvement for staff and local people.

Things about obesity...
A guide and set of resources to support local authorities with implementing a whole systems approach to address obesity and promote a healthy weight has been published by Public Health England. A growing body of evidence, including from the Government Office for Science’s Foresight Tackling Obesities Future Choices – Project Report, suggests that whole systems approaches could help tackle complex problems like obesity. Systems science is an established academic field with a considerable body of literature and guidance available on systems theory, leadership, and techniques.  It is designed to support local authorities and their local systems partners, including the NHS, local businesses, communities and the voluntary sector.

Things about children with SEND...

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) has produced a report on integrating services. Children and young people with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) and their families have a consistent request: that they are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes through access to the right services at the right time. For this to happen, they need the people who commission and deliver services to coordinate their work so that their care can be ‘joined up’ and personalised according to their needs and aspirations.  CDC have produced this report 'It takes leaders to break down siloes' [sic] to drive change in the design and delivery of services for disabled children, and support greater integration for children and young people more generally.

Things about buses...
There will be some changes to services in Sheffield in September so here is a 'head's up' to see if your service is likely to change - links to new timetables not yet available.


Things to drink..
It is so important to drink plenty of fluids in this weather so here are some non-alcoholic cocktails for you to try...and the first one has the added advantage of using up a rhubarb glut!