Things in the library 9th July...

 Things to buy... 

It is a long time since we have been able to sell some of our old books but we have just released a new batch. We now have on sale some old editions of books which we have replaced with newer stock. 

Please note that books are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be reserved by making a card payment. Books can be posted using the internal post but at your own risk.

If you are interested in purchasing any items please come to the Illingworth Library, F Floor, Stephenson Wing, and ask at the counter. If you would like to see a list of the items available please see here - note there may be a delay in updating this list as items start to be sold. 

Payment may be made in cash, card or contactless apps Please note that no book sales will be possible within 30 minutes of our closing times. Our opening hours are: Mon - Fri 8:45 until 17:00 

Things about storytelling... 

The emotional challenges experienced by parents of infants admitted to the neonatal unit are well documented. Stories based on parents’ narratives can be an effective method for nursing students to learn about parents’ experiences and develop empathy for them. This article in 'Nursing-children-and-young-people' explores this issue and concludes that: "Arts-based digital storytelling can convey the complexities of parents’ emotional experiences in the neonatal unit, so that nursing students are better equipped to understand and empathise with them".

Things about diabetes...

In the same journal a CPD article for nurses on  'Effective management of type 1 diabetes in children and young people'. Recommended reading to:

• enhancing your knowledge of what the optimal management and monitoring of type 1 diabetes entails
• improve your practice in providing support to children with type 1 diabetes and their families
• count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account

Things about trauma... 

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has released a podcast with Dr Stephanie Lewis about complex trauma and its contribution to psychopathology and cognitive deficits. Findings discussed include: young people exposed to complex trauma have more severe mental health problems than both those who haven’t been exposed to trauma and those who’ve been exposed to other types of trauma; and vulnerable young people are more likely to experience complex trauma, whereas non-complex trauma tends to occur more randomly in the population.

Listen to the podcast: ‘The contribution of complex trauma to psychopathology and cognitive deficits’ – In conversation Dr Stephanie Lewis

Things to attend (virtually)... 

Caldicott principles and information sharing: children and young people. This virtual online conference, organised by Healthcare Conferences UK, takes place on 28 September 2021. This conference will focus on developing your role in improving communication and information sharing around children and young people whilst ensuring patient confidentiality.

Things to report... 

The NSPCC’s Childline service has launched the Report Remove tool with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The tool will enable young people under the age of 18 to report a nude image or video of themselves that’s appeared online. The IWF will then review these reports and work to remove any content which breaks the law.

Things about cooking... 

Cooking interventions have been criticised for their weak designs and 'kitchen sink' approach to content development. Currently, there is no scientific guidance for the inclusion of specific skills in children's cooking interventions. Therefore, a four step method was used to develop age-appropriate cooking skill recommendations based on relevant developmental motor skills. The article in 'Appetite' gives recommendations consisting of 32 skills, across five age categories: 2–3 years, 3–5 years, 5–7 years, 7–9 years, and 9+ years. The proposed recommendations will strengthen programme design by providing guidance for content development targeted at the correct age groups and can act as a guide to parents when including their children in cooking activities at home.

Things about forced marriage and FGM... 

The Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have published annual statistics on cases reported to the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU). Of the cases the FMU provided advice or support to in 2020, 15% involved victims who were aged 15 or under and 11% involved victims who were aged 16-17. These figures include cases related to forced genital mutilation (FGM), which often involves children.

Things to make... 

With the school summer holidays approaching, if you want some inspiration for things you can cook with children then there are some nice ideas here...not just for children - the fruity filo parcels could be adapted for anyone and I think I may pop some of my red currants into something like this over the weekend. I would only add sugar if the fruit really needed it - certainly not for pears as in this recipe.

Photo from 'Babies and Young Children ' by our very own R S Illingworth.

Things in the library 2nd July...

 Things about child development... 

