Things in the Illingworth Library - September 2023

Things in the news

Updates on vaccinations 

Where did the summer go? As September brings a return to school or a new adventure at college or university, vaccinations are featuring heavily in the news.

Around 1 in 8 new students have missed their meningitis vaccination, warns the UK Health Security Agency.

All first-year students starting college or university this September and returning students who are not up to date with all their childhood and adolescent vaccinations are at increased risk of serious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and measles as they mix with large numbers of other students. 'Freshers' Flu' is not just an urban myth. 

NHS England announces a September roll-out for flu vaccines for children.

From September, children in England will be targeted to receive their flu vaccine to prevent them from getting seriously ill from flu and to break the chain of transmission of the virus to the wider population. School aged children will be able to get the flu vaccine at school or at community clinics, children aged two and three years will be able to get an appointment with their GP practice. Further details are in the guidelines.

The Children's Commissioner and school attendance

Shocking figures from Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, on school attendance: 'Last year, the school absence rate stood at 7.5%, compared to 4.7% pre-pandemic. An increasing number of children have started to regularly miss school. A child is known as “persistently absent” when they miss 10% or more of possible sessions in school. In 2022/23, nearly a quarter (22.3%) of all children were persistently absent. Absence levels have remained stuck at unprecedented highs.'

From the King's Fund - AI could help with health literacy

Amid all the scare stories and hype around AI, the King’s Fund offers a note of optimism, suggesting that AI may be a useful tool for making health information accessible to all. As up to 61 per cent of adults have been found to have low health literacy levels, this is a real challenge. This post also gives a great insight into how AI works.

Things to do in September

September is a busy month in Sheffield, with Art in the Gardens at the Sheffield Botanical Gardens Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 September and the Sheffield Festival of Walking Friday 8 – Sunday 17 September. 

The festival of walking coincides with Sheffield Heritage Open Days, also from the 8th - 17th, which offer a chance to visit historic sites you may not have access to for the rest of the year. If you're free on Friday 8th September at 10.30, then I strongly recommend the behind the scenes tour of Sheffield Town Hall, which was Sheffield's tallest building for nearly 70 years, until the Arts Tower at the University of Sheffield came along in 1965 and spoiled the party.

It's a Sheffield Thing

Our monthly feature highlighting independent businesses

For well-organised cooks who plan ahead (and me, in a good year), September is the start of the festive cooking season, when thoughts turn to getting a head start on fruit cake and steamed puddings. My favourite source of dried fruit and cooking ingredients is the zero waste shop 'The Bare Alternative' on Abbeydale Road in Sheffield. Zero waste shopping reduces the amount of plastic in a weekly shop and allows you to buy the exact quantities of dried goods that you need. They also stock all sorts of alternatives to everyday products, including plastic-free chewing gum because yes, most chewing gum contains plastic. 

Things in the library 31 May...

Things about the NHS...

The King's Fund are running a free online course, 'The NHS explained: how the health system in England really works' which is open for enrolment  and will start on 3 June 2019. The four-week course will provide you with a broad understanding of the NHS – its inner workings, how it all fits together and the current and future challenges it faces. You will build your knowledge of the health system in England through articles, quizzes and videos with experts from The King’s Fund. Plus you can study each week at a time that suits you. The course is ideal for NHS and social care staff, patients and anyone interested in health care in England.

Things about research...
From our very own Prof Nick Bishop is a blog entry about his journey into child health research in his role as Vice President for Science and Research, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.


Things about SCH publications...
For some time we have been keen to find a way of capturing and sharing the publications of SCH staff. We are pleased to announce that we have started SCH Repository on our library catalogue. As we become aware of articles/poster presentations etc, attributed to staff at SCH, we will add them to our catalogue - usually in the form of a link to their PubMed entry. They can be identified in the catalogue with the logo shown on the right and if you want to see what has already been added then this link will search the catalogue for 'SCH repository'. We hope that this will help with sharing knowledge in the trust. Full text won't necessarily be available online...but the abstract will be and you will know which colleagues to contact for more information...let us know what you think!

Things about family alcohol misuse...
The Children’s Society, a charity that works with the country’s most vulnerable children and young people, has launched a new national initiative to help children affected by parental alcohol misuse. CAPE (Children of Alcoholic Parents Engagement) is a new learning programme which provides free online resources and toolkits as well as workshops and training to frontline professionals who work with young people. It will support NHS staff, social workers, police, youth, school and voluntary workers to increase their awareness and understanding of children who may be affected by parental alcohol misuse and help them to identify those that are at risk.

