Men's Health Newsletter December 2011.pdf

Welcome to the First Sunderland Men's Health Newsletter.

Have a look at whats happening in Sunderland regarding Men's Health and ways you can get involved.

A study looking at the extent and characteristics of domestic violence in South Tyneside has recently been published. The report also looks at the local services that currently exist for perpetrators, victims and affected children in South Tyneside. It aims to identify gaps in current service provision by comparing local need to current service provision and also by comparing local action to models of best practice. It recommends next steps to address gaps and enhance action around domestic violence in South Tyneside.

Download the report below.

South Tyneside Domestic Violence Needs Assessment (pdf, 2MB)  

Weight management courses are now being made available to even more NHS staff. It's Halloween so the festive season is just around the corner and staff can learn how to maintain a healthy weight even with all the mince pies and TV movies on offer!

Check out the flyer for the workplace course details: Weight Management Courses Nov 2011.doc.

For more information about the courses or services available to the public contact;

The Health and Lifestyle Programme on 0191 2831156.

Health Lifestyle final (1110-264).pdf

Or

The Sunderland Health Trainers on 0191 5027164

A4 Health Trainers leaflet.pdf

Staff of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust are invited to a drop in session get access information and support to improve their health and wellbeing.

  Roadshow Poster Final.ppt

The event on Friday 23rd September (09.00-12.00) is being hosted by the Wellbeing Team at South Tyneside District Hospital and will be supported by other services including the Health and Lifestyle Programme, Stop Smoking Service and NECA. The roadshow will be held at the function room off the restaurant to catch staff coming on and off their break.

The planning workshop generated lots of great ideas and these have been used to put together a programme of activities for the staff of NHS South of Tyne and Wear and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust. Check out the link for our plans!

WMHD 2011 posters.ppt

The next meeting of the CEHI weblog working group will take place on Friday 16th September between 2.30pm and 4.00pm at the offices of South Tyneside Council, South Shields Town Hall NE33 2RL.Follow the link for a location map. Agenda and minutes of last meeting can be downloaded below.

Weblog Working Group agenda Friday 16th Sept 2011

Weblog Working Group minutes Thursday 14th July 2011

It is estimated that there are 11,000 people who are from ethnic groups other than "white British" living in Gateshead. There are some health issues that affect these groups more than the white British population. The presentation below sketches a profile of the black and minority ethnic (BME) population in Gateshead and identifies health issues that particularly affect them. It also summarises the findings of local research that has asked local people from BME communities their views about health and their experiences of using health services.

Health and Care Issues Affecting Black and Minority Ethnic Populations in Gateshead

Better health is part of the vision of Gateshead Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council and NHS South of Tyne and Wear. But do you know what your local Council or Primary Care Trust is doing to improve health? One way of finding out is to attend regular Council or Board meetings which are always open for the public to observe. Dates, times and venues of forthcoming Board meetings are below:

Know Your Numbers! Week is a national annual campaign run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association which increases public awareness of issues surrounding blood pressure and offers free blood pressure checks to members of the public. This year's event takes place from Monday 12 - Sunday 18 September.

NHS South of Tyne and Wear and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust is participating in this year's event as a great opportunity to reach people who wouldn't usually get a blood pressure check. Staff can come along to drop in sessions at their workplaces. Staff can contact the NHS Health Checks Specialist Nurse Practitioner, Simon Ayre, for times and dates on 0191 5025050.

More information from the Blood Pressure Association

If you would like more information about high blood pressure, please visit the our website at www.bpassoc.org.uk or you can also call our Information Line on 0845 241 0989.

Check out if your lifestyle is effecting your blood pressure by taking this quiz!

Following on from the successful World Mental Health Day Briefing/Planning Event in May; NHS South of Tyne and Wear and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust held their own planning workshop for staff on the 26^th of July.

The event was well attended and participants had the chance to try out activities on the five-a-day for health and happiness theme while they had table top discussions and generated a wealth of ideas.

The Wellbeing Team is now busy organising a variety of activities for staff and will be working with Health Advocates and Champions to make sure the World Mental Health Day message reaches the entire workforce.

Staff can contact the Trust's Workplace Mental Health Worker, Michelle Noble, for more information on 0191 2831643.