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has a membership comprising a diverse group of clinicians, practitioners and world-leading child mental health researchers, working across an array of child and adolescent mental health domains. As part of the ACAMH educational series of talks on child development Dr. Max Davie, Community Paediatrician specialising in child development, has recorded two talks on this topic which you can watch or read the transcript. In the first he focusses on what mental health professionals working with children and young people need to know about child development, the second is on neurodevelopmental assessment. ACAMH members can get a CPD certificate for watching either - details on the website.

Things about weight and wellbeing... 

Announced yesterday the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme – backed by £12 million of government funding – will offer free online support via GP and primary care teams referrals for adults living with obesity, who also have a diagnosis of either diabetes, high blood pressure or both, to help manage their weight and improve their health.  

Alongside this, the government is providing £30 million of new funding to councils across England to roll out expanded management services for adults living with obesity. Services can be delivered face to face, remotely or digitally. With 98% of councils accepting the funding, individuals will be able to sign up for this help via their primary care services or in some areas refer themselves via their local authority.

In most areas, services will include 12-week sessions, with dietary advice, physical activity guidance and support to help people start and maintain healthier habits. 

An additional £4.3 million of new funding has also been allocated to 11 local authorities to support the expansion of child weight management services in 2021 to 2022. They will trial new ways to improve access to services for up to 6,000 children identified as living with excess weight or obesity. 

New rules on advertising unhealthy foods online and before 9pm on TV across the UK after public consultation. Regulations will come into force at the end of next year to introduce a 9pm watershed for advertisements of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS). These new regulations will apply to food and drink products of most concern to childhood obesity and will ensure the healthiest in each category will be able to continue to advertise. This approach means foods such as honey, olive oil, avocados and marmite are excluded from the restrictions.

Things to attend... 

It is Reading Group next week and the book we are discussing is 'American Dirt' by Jeanine Cummins. If you would like to join us online from 18.30 - 19.30 please contact the library for the joining link.

Our next book (4th August) will be quite a contrast 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. A comment often made by members of the Reading Group is that they have enjoyed a book which they would have never otherwise chosen.

Things to book... 

NHS Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Digital Conference takes place as a digital event in October, organised by Westminter Insight, covering such topics as:

• how to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion to create a sense of belonging for all NHS employees
• how to implement data tracking, reporting, and transparency around targets to help improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the NHS
• Creating diverse NHS leadership to ensure they better reflect the communities they serve
• Ensuring a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and harassment to support staff

Just one thing... 

A recent fascinating series of radio programmes...

If time is tight, what's the one thing that you should be doing to improve your health and wellbeing? Michael Mosley reveals surprisingly simple top tips that are scientifically proven to change your life.

• Count your blessings
• Hot baths
• Standing on one leg
• Green spaces
• Intelligent exercise
• Learning a new skill
• Cold showers
• Eating bacteria
• Early morning walks

Several of these could be combined (though please don't stand on one leg in the shower!). The website explains the science and you can listen to the episodes. 

Things to make... 

Wimbledon means strawberries... but not necessarily with cream. Balsamic vinegar is fabulous with strawberries (as is black or pink pepper). This recipe marinates strawberries in balsamic vinegar and combines them with halloumi and fresh cucumber. 

Things in the library 25th June...

 Things back in the library... 

(C) Gill Kaye 2021

Me!  After a wonderful break in Cornwall and calling in on friends and relations along the way - with frequent lateral flow tests! It was wonderful to be welcomed to Cornwall by a fly past from the Red Arrows 30 mins after we had arrived...right over head...as this view from our chalet shows! 

Things about young people with cancer...