Things about e-cigarettes...
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vape devices have rapidly become the most common tobacco products used by youth, driven in large part by marketing and advertising by e-cigarette companies. Most major e-cigarette brands are owned by big tobacco companies that use similar marketing and advertising strategies to attract youth users as they did with traditional tobacco products. This article 'A Public Health Crisis: Electronic Cigarettes, Vape, and JUUL' in Pediatrics, whilst discussing USA federal laws, may well be of interest as they provide an overview of e-cigarettes and vape devices with an emphasis on the impact for the paediatric population. The full text is available to you via your NHS OpenAthens account.

Things to watch...
A couple of videos from the King's Fund on  Artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in health care?   by Rose Gray, Policy Manager at Cancer Research UK, who outlines what AI is and its different applications in health and care.  Also what does the digital experience look like for patients  by Indra Joshi, Digital Health and AI Clinical Lead, NHS England, who explores the digitisation of services and the impact this has on patients, discussing why patient experience should be at the heart of digital innovations in health and care.

Things that are green...

There is much research about the benefits of being outside and gardening to improve your wellbeing...so if you fancy growing some of your own veg - could be in pots or growbags if you don't have much space then here are some suggestions for things you can plant now. french beans, oriental greens, beetroot, leaf beets - perpetual spinach or chard, Herbs - basil/coriander/parsley. These tips are from James - who I met last year - he also runs a Growing Workshop and the next one is on Thursday  6th June 5.30-7.00pm at Union Street Co-working, 18-20 Union Street, S1 2JP. They will be looking at growing herbs in this session, but you may take your questions about any other aspects of food growing (and garden photos/sketches if you like) Pay-as-you-feel (suggested amount £5 - £10) Facebook event page for more information

Things using herbs...
A simple lovely fresh salad Garlic & herb bulgur wheat to inspire you to grow and eat your own herbs!

Things in the library 4th May...

Things about robots...
Nesta has published Confronting Dr Robot: creating a people-powered future for AI in health.  This report explores how artificial intelligence (AI) might be used in the UK, how AI-enabled healthcare might look and feel and suggests what can be done to maximise benefits and minimise harm.  The report argues there is currently a window of opportunity to put in place measures that ensure the technology develops into 'People Powered AI'; supporting care that is simple, gives patients control, is centred around an equal dialogue, is accountable and equitable.



Things about obesity...
An article in Obesity Reviews discusses "Effects of multidisciplinary interventions on weight loss and health outcomes in children and adolescents with morbid obesity." The influence of age, gender and family participation on health outcomes and intensive treatment alternatives are explored. They conclude that there is not a 'one-size-fits-all' treatment approach, and matched care to personal needs is preferable. The integration of a chronic care approach is critical for the successful adaption of sustainable health behaviours.

Things to be reading...
Our next reading group will be on Wednesday 6th June at 17:15. We will be discussing 'The Museum of Extraordinary Things' by Alice Hoffman.

Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that amazes and stimulates the crowds. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man photographing moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

Everyone welcome (whether you've read the book or not!) Come and join our informal discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Things to attend...


The next Journal club will be on Thursday 10th May 8.00 am - 9.00 am, in the Education and Skills Centre, F Floor, Stephenson Wing. The paper can be requested from the library.
Paper:​ Motivational Interviewing and Dietary Counseling for Obesity in Primary Care: An RCT 
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.  Muffins and drinks provided.

Things to ponder...
A couple of editorials you might like to read in Acta Paediatrica "Identifying the cause and preventing childhood deaths"   and  "Promoting short-term and long-term health: keep the growth track!" 





Things about Literacy and life expectancy...

The National Literacy Trust has produced an evidence review exploring the link between literacy and life expectancy in England through health and socioeconomic factors. This report explores existing research from a wide range of sources, including longitudinal data and analysis, academic journals, and domestic and international surveys, to establish the depth of the relationship between literacy and life expectancy.
The report found that children born into communities with the most serious literacy challenges have some of the lowest life expectancies in England:

A boy born in Stockton Town Centre (which has some of the most serious literacy challenges in the country) has a life expectancy 26.1 years shorter than a boy born in North Oxford (which has some of the fewest literacy challenges)

A girl born in Queensgate, Burnley (which has some of the most serious literacy challenges in the country), has a life expectancy 20.9 years shorter than a girl born in Mayfield, Wealdon (which has some of the fewest literacy challenges)

They conclude: This report demonstrates the extreme gravity of local inequality and makes the challenge to close the literacy gap between communities. By closing gaps in education, employment and health at a local level, we can ensure that every child has the chance to live a happy, healthy, successful and long life, regardless of their background.