Having being successful in securing funding from the FA's small sided football grant, Sunderland City Council in partnership with The FA are launching a new 5 a side football opportunity for local businesses. The league will be hosting at Houghton Sports Centre's brand new 3^rd Generation synthetic pitch.

The league has been subsidised by Sunderland City Council who will pay all FA affiliation costs to offer workplaces the perfect opportunity to enter a league format at a minimum cost. The league will be fully affiliated to Durham County FA and games will be officiated by qualified referees.

The Sunderland Council Business 5 Aside League is scheduled to run every Tuesday evening for 14 weeks beginning on Tuesday September 6^th with the final round of games to take place on Tuesday 6^th December. Each game will be scheduled to last for 26 minutes (2 x 13 minute halves) and teams will be invited to continue for a second season after Christmas. All league tables and fixtures will be available online through The FA's dedicated league website "Full-Time", so teams can track their progress in the league as well as check up on upcoming fixtures.

As a bonus, each team who enters will be invited to play in a one off tournament free of charge on Saturday 3^rd September. This tournament will mark the official opening of the facility.

Following the seasons climax the winning team will be presented with the Houghton 5 a Side trophy to be defended the following season.  Companies are not restricted as to how many departments or teams they wish to enter. A full list of league rules will be sent out upon receipt of the team's application.

For all enquiries or to enter your team(s) please do not hesitate to contact Simon Wardle on 0191 561 4598 or email simon.wardle@sunderland.gov.uk

Houghton 5v5 Notice.doc 

Also attached is a flyer for a new league in the City to be help at Farringdon Community Sports College.  For more information on this scheme, please contact Giles on giles.sandercock@safc.com.

Farringdon 7s football.pdf

Worried about going from this:

                                                                                                              to this?

A healthy lifestyle is about much more than celery! Doesn't this look more appetizing?

 Why not come along to the weight management course to get some practical and realistic information about portion sizes, weight loss, eating out, physical activity and much more?

For more information about the courses or services available to the public; contact the Health and Lifestyle Proramme on 0191 2831156.

Health Lifestyle final (1110-264).pdf

For details of the Sight North East exhibition at St James Park, Newcastle on Sept 7th, download the information leaflet below.

Sight North East.doc

In September 2011 Women's Health in South Tyneside will be running New Beginnings, a support group for mothers and female carers of children who have been sexually abused.  WHiST is a supportive and safe environment where women can get support and advice at their own pace. 

Anyone interested in attending New Beginnings should contact WHiST for more information on 0191 4546959. NEW BEGINNINGS LEAFLET for 9th June.pdf

www.whist.org.uk

NECA Training are now able to offer free accredited training for anyone aged 19 plus, and in receipt of ONE of the following means tested benefits. 

Are you running a health improvement event or service and would like to publicise your work? CEHI is able to arrange for a short (2-3 minute) video or podcast to be produced showcasing a health improvement initiative in Gateshead, South Tyneside or Sunderland. The offer is only open to not-for-profit or voluntary sector organisations. If you are interested, get in touch. Contact details are at the foot of the page.

0031 NHS Mens Health leaflet email.pdf

See the men's health poster

Diabetes UK National Diabetes Week 2011

'Let's Talk Diabetes'

In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.8 million people. More than one million people in the UK are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes with 6000 of these individuals living across the NHS South of Tyne & Wear area. Daily, around 84 people are diagnosed with diabetes and 28 people die from this disease.

Diabetes UK's National Diabetes week 'Let's Talk Diabetes' is taking place from 12^th to 18^th June and is being supported by NHS South of Tyne & Wear's Wellbeing Team with a week of drop-in sessions for all the Trust's staff. Drop in Schedule.doc 

All members of staff can come along to this confidential drop-in to have their questions answered, learn more about the causes and how to lower the risk of developing diabetes for themselves or their family and friends.

Free blood glucose checks will also be available. Click on the link below to see how the check is carried out.

Diabetes Week.wmv

For more information please contact Simon Ayre on:

0191 5025050 or simon.ayre@sotw.nhs.uk

National Diabetes Week official Website:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Diabetes-Week/

Congratulations to everyone who completed the Race for Life at Saltwell Park on the 15th of May.