Teenage Cancer Trust has revealed recently that more than a third of young cancer patients who felt they needed it, have had no, or reduced access to a psychologist in the six months prior to being surveyed, due to inadequate access in parts of the UK. The ‘#NotOK: Filling the gaps in mental health support for young people with cancer’ report, published today to mark the launch of the charity’s #NotOK campaign, also highlights the frustrations of psychologists who feel like they are ‘firefighting’ due to the high demand on ‘limited resource’. 87% of psychologists surveyed think current national provisions for specialist psychological support for teenagers and young adults with cancer is insufficient to meet their specific needs. Teenage Cancer Trust warns that young cancer patients could face depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions well into their adult lives unless UK Governments provide protected funding for high quality support that is available from the point of diagnosis.

Things about fathers... 

The Fatherhood Institute published a report 'Lockdown Fathers: the untold story'.

Their recommendations include:

During lockdowns fathers in the UK almost doubled the time they had been spending on childcare, grew in confidence, learned new skills and built stronger relationships with their babies and children.

All children should benefit, in learning and love, from the support that time with a confident, well-supported dad can bring. As we build back from this pandemic, we owe it to them to make this happen.

Fathers want to keep contributing, but shift patterns dictated to them at the last minute, long commutes, and long and inflexible working hours can get in the way. 

Following on from this is their campaign ‘Time with Dad’ to preserve the ‘lockdown positives’ of fathers spending more time with their children and supporting their learning, development and education. They want the UK to build back from the pandemic in ways that take account of fathers’ importance – and the limits on their time. They are looking for employers, schools, dads, mums, anyone who shares their vision, and might be interested in helping them turn it into a reality.

Things about air quality... 

Ambient air pollution is produced by sources including traffic, coal-fired power plants, hydraulic fracturing, agricultural production, and forest fires. It consists of primary pollutants generated by combustion and secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere from precursor gases. Air pollution causes and exacerbates climate change, and climate change worsens health effects of air pollution. Infants and children are uniquely sensitive to air pollution, because their organs are developing and they have higher air per body weight intake. Health effects linked to air pollution include not only exacerbations of respiratory diseases but also reduced lung function development and increased asthma incidence. Additional outcomes of concern include preterm birth, low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders, IQ loss, pediatric cancers, and increased risks for adult chronic diseases.  This policy (from the American Academy of Pediatrics and available to you with an NHS Athens login) reviews both short- and long-term health consequences of ambient air pollution, especially in relation to developmental exposures. 

Things about fever... 

In the press today is news that Emergency departments across the UK are seeing very high numbers of young children for this time of the year because of a rise in infections usually seen in the winter.  RCPCH, RECM and RCGP are issuing advice for parents and carers concerned about fever in their child. One emergency paediatrician described the situation as “winter in June”. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has heard from paediatric emergency medicine doctors around the country describing pressures on their emergency department (ED) from an increase in children being brought in with mild fever by anxious parents. Many parents have not seen fever in their child – particularly if they were born during lockdown – and are taking them to A&E rather than seeking help at pharmacies, their GP, NHS 111 or online.

Things about mental health... 

Children and young people will benefit from a cash injection to mental health services which includes addressing the increasing demand for the treatment of eating disorders. An extra £40 million has been allocated to address the COVID impact on children and young people’s mental health and enhance services across the country. One way the additional money will be spent is to support ensuring the right type of beds are in the right places, or that alternatives to admission are in place, supporting parts of the country that have more challenges in their range of bed capacity. Across the country £10 million capital funding is being used to provide extra beds at units which provide care for young people with the most complex needs, including eating disorders, as well as £1.5 million to ensure there are additional facilities for children under 13. This funding is on top of £79 million made available by the government to support children and young people’s mental health in the community, including via increased access to crisis and eating disorder services, and new mental health support teams being rolled out – by April 2023, there will be around 400 teams covering 35% of the country.

Things to visit... 

It is great to be able to visit galleries again so I am looking forward to seeing Sheffield-born John Hoyland, one of Britain’s leading abstract artists, in this new exhibition opening at the Millennium Gallery. John Hoyland is renowned for his bold use of colour and inventive forms. In a career spanning over 50 years, his tireless innovation pushed the boundaries of abstract painting and cemented his reputation as one of the most inventive British artists of the 20th century. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of his passing, John Hoyland: The Last Paintings brings together large-scale canvases, some of which have never been publicly displayed before, made during the last eight years of the artist’s life. Sat 3 Jul - Sun 10 Oct 2021 Millennium Gallery. 