Things about offenders...
Barnardo’s has launched a new website National Information Centre on Children of Offenders (NICCO), which replaces i-HOP. The website provides resources, information on services, policy developments, events, training opportunities and practice models to professionals who come into contact with the children and families of offenders in England and Wales, as well as academics and those responsible for strategic development and commissioning.

Things for the Bank Holiday...
The weather is forecast to be good for this weekend so if you fancy getting out into the countryside there are plenty of activities to choose from at  National Trust  and Peak District National Park 

Things to eat...
So for a nice summer starter or even for a picnic these goat's cheese and shallot tarts sound perfect.

If you are not working have a lovely weekend and Bank Holiday and remember we will be closed on Monday.

Things in the library 12th January

Artificially intelligent things..

A new report from Reform illustrates the areas where artificial intelligence (AI) could help the NHS become more efficient and deliver better outcomes for patients.  It also highlights the main barriers to the implementation of this technology and suggests some potential solutions.

AI could support the delivery of the NHS’s Five Year Forward View, which aims to narrow three gaps in health provision. AI could help address the health and wellbeing gap by predicting which individuals or groups of individuals are at risk of illness and allow the NHS to target treatment more effectively towards them. The reduction of the care and quality gap could be supported by AI tools as they can give all health professionals and patients access to cutting edge diagnostics and treatment tailored to individual need. AI could help address the efficiency and funding gap by automating tasks, triaging patients to the most appropriate services and allowing them to self-care.

things facing a ban..

The NHS is taking action on sugar, with almost two thirds of NHS trusts now signed up to a voluntary scheme to reduce sales of sugary drinks to 10 per cent or less of sold beverages.  Hospitals and suppliers have been warned that if they don’t take action to reduce sales of sugary drinks by the end of March 2018, a ban will be introduced in 2018 instead.
Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “It’s important the NHS practices what it preaches on healthy food and drink. We want 2018 to be the year when the tasty, affordable and easy option for patients, staff and visitors is the healthy option". NHS England’s voluntary sugary drinks reduction scheme covers sugary soft drinks, milkshakes and hot drinks with added sugar syrups.

accountable things..

An Accountable Care Organisation (ACO) is a model of healthcare organisation where a provider, or group of providers, takes responsibility for the healthcare provision of an entire population. There is no fixed definition of an ACO, but the organisation usually receives an annual, capitated budget to deliver contractually agreed health outcomes. In July 2017, NHS England announced eight areas which would become Accountable Care Systems (precursors to ACOs).

A new Commons Library briefing paper looks at the introduction of Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs) in the NHS in England, the development of the ACO policy, and comment on its potential impact.

things to attend...

Utility Data for Health Technology Assessment 
Monday, 12th - Tuesday, 13th March 2018. 
Early Bird Fee for confirmed bookings received on or before Sunday, 14th January 2018
This course outlines the practical requirements of measuring utility and obtaining utility data for health technology assessment for agencies such as NICE and explores recent research in utilities including EQ-5D-5L valuation, measuring subjective well-being and condition specific preference-based measures.

Course content:

• What are the key issues in obtaining health state utility values?
• Does it matter which instruments are used?
• What is the current NICE reference case and requirements in other jurisdictions?
• When are EQ-5D and other generic measures not appropriate?
• What utility instruments are available for children?
• What are the latest development in EQ-5D including EQ-5D-5L valuation?
• What should be done when EQ-5D and other generics are not appropriate or not available?
• How can mapping be used to estimate utility values from disease specific measures?
• Social value QALY weights
• How do you search for utility values and what is the role of systematic reviews and meta-analysis of utility values?
• How should utility values be incorporated into cost effectiveness models?
• What is the role for wellbeing within HTA?
• The development of condition specific measures (including the ReQol for mental health).

things to eat in January 

Veganuary is a charity inspiring people to try vegan for January and throughout the rest of the year.

The veganuary website has an amazing selection of recipes that will appeal to you whether you are vegan or not! They include British, American, Indian, Greek, Japanese, French cuisine, healthy recipes, quick recipes and many more. Here is just one example:

One-Pot Linguine with Olives, Capers and Sun-Dried Tomatoes