Linda Wintersgill and her daughter Stephanie, Bridget Workman, Claire McNeill, Sarah Rushbrooke, Jane Beveridge, Joanne Bishop and Elaine Robinson from the North of England Cancer Network and Clare Richardson from the Gateshead Primary Care Mental Health Team have kindly shared their photos.

The North of England Cancer Network are calling for volunteers to spread the Be Clear on Cancer message at the Race for Life events over the summer. If you can help - please email the North of England Cancer Network on necn@sotw.nhs.uk

Race for Life Gateshead.wmv

Today is Fruity Friday and NHS South of Tyne and Wear has delivered fruit to each of their staff bases - that's thousands of pieces of fruit!

Fruity Friday is an annual awareness and fundraising campaign by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK), to increase public awareness of the links between diet, nutrition and cancer prevention.

Staff are helping to raise awareness by wearing yellow. The photo shows the Occupational Health, Safety and Security Team's effort last year! Can you do better this year?

View image

Bridges Community Bank is available in South Tyneside to help people save and manage debts with rates that are extremely competitive compared to both high street banks and loan companies. They are mutually owned and extremely popular in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Bank is ran by local people to serve the financial needs of the local community on a not for profit basis.  It provides members with help in managing their financial affairs, encourage saving and provide loans at reasonable rates.

Sunderland Public Health are hoping to set up a new support group in a bid to raise male life expectancy on Wearside.

NHS South of Tyne and Wear is looking to establish a Men's Health Network to help make men more aware of illness and other issues.

Men aged over 40 are being encouraged to get involved in the initiative, with 15 already recruited.

Yusuf Meah, promoting health practitioner for Sunderland at NHS South of Tyne and Wear, which covers Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT), explained the reasons behind creating the network.

He said: "Men in Sunderland have a lower life expectancy than the national average - 75.9 compared to 78.3 nationally.

"There are also unnecessary differences in life expectancy locally - a man in Washington South, for example, can expect to live until 83.7, whereas a Hendon man's average life expectancy is 14 years lower at just 69.7.

"Many of these premature deaths could be prevented - whether that be through making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, doing more exercise or stopping smoking - or by simply being more aware of the symptoms of certain conditions and visiting the doctor at an early stage.

"The network will look at all of the above and act as a forum for discussion and support."

Those wanting to join the network will be able to visit regular meetings across the city.

Advice from health professionals, on-the-spot checks and assessments will be available to determine how at risk men are of developing conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

Guest speakers will give presentations on specific conditions and services.

Those interested in joining the network should call Yusuf on 529 7202 or email menshealth@sotw.nhs.uk

The meeting of the Weblog Working Group between 1.00pm and 2.30pm on Fri 15th April will take place in the Seminar Room, Clarendon, Windmill Way, Hebburn NE31 1AT. Agenda and minutes of the last meeting can be downloaded below.

Minutes of WWG meeting of Friday 21st Feb 2011

Weblog Working Group agenda for meeting of 15th April 2011

Popular pages

http://www.cehi.org.uk/06_Deprivation.pdf

http://www.cehi.org.uk/Gateshead Emotional Health and Well-being Action Plan 2010-2013.pdf

Women's Health in South Tyneside (WHiST) is a South Shields based charity working with women around physical and emotional wellbeing.

On Wednesday 13th April 2011 we are holding If I Can, You Can, an event to highlight the achivements of WHiST members who have set up their own businesses.

WHiST members worked with TEDCO to turn their ideas and hobbies into businesses.  If I can, You Can is an opportunity for these women to advertise their success and sell products.

Working with WHiST and TEDCO has helped women gain confidence, improve their wellbeing and make financial changes to their lives.

If I Can, You Can, 11am-2pm at WHiST, 33 Mile End Road, South Shields. NE33 1TA

Telephone 0191 4546959 for more information

stall at WHiST

if I can you can at WHiST.doc

The new North East School of public health website www.sphne.org.uk was launched on the 14^th February; it replaces the North East Teaching Public Health website.

The Vision for the School

"Every contact a health improvement contact & Every contract a health improvement contract".

What is the School?

The School of Public Health is the vehicle to deliver the education and development of the multi-disciplinary workforce essential if we are to be successful in implementing the North East strategy for health improvement.