Things fishy...

On our one venture into St Ives (predictably they had a COVID outbreak following the G7 summit) we ate in a wonderful little restaurant recommended on one of Rick Stein's programmes. All the fish we ate in Cornwall was wonderful, of course, so today my recipe is  Hake in a Chorizo, Tomato & Olive Sauce.

 Things read...

The Reading Group this week departed from our normal fiction selection to read 'Why I am no longer talking to white people about race'. You might be interested in the summary of our discussion.

It was universally appreciated (enjoyed doesn't quite seem the correct word) and many said they would read it again, that it was an important book and would recommend it to others. Most found it easy to read and understand though a few struggled a bit with it being not their normal type of reading matter  (non-fiction). Many mentioned the history chapter as the most informative and interesting. One or two felt that bits of the book turned a bit 'lecturery'. Comments about the 'Fear of a black planet' section were that it was easy to relate to and parts made us feel uncomfortable.  It was felt that it was a sobering reminder of the history that we are not taught and an eye-opener to the way education, health services, police etc have been structured to privilege some people and discriminate others. Positive discrimination was explained well in terms of the need to re-balance an organisation - whilst we recognised that it can also be divisive. The importance of us all speaking out in situations where we are aware of discrimination and having conversations on discrimination was the take-away message. 

Things about child poverty... 

The End Child Poverty Coalition has published figures on the rates of child poverty across the UK. The figures, which cover the period from 2014/15 to 2019/20, show that: in March 2020 half a million more children in the UK were living in poverty compared to five years ago, totalling 4.3 million children; child poverty is rising significantly in the North East of England; 75% of children living in poverty in 2019/20 lived in households with at least one working adult, up from 67% in 2014/15; and the highest rates of poverty are in larger cities, particularly Birmingham and London. The level of child poverty percentage rise in Yorkshire & Humberside is 5.4% and in Sheffield 5.6%

 Things coming soon... 

14th - 18th June is a week to celebrate NHS Knowledge and Library Services and Specialists. The week focuses on the invaluable work undertaken by NHS knowledge and library specialists [that's us!]. The week is an opportunity to highlight the range of ways in which NHS knowledge and library teams support all healthcare staff and learners [yes all of you!] to deliver informed decision making and evidence-based care across all areas of clinical and operational healthcare. 

We are going to receive 10 titles chosen by NHS staff as part of the 'Uplifting Resources for the NHS from the NHS' collection and will add them to our Leisure Reading collection when we recive them - number 4 on the list we already have available as it was a previous reading group book choice.

1. "Love in colour” by Bolu Babalola

2. “The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse” by Charlie Mackesey

3. “Three things about Elsie” by Joanna Cannon

4. “Before the coffee gets cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

5. “The lido” by Libby Page

6. “Where the crawdads sing” by Delia Owens

7. “The salt path” by Raynor Winn

8. “Calypso” by David Sedaris

9. “The lost spells” by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

10. “Happiness FM” by Mary Dickins

Things about children and the pandemic ... 

Barnardo's has published findings from and commented on a survey by YouGov on the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on children and young people's mental health. Findings from the poll, conducted with more than 4,000 children and young people aged 8- to 24-years-old, include: 29% of 8- to 15-year-olds reported feeling more stressed now than before the pandemic; the two most common issues that 8- to 15-year-olds were worried about were catching or spreading the virus and being behind in their studies; and the number of 16- to 24-year-olds who reported struggling with their mental health and wellbeing has increased from last year.

