Things in the library 3 Sept...

 Things to read... 

Our next Reading Group meeting will be on 4th Oct still online via Teams. A book that I particularly enjoyed when I read it a couple of years ago so I am interested in what other people think of it. The book is Bear Town by Fredrik Backman and don't be put off thinking it is about sport - anyone who knows me will know I have no interest in sport! 

It is a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.

People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

 

Things about pre-eclampsia... 

 A blood test which identifies pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, a condition that is potentially life- threatening if not diagnosed and closely monitored, is being supported and spread across the region by the Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network (AHSN).

The test eliminates the risk of poor prediction of pre-eclampsia and reduces the risk of unnecessary hospitalisation for women who will not go on to develop the condition. This creates the potential to free up hospital beds and provides both an improved patient experience and wellbeing and financial benefit for the NHS.

Things about CAMHS ..

CAMHS National Summit 2021: transforming mental health services for children and young adults. This online conference, organised by Social Care Conferences, takes place on 16 November 2021. Further information: Social Care Conferences

Things about sepsis... 

Clinicians at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital are leading medical trials of a blood test that could help to save thousands of UK lives a year by predicting sepsis days before patients show any symptoms. Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury and is associated with life-threatening organ dysfunction. Worldwide, an estimated 49 million people a year contract sepsis, while in the UK almost 2 million patients admitted to hospital each year are thought to be at risk of developing the condition.  

Presymptom Health believes the technology can predict whether a patient will develop sepsis around 3 days before symptoms appear, enabling clinicians to treat them much sooner and manage them more effectively. 

Things about baby boxes... 

The Scottish Government has published a report evaluating the Baby Box scheme which provides families with a range of essential items including information leaflets designed to inform and support positive parenting behaviours. Findings from a survey of 2,236 parents, and 870 health visitors, midwives and family nurses include: the estimated take up of baby boxes in Scotland is over 90%; 84% of parents surveyed said they had found the leaflet on safe sleeping useful; and 37% of parents felt they had learned about bonding with their baby through playing, talking and reading as a result of reading a leaflet included in the box.

Things about babies...

Delighted to announce that we have two new members of the Reading Group Lily & Evie both born in the last few weeks. Congratulations to both sets of parents and their families. 

Things about autism... 

The National Autistic Society and Mind have published a good practice guide to help mental health professionals adapt talking therapies for autistic children and adults. The guide incorporates the views of over 1,500 autistic people and almost 1,000 family members who responded to a mental health survey in October and November 2020.

Things about body image and eating disorders... 

The NSPCC has released figures on Childline counselling sessions to children about eating and body image disorders. Figures for 2020/21 show that: there were 4,986 counselling sessions on body image and eating disorder issues. This included a 13% increase in counselling sessions to 12- to15-year-olds compared with 2019/20, and a 7% increase in counselling sessions to 16- to 18-year-olds.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has released findings following analysis of NHS England data on the number of children and young people waiting for eating disorder treatment. Figures show that at the end of the first quarter of 2021/22: 207 children and young people under the age of 19 were waiting for urgent treatment, up from 56 at the same time last year - a 270% increase; and 1,832 were waiting for routine treatment, up from 441 at the same time last year – a 315% increase. Figures also show that the number of under-19s receiving urgent and routine treatment has also increased by 160% and 93% respectively on figures for the same period last year.

Things to eat...

A recommendation from Sarah this week... nutty plum and sloe gin crumble.

Things in the library 24th May...

Things about jackets...

Well what a flurry....I sent out a general notification to all our library users about a jacket which was left in the library last Friday (17th) there is no indication of to whom it belongs..just a man's blue jacket and tie. Unfortunately about 30 of our 550 library users thought we were telling them it was their jacket and the personalised nature of the notification 'trumped' the phrase 'if you have lost your jacket'. Needless to say it has still not been claimed so if you have any colleagues walking around under-dressed or complaining they have lost their jacket somewhere please show them this photo. Sorry to all those who doubted their own memories about where they were and what they were wearing last week.
At least we now know how to get your attention when we need it!

Things about digital health...
 The Social Market Foundation have published a report 'National Health Servers: delivering digital health for all'. This research considers how technology could be adopted quicker and more widely by the NHS to improve the care that patients receive and to drive better health outcomes.

The report’s structure tracks the patient journey, from prevention and diagnosis in the community, into primary and secondary care, through into management of long-term conditions. As well as improving the care experience in primary and secondary care, the report argues that there are huge opportunities to keep patients out of the NHS: prevention of disease can reduce the likelihood of people having to enter hospital care in the first place; better digital management
of long-term conditions can help avoid unnecessary re-admissions into hospital. It concludes with six policy recommendations to drive improvements across the care pathway.

Things about child grooming...

Since the NSPCC successfully campaigned for a new law to make it illegal for adults to send sexual messages to children, over 5,000 online grooming offences have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales (2017/18). This blog entry is aimed particularly at teachers and other people working with young people and gives advice about how to spot the signs that a child may be being groomed.

Things about mental health and wellbeing...
The LGA's Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Peer Learning Programme looked at how to prioritise early help and free up acute care for the most vulnerable in order to achieve change; supporting councils and their local partners to learn from each other, and from other councils across the country. Eight councils and their partners took part in two learning days and a visit to another council, gaining further knowledge and understanding on how to tackle their local issue. Their finding have now been published.

Things about mental health support....
A podcast to listen to where you can  hear examples from Greater Manchester, Surrey Heartlands and South West London who, from working in an integrated way with young people and community partners, are bringing more mental health support into schools, with a strong focus on prevention. This podcast is a discussion between clinicians and system leaders talking about the benefits of improving mental health provision in schools.

Things about body image...

The Mental Health Foundation published a very accessible report on Body Image for Mental Health Awareness Week last week. The report sets out the individual, family and cultural influences that are coming together to mean that we often have a gnawing and debilitating sense of dissatisfaction with our own bodies. They also identify the heightened risks of mental health problems that too often accompany poor body image. They make the case that the distress related
to poor body image and the related mental health problems can be prevented. This report is clear that changes to culture, parenting styles, schooling approaches, use of technology, advertising standards and how we address discrimination will make a real difference. They are calling for action across all levels of society, which, if heeded, will help us to be kinder to our bodies and healthier in our minds.

Things to help you switch off...
I have read some positive reviews about an app called 'Offtime' (Android and iOS). It provides you with intuitive analytics of your phone usage, enabling you to identify your habits. Learn what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and how long for. You can set hurdles, reminders or restrict access to any apps that you find distracting. Instead of pointless procrastination, you can get involved with what’s right in front of you. For a chosen period, you can block calls, texts and notifications that might disturb you, though you can select the people who can still get through (Android only). Download from your your usual App store where there is a free and pro version available I believe.

Things to eat...
These oriental-style salmon fishcakes (or burgers) are easy to make, healthier than meat and traditional fishcakes and delicious.