 The web-site has 3 main areas;

Building Public Health Futures

Responsible for

·        Developing health improvement capacity through influencing teaching and learning

·        Influencing organisational development

·        Informing and influencing public health workforce planning

Public Health speciality training including Public Health Dentistry

Responsible for

·        The training of specialists who aim to be registered with the GMC or the UKPHR. This encompasses those on the formal training scheme and those using a portfolio route

North East Leadership for Improving Health and Well-being

Responsible for

·        The multi-disciplinary training and development programme aimed at  creating  a cadre of exceptional improvement leaders who will facilitate local rethinking of whole system public health

The website provides information for the whole public health community including

·        News and events

·        Publications and resources

·        Useful links

·        Opportunities to develop virtual discussion groups and consultation on key public health issues

To Visit the website please go to www.sphne.org.uk

The Lodex Wellbeing Toolkit is an independent, academically validated, evaluation of the impact a project has had on the wellbeing of participants.

Free to projects substantially funded by NHS South of Tyne and Wear which includes Gateshead PCT, South Tyneside PCT and Sunderland Teaching PCT.

Visit lodex

Gateshead's Health Improvement Capacity Building Programme commenced in September 2010 to generate skills, knowledge and capacity across the wider workforce. 

The programme will focus on the central role of the local government workforce in improving public health and aims at engaging all level of the organisation through the following activities:

• Leadership
• infrastructure
• Organisational change and development, and
• Health related training

For more details about the programme please contact me at jaynenorwood@gateshead.gov.uk

This website gives the people of Gateshead and staff easy access to information which helps with their health, wellbeing and indepence. 

The February meeting will take place in the Whickham Room at Gateshead Civic Centre between 1.00pm and 2.30pm. Click on the links below to download agenda, minutes and a schedule of all future meetings and venues in 2011.

Agenda

Minutes Nov 19 meeting

2011 Meetings schedule

Come along and give your opinions, suggestions and contribute to our ongoing engagement about the development of the new primary care centre in Houghton Le Spring.

Houghton Drop-in Event 2010 Invite & Flyer.doc

Get involved in raising awareness of a range of health issues throughout 2011.  Please download the campaign form, complete your details, and highlight the health campaigns you are interested in suppporting

A mental and emotional health needs assessment of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) population of NHS South of Tyne and Wear (Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland) November 2010 (Full Document)

LGBT Mental Health and Emotional Needs Assessment.pdf

LGBT needs assessment summary.pdf

Organisations across South of Tyne & Wear are being invited to sign up to the North East Better Health at Work Award.  More than 50,000 employees are already receiving support from their employers to help them make healthier lifestyle choices, and any organisation wishing to sign up for Bronze level of the Award in 2011 should contact Kerry Neville on 0191 490 2429 or email kerry.neville@gateshead.ac.uk

A workshop took place on Thursday 9th Dec 2010 at the Lifelong Learning Centre at Kingsmeadow School which looked at the potential of the Dunston Pool Redevelopment to improve the health of the local community. Read the full news item to find out more.

Examples of Health Impact Assessments carried out in Gateshead can be downloaded from the Health Impact Assessment page on Gateshead Council's website. Follow the link to go there. 

Find out what national health campaigns are running throughout 2011! Links and contacts details also available. Health Campaign Calendar 2011.doc

The next meeting of the CEHI Working Group will take place on Friday 19th November 2010 at Gateshead City Learning Centre, Unit 6, Keel Row, Metro Riverside Business Park, Gateshead NE11 9SZ (click for location map).

   Minutes of July meeting (pdf 18KB)

   Agenda (pdf 12KB)

Gateshead Emotional Health and Well-being Action Plan 2010-2013.pdf  

Final Version

Training sessions are now available throughout November for council employees, NHS staff, voluntary sector organisations and volunteers.  These sessions are available to assist you in making it easier for people to find information, advice and services.  For futher information click on US Website Training - flier invite.doc

  All primary and community care staff across South of Tyne and Wear are invited to an awareness event on Dementia. 

The next meeting of the CEHI Weblog Working Group will take place on Friday 16th July between 1pm and 3pm at the City Learning Centre, 6 Keel Row, Metro Riverside Business Park, Gateshead, NE11 9SZ. 

Download the agenda and the  minutes of the May meeting.