The Disabled Children's Partnership has published a report on the impact of the pandemic on disabled children, their siblings and their parents. The report shows the findings from the third in a series of surveys of disabled children and their families. It found: a high proportion of disabled children and their families are still experiencing severe levels of social isolation despite the easing of restrictions; over half of families are unable to access therapies vital for their disability; 60% of families are experiencing delays and challenges accessing health service appointments; and that disabled children and their families are at risk of developing additional long-term health problems.

Things to tell your colleagues... 

If you have ever  received a service from the library that has helped you then please tell someone around you. We try to advertise our services widely but still sometimes find people coming here saying "I've worked here # years - and I never knew we had a library". The dents in the wall from library staff hitting their heads against it may soon become an issue of concern to facilities - 'Save a librarian'! Seriously though, we know that most people who use our services do so because they were told about it by a colleague so do talk about us.

Things to be reading now... 

The next Reading Group meeting will be via Microsoft Teams on 7th July at 18:30. Please contact us if you would like the joining link or to be on the mailing list if you want to read along with us. The next book is 'American Dirt' a 2020 novel by American author Jeanine Cummins, about the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an undocumented immigrant to the United States with her son. A book which has provoked some controversy so it will be interesting to find out the opinions of our Reading Group.

Things away...

I will be off on my holidays for the next 2 weeks - trying to avoid the sight of the G7 leaders in their bathers and limousines stuck in Cornish lanes!  Apologies if the blog is missing as my colleagues may not have time to write it in my absence. Stay safe everyone. Now to stock up on my holiday reading!

Things to make...

With Cornwall in mind it has to be a Rick Stein fish recipe this week -  one of my favourite combinations hake and chorizo. Enjoy.

Things in the library 28th May...

 Things about free books... 

It’s been almost a month since World Book Night and we hope that if you were one of the people who collected a book from us that you enjoyed it! This year, there were over 100,000 books donated to organisations across the UK and Ireland, including libraries, prisons, hospitals, care homes, schools, and many more. 

If you did receive a book then World Book Night Organisation would love to have your feedback.

PS we have 2 copies left if you want to call up to the library.

Things about Genomics... 

The government will develop global standards and policies for sharing genomic health data under new plans that aim to make the UK a global leader in the area.The Genome Implementation Plan 2021-22 sets out bold ambitions to improve care, treatment and diagnosis using genome sequencing. Working with partners in the genomics community, the government set out 27 commitments to deliver over the next 12 months, including the development of global standards and policies for sharing genomic and related health data.

As part of this the National Institute for Health Research, Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust will contribute total of £4.5 million over the next five years to the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health to ensure the standards are easily accessible and usable by global genomic and data sharing programmes.

Other “high priority actions” include faster diagnosis and treatment of cancer; whole genome sequencing for patients with rare diseases; and the recruitment of five million people to take part in research to accelerate the detection of disease. The work builds upon the 100,000 Genomes Project, with the government now committing to sequencing one million whole genomes – 500,000 genomes in the NHS and 500,000 in UK Biobank – in a bid to transform healthcare in the UK and create jobs.

Things about innovation... 

An in-depth study examining approaches to spreading and adopting innovation in the health sector has been published by the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSN) to help AHSNs, and partners, understand and harness the AHSN collective experience and expertise.

The review, which identifies the different approaches used across the 15 AHSNs within the Network, highlights the complexity of spread work; the diversity of approaches; the influential factors; and provides recommendations for the future. This research provides the first aggregated view of approaches and challenges to spread and adoption across the AHSN Network, to help the AHSNs and our partners understand the complexity and variation. As well as mapping approaches across the AHSN Network, the review included a deep dive into the Transfers of Care Around Medicines (TCAM) national programme.

Read a summary of the report including additional recommendations for the wider health and care system based on the findings.

Things about patient safety... 

The recently published update to the NHS patient safety strategy outlined a new commitment to explore and address inequalities in patient safety.

New patient safety initiatives the strategy introduced:

• Patient Safety Syllabus – 13 May 2021, Health Education England in collaboration with Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) and NHS England and NHS Improvement, has published the first National patient safety syllabus. The syllabus will underpin the development of patient safety curricula for all NHS staff.
• Patient Safety Incident Management System (PSIMS) – November 2020, PSIMS will commence its public beta stage in early 2021. From this point, organisations with compatible local risk management systems will be able to start recording patient safety events on PSIMS instead of the existing National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). 
• Patient safety partners – October 2020, our consultation on the draft ‘Framework for involving patients in patient safety’ closed 18 October 2020. A final version of the framework will be published in 2021 providing guidance on how the NHS can involve patients and their carers in their own safety; as well as being partners, alongside staff, in improving patient safety in NHS organisations. 
• Patient Safety Specialists – September 2020, we have launched the patient safety specialists initiative that will see NHS organisations identifying at least one member of staff to the role of their patient safety specialist, to oversee and support patient safety activities across their organisation. 
• Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) – 10 March 2020, we have published a new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) webpage, including details of our work with a small number of early adopters who are testing an introductory version of the framework. The PSIRF is being developed to replace the current Serious Incident Framework with updated guidance on how NHS organisations should respond to patient safety incidents, and how and when a patient safety investigation should be conducted. This testing phase will be used to inform the creation of a final version of the PSIRF which we anticipate will be published in Spring 2022.
• National Patient Safety Alerts –  the first National Patient Safety Alert was issued by our national patient safety team in November 2019 following its accreditation to issue the new types of alerts. All national bodies that issue alerts are going through a process of accreditation to issue National Patient Safety Alerts to ensure they meet a set criteria to improve their effectiveness and support providers to better implement the required actions. In March 2020 the MHRA became the second national body to be accredited

Things about obesity... 

There were more than one million admission to NHS hospitals in 2019/20 where obesity was a factor, according to new figures published by NHS Digital.

The Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet; England, 2021 is an annual compendium of data on obesity, including hospital admissions, prescription items, obesity prevalence among adults and children as well as physical activity and diet.

• 27% of men and 29% of women were obese. Around two thirds of adults were overweight or obese, this was more prevalent among men (68%) than women (60%)
•  
• 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 to discuss... 

Reading Group next week will be talking about 'Why I am no longer talking to white people about race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge, please contact the library if you would like the joining link. The next book will be 'American Dirt' by Jeanine Cummins which will make for an interesting conversation following on from this month's book.

Things to do over the Bank Holiday... 

Stay safe! If you want to try to avoid the crowds there are some more unusual places to visit locally here ....but don't all go at once ....and do check opening times/booking etc if relevant. Who knew about the Star Disc?

Things to make...

Finally some lovely weather is being forecast so I expect the BBQs will be in operation this weekend. For a nice veggie recipe try asparagus rafts ... asparagus is in season in the shops now. 

Things in the library 14 May...

 Things for free... 

As a thank you to NHS workers: the chance to win a free paperback of Richard Osman's 'The Thursday Murder Club'. To celebrate the paperback publication of 'The Thursday Murder Club' and all the extraordinary work done by members of the NHS throughout the pandemic, Penguin are giving away 1000 books to NHS workers, sign-up to be entered in a draw.

Things for Mental Health Awareness week... 

Local artist, Hannah Flynn, and a small group of volunteers from NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group are the creative minds behind a new Sheffield Wellbeing colouring book that is also a guide to mental health services in the city. It’s been produced in partnership with Sheffield CCG, mental health charity, Sheffield Flourish and local people who use their services.

The aim of the guide is to close the digital divide which means that many people are missing out on the support they need because they do not have access to the internet. It has tips on improving emotional wellbeing and details of over 300 primarily Sheffield based mental health resources, plus some regional and national support organisations.

Each page has information on the left hand page and on the right hand page is a themed colouring page of Sheffield landmarks. Research has shown that colouring can reduce people’s stress and anxiety.