Thanks to everyone who came along to the Gateshead Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Workshop on 22nd June at the City Learning Centre.  The 2010 Gateshead JSNA Report and all the supporting evidence can be found at www.gateshead.gov.uk/jsna. There were some technical problems on the day downloading some of the larger documents.  All documents are now downloading successfully. Other materials used on the day can be downloaded below:

Gateshead JSNA index

Gateshead JSNA USeful Websites

Dementia Service Review Exercise

Weight Management Intervention Exercise

The next meeting of the CEHI Weblog Working Group will take place on Friday 21st May between 1pm and 3pm at the offices of the City Learning Centre, Unit 6, Keel Row, Metro Riverside Business Park, Gateshead.  Follow the links to download a location map, the agenda and the minutes of the last meeting.

Youth workers visiting us at Clarendon for health information.

Go to link to see the minutes of the latest Weblog Working Group

Cehi minutes Friday 19th March 2010.doc

Give your suggestions for a new project name for appropriate Mental Health Services for younger people aged (18-35) in Sunderland

See below for details

Innovations Flyer HT.pdf

Thank you to everyone who supported No Smoking Day 2010!

Enter your activity/event for the No Smoking Day Organiser of the Year Awards 2010.  It doesnt matter how large or small your event/activity was, all these events are important in helping to raise awareness of the importance of giving up smoking.  See below for details.

Healthy Highfield Week is an opportunity for everyone to see what is going on in Highfield, in the West of Gateshead, and to get involved in healthy activities and sessions.

The Primary Care Trust is an NHS organisation responsible for improving the health of the local community and providing health services to the population.

The Public Involvement Team is committed to involving patients and the public in the work of the Primary Care Trust.

If you would like to be involved in designing and developing health services you contact us on 0800 783 2556 or e-mail getinvolved@sotw.nhs.uk

Blog training session at Gateshead City Learning Centre on Monday March 15th and Friday March 19th, 9.30-12.00. The session will take place in Unit 6 diagonally opposite and across the carpark from the CLC main building.

This is a hands-on session and you will get experience of multimedia web-publishing.

Please feel free to bring along "real" content, text, images or multimedia that you wish to publish, either on a memory stick or disc.

Please note: if arriving by car please ensure that you park in a Gateshead CLC tagged space.

Directions and location information can be found at the ictGateshead website

Training Materials
Basic User Guide to Blogging with CEHI

Five a day for Health and Hapiness - Five Ways to Well Being

A briefing/planning session is being held on Wednesday 28th April at the Media Centre, Stonehills, Shields Road, Gateshead, NE10 0HW starting at 12 noon until 2pm.

Our Alcohol IBA course is free to all NHS staff across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) is effective in helping people who drink in a harmful way to reduce their alcohol consumption and our IBA course will enable you to:

• Develop a "prompt" tool to help you "Think Drink" for common presentations


• Raise the issue of alcohol related harm using a simple and non-confrontational "opening"


• Calculate "Units" confidently


• Assess a clients readiness to change and modify your response accordingly


• Deliver advice in a short, personalised and structured way

The training can be delivered as an "open" group session, where participants may come from one or more of these services, or as a "closed" session, which will be restricted to members of your team. Our course is in two parts:

1. An on-line pre-learning programme (max of 60 mins). This gives the theory behind IBA and describes the effects of drinking at a higher than recommended level.

2. A practical skills workshop (90 to 120 mins). This will equip you with the practical skills and confidence to identify the early signs of harmful drinking and to raise the issue of alcohol with the patient. You will be able to accurately assess their risk and learn how to say the right things that will help the patient.

Visit www.alcoholfirstcontact.co.uk to find out more.

...to all those who attended and particpated during the CEHI blog training session on Friday. Lots of interest and pertinent questions...I hope you all left feeling encouraged to begin posting to the site. Apologies for the tech problems half way through - it happens.

Thanks again...and if you have any problems, let me know either via email or through the commenting link below.

Please come to the lanch of the Health-Check Drop-In at Gateshead Central Library, with Gateshead Health Trainers peter bell and Darren Taylor, on Monday 15th of February from 11:30AM-13:30PM. Get your Mini-MOT Health-Check or Sign-Posting Public Health Information.

At the CEHI training session I learnt :

• CEHI as an information sharing resource across South of Tyne and Wear.


• The simple way in which we as an organisation can share information with everyone.


• How we can all interact with each other on the topics within the site.

Is your hubby a couch potatoe? Get him signed up now for a new weight management course at the Lyndhurst Centre, Wednesdays 6-8pm. Enrol now!

Self Care for You is a 9 hour free course funded by the Department of Health. Covering 6 activities designed to support you to improve your health and change your lifestyle, this course will make your life sing!!
improve your confidence levels, learn about nutrition & exercise, manage stress and more!

Every fortnight at the Elgin Centre in Deckham Gateshead there will be a chance to get a FREE Health Check including Blood Pressure, Height, Weight and Cholestral test.

Why not pop along on a Wednesday (next session 27th Jan) between 9am and 12noon for a free health check and information around healthly lifestyles

Join National Wear Red Day on Friday 26 Feb or choose your own event - anything goes as long as it's red! For further information go to the British Heart Foundation's link below. There is also a free fundraising kit that has lots of posters, stickers, games, ideas and a little collection box. Send them your details below and they will send out your kit straight away.

Thank you to all those people who attended the Health Impact Assessment training sessions this week. If you came along, why not leave a comment and let us know how you found them useful.

Visit the health impact assessment page on CEHI for more resources.

Obesity is on the rise. Do you want advice on how to lose weight.
email Gail@neas.nhs.uk

The forum's next meeting is Feb 5th 10am till 12 at St Judes Church Laygate, South Shields

Agenda: Council Funding (see below)

Please note that Friday's training session will take place at Gateshead City Learning Centre UNIT 13, Keel Row, The Watermark, Gateshead NE11 9SZ

Free car-parking outside the building is available. Please ensure that you park in one of our signed spaces otherwise you risk being clamped. Directions to Gateshead CLC can be found at ictgateshead.org

Coffee and tea is available. Lunch will be provided from mid-day. The session starts at 9.30am.

We look forward to meeting you tomorrow and hope you have a useful and enjoyable session.

ictGateshead are hosting a training session for new CEHI blog editors on Friday, January 22 from 9.30am.

Those attending will get a hands-on shot at publishing text and multimedia to this website and an understanding of blogs and other Web 2.0 techs. There may even be time for some podcasting.

Attendees are welcome to bring pre-prepared text or images on memory sticks. No technical expertise is required for this session.

Bring a sense of humour.

If you are interested in supporting health campaigns during 2010, please complete the Health Campaign Form, and return to the Public Health Improvement Information Team based at Clarendon.

No Smoking Day Briefing Session

We would like to invite you to a No Smoking Day Briefing Session . This year we are running two briefing sessions.

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month and South of Tyne and Wear Primary Care Trust (PCT) have organised a number of events across the area.

The Oral Health Promotion Team in conjunction with the Head and Neck Macmillan Nurses will be at various locations to provide information, advice and guidance to members of the public.

Mouth Cancer Action Month is organised by the British Dental Health Foundation to raise awareness of the causes, signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. The disease kills one person every five hours and early detection improves survival chances to more than 90 percent.

In the last decade the number of mouth cancer cases increased by 41 percent and over 1,800 people die of the disease every year.

The Department of Health and Du service design invite you to a Learning Event which will focus on Reducing Health Inequalities and the role that third sector organisations can play.The event at the Sage on 25th November will be the culmination of four months of activity on this site - on the online exhibition, the bulletin board and, for the studious, the knowledge repository, other wise known as the pre-event reading.

For Further Details go to: Hi3

Telephone: 0845 4501251

Please come along to our drop-in event on:

• You will have the chance to view the finalised plans for the building and contribute to the next stage of the project.


• Representatives from Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust will be there to give updates, listen to your views and answer any questions you may have.
  
• Staff from Sunderland City Council will also be available during the session to discuss leisure facilities.

All welcome

Download poster with details by using this link
Final Houghton Poster Oct 09.pdf.

We are holding a briefing session at the Quality Hotel, Boldon on Monday 28th September, 12 noon until 1.30 pm.
Please note lunch will be provided 12 noon until 12.30 pm, the briefing will begin after this.
This will be your opportunity to find out about the background to this year's campiagn, and how you can successfully promote awareness of this important health issue.
You must register for this event, please contact yvonne.hudson@sotw.nhs.uk or telephone 283 1122

The Falls Prevention Team are hosting a falls event day in line with National Falls Awareness. The event is being held in South Shields Market place. A similar event is being held in Sunderland on the same day.