Copies of the guide will be available from local voluntary and community organisations across the city. To find out the nearest place to collect a free copy call Sheffield Flourish on 0114 273 7009.

The online mental health guide can be found at www.sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk

Things in the library... 

Don't forget that, although we don't have any copies of the above book, we do have colouring sheets and pens for use in the library if you need some time-out.

Things about COVID & Obesity... 

WHO reports that COVID-19 is likely to negatively impact childhood obesity levels in the WHO European Region. School closures and lockdowns can impact access to school meals and physical activity times for children, widening inequalities. Childhood obesity prevention strategies should therefore remain a priority during the pandemic. 

The latest European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) data comes from 36 countries that participated in the survey during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 school years, measuring around 250 000 primary school-aged children. The COSI report holds the most comprehensive data for boys and girls on overweight, physical activity and dietary patterns.

Overall, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was 29% in boys and 27% in girls aged 6 to 9 years; the prevalence of obesity was 13% in boys and 9% in girls. These figures hide wide variations between countries.

The highest proportions of childhood overweight and obesity were observed in Mediterranean countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain, where over 40% of boys and girls were overweight, and 19% to 24% of boys and 14% to 19% of girls were obese.

The lowest proportions of childhood overweight/obesity were observed in central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, where 5% to 12% of boys and girls were overweight and less than 5% were obese.

Things about attachment... 

NSPCC Learning has published new content on understanding attachment in children. The content looks at: why attachment is important; how children develop attachment; attachment and behaviours to look out for; how trauma can affect attachment; and ways to support parents and carers to develop a bond with their child

Things about Asthma... 

This integrative review in Journal of Pediatric Nursing looks at yoga & mindfulness in relation to asthma in children and adolescents. Despite the availability of treatments and educational methods, children with asthma continue to report an impaired quality of life, including symptoms of anxiety and inability to participate in physical activity. As complementary health approaches are becoming more popular and show promise in the management of many chronic diseases, the purpose of this integrative review is to examine the state of the science regarding popular complementary health approaches- yoga and mindfulness- for children and adolescents with asthma.

Things about nettles... 

Apparently today is the start of  'Be Nice to Nettles Week'... 

Image by Hans Braxmeier 
from Pixabay 

The stinging nettle is one of the most important native plants for wildlife in the UK. The nettle supports over 40 species of insect including some of our most colourful butterflies. The sting of the nettle prevents it being grazed by most animals so providing a safe place for insects. The stinging structure of the nettle is very similar to the hypodermic needle although it predates that man-made invention by millions of years! Each sting is actually a hollow hair stiffened by silica with a swollen base that contains the venom. The tip of this hair is very brittle and when brushed against, no matter how lightly, it breaks off exposing a sharp point that penetrates the skin and delivers its stinging payload. 

If cooking with nettles they are best when very tender, so pick them in the spring when the nettles are just coming up or later in the season when they’re growing well, but before they are flowering. Use rubber gloves or pinch the leaves hard, so you don’t get stung. Pick the young leaves from the tips.

Lay the nettles out on a tray to wilt or wash them in hot water. Once wilted they can no longer sting you. The sting relies on erect hairs to penetrate the skin and inject the stinging formic acid. When wilted strip the leaves off the tough stems.Always cook nettles to destroy the stinging acid. 

Nettles are not suitable for salads!

Things about foraging... 

If you are out and about this weekend why not try foraging for some nettles or wild garlic (which smells wonderful when you bring it home).

Remember the foraging code

• the first rule of foraging is simple. Never eat anything poisonous! if you are not certain what it is don't eat it. Guide to nettles    Guide to wild garlic 
• take only what you want for personal consumption and pick with respect. Respect the trees, plants and mushrooms, the surrounding environment, wildlife that may have a dependence on with what you are taking, other people and their property.
• stay away from all Sites of Special Scientific Interest

So then you can make... 

There are many recipes for nettle soup but also other things you could try such as risotto and even nettle crisps or perhaps a wild garlic and cheddar tart .

Things in the library 7th May...

 Things opening up... 

With changes in the rules Sheffield Museums have announced they will be opening on 20th May with free entry across all their sites including Kelham Island Museum and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. I am looking forward to seeing Cecil Beaton’s Bright Young Things, direct from the National Portrait Gallery at the Millenium Gallery. Across the road at Weston Park Museum, you’ll have the first chance to see the latest addition to the displays, a four-metre-long skeleton of a pilot whale suspended from the museum ceiling. Visits must be planned and pre-booked but you can find all the information on their website.

Things about LGBT+ parents...

An interesting article in Nursing Children and Young People  'Experiences of LGBT parents when accessing healthcare for their children: a literature review' . There are increasing numbers of parents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), but there is little research on the experiences of LGBT parents when accessing healthcare for their children. The aims of this literature review were to identify existing articles on the topic, explore LGBT parents' experiences and draw implications for practice. The review included ten studies published from 1995 onwards and conducted in Australia, Sweden, the US and Finland. Many LGBT parents had positive experiences while others had encountered overt homophobia. However, there remained an underlying sense of heteronormativity, with many healthcare professionals making heterosexist assumptions and healthcare forms being heterocentric. The documentation used in healthcare settings should be adapted and healthcare professionals should improve their awareness on this issue and have training on how to recognise and include LGBT families. The review did not identify any studies on this subject from the UK, which suggests that research on the healthcare experiences of families with LGBT parents in the UK is required. Contact the library if you are unable to access the full text of this article.

Things to sign-up for...

Our next Randomised Coffee Trial is open for signing-up now. If you have previously asked to be kept on the list for future trials there is no need to sign-up again - however if you no longer want to be a part of them then please let us know. This is a great opportunity to meet up (physically or online) with someone else in the trust for half an hour chat and a coffee (or walk in the park) to make connections and talk about whatever you want. Please comply with COVID and hospital guidelines if meeting in person. The sign-up form is here and will be closed on 23May. You will then be informed of your partner a few days later.

Things to read... 

The next book we will be reading as part of our monthly Reading Group is 'Why I am no longer talking to white people about race' by Reni Edde-Lodge.  The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, this book is described as the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relations in Britain today. Our online meeting is on 2nd June at 18:30. Please contact the library if you are not currently on the mailing list for details.

Things about disclosing abuse... 

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has published a report exploring the difficulties discussing or disclosing child sexual abuse experienced by some victims and survivors from ethnic minority communities in England and Wales. Meetings with 107 charities and professional bodies most frequently heard about the barriers to disclosure faced by South Asian; Black and African Caribbean; Gypsy, Roma and Traveller; and Eastern European communities. The report identifies six commonly heard themes including: mistrust of and inadequate access to services; language; closed communities; culture; shame and honour; and education

Things about hot-desking... 

image by <a href="http://www.freeimageslive.co.uk
/free_stock_image/desk-still-life-jpg" target="_
blank"> freeimageslive.co.uk - gratuit</a>

We are aware that, as more people return to the trust to work but are keeping at a good social distance, we are getting more people coming up to the library to work. Please be aware that if you need to use a trust computer or desk space and are working by yourself this is fine, but priority will be given to staff needing to use the computers for e-learning or those consulting library materials and that we cannot reserve spaces for anyone. However the library is not suitable for group work, masks must be worn at all times and we cannot accommodate people printing more than a few occasional documents as the printer is situated next to a doorway so everyone has to pass close to it. There are currently restrictions on the number of people allowed in the library at any one time.

One desk you can book... 

The only exception we make about booking computers is if you need to use SSPS which is installed on one computer. If you would like to use this statistical software please contact the library.

Things to make... 

In my opinion there are few tastes more special than Jersey Royal new potatoes and they are in the shops now. Delicious by themselves but also great in a salad such as this 'Super spring salad'