For further details download this poster National Falls Awareness Day

Please come and meet the team and celebrate the opening of the new and improved SMART service at our launch in June.

SMART - (Substance Misuse Awareness Raising and Treatment) has moved to new premises and grown in size to improve service delivery to young people in Gateshead.

We are holding two informative and fun open days. You will have the chance to learn more about our service, meet the team, see how we work with young people and the resources we use, and be able to network with colleagues as you enjoy light refreshments and a drink from our SMART non - alcoholic cocktail bar!

GATESHEAD THUNDER WILL BE HERE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN PROCEEDINGS ON JUNE 11TH 10am.

Please let us know the day and session you would like to come to.

If you think appropriate please pass this invite onto other interested parties. Look forward to seeing you in June....

World Mental Health Day 2009

We would like to invite you to a briefing session being held on Wednesday 10th June at the Quality Hotel, Boldon starting at 12 noon until 1.30pm. Lunch will be provided. This session will be an opportunity for you to find out about the background to this year's campaign, and will enable you to liase with colleagues and other interested individuals/organisations in your area.

This year we have arranged to have the briefing session much earlier in the year, to enable you to start planning your activities and events now. We hope this will also assist you in getting any support you need, and will ensure a well coordinated approach in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. It will also be an opportunity for you to give your views and help shape this year's plan of activities etc.

Please note lunch will be provided 12 noon until 12.30 pm, the briefing session will begin after this.
If you would like to come along please contact the:-
Public Health Improvement Information Team on 283 1124 / 283 1125 / 283 1126
to book a place.
or email healthinfo@sotw.nhs.uk

You will already be acutely aware of alcohol's influence on health, crime and disorder and the economy. As a region we are sleep-walking into problems with alcohol and there is a serious price to pay, for all of us:

• The North East is home to 12 of the top 20 areas for binge drinking in England
• Alcohol misuse costs the region more than £1billion a year
• The North East has the second highest number of incapacity benefit claimants in England due to alcohol
• It has the highest number of teenage conceptions
• 46% of all crime is alcohol related
• We have some of the highest rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions in the country.

To do this successfully we need your help.

To give you a flavour of Balance's aims and to identify how we can work in partnership to start a regional debate on alcohol, we would like to invite you to join us at one of our exclusive preview events taking place in June 2009.

The 3rd Edition of 'Limits' is now available for download by following this link:

Limits Newsletter April 2009, PDF, 608KB

The Dental Health Foundation runs National Smile Month every year and this year's theme is: "Brush for Health".

The Oral Health Team is holding events over the next few weeks to promote National Smile Month 17th May - 16th June 2009. Promotional events have been organised at 4 locations at Gateshead College and City of Sunderland College where the Oral Health Team will be distributing toothbrushes, toothpaste, leaflets and lots of oral health related information.

• Monday 18th May - Shiney Row College, Sunderland
• Thursday 21st May - Stadium Campus, Gateshead College
• Monday 1st June - Baltic Campus, Gateshead College
• Tuesday 2nd June - Hylton College, Sunderland

Everyone needs to play their part to protect and prepare themselves and their families. There are simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent catching colds and flu based on good respiratory and hand hygiene.

"Flu viruses can live for hours on hard surfaces such as telephone buttons and hand sets. The best way to protect your health is to wash your hands regularly." "Catch it in a clean tissue, Bin it and Kill it by washing your hands as soon as you can. Catch it, Bin it, Kill it."

Households across the UK will soon be receiving a Swine Flu Information leaflet. This leaflet includes information about what swine flu is and how it could spread, what UK governments have done to prepare for a wider outbreak of flu, how you can protect yourself against flu and what to do if you have flu symptoms. To read the leaflet, please click on the link below.

Department of Health Swine Flu Leaflet 119KB, PDF

NHS Evidence has been launched today (as planned!)

Provided by NICE, it is now the portal for authoritative clinical and non-clinical evidence and best practices. It provides access to a range of information, including primary research literature, practical implementation tools, guidelines and policy documents - and incorporates the former National Library for Health with all its resources and the Specialist Libraries collections.

For more information about the background to NHS Evidence, see About us.
For access to NLH resources, see the 'Conduct a Specialist Search' tab on the NHS Evidence home page.

More to follow on NLH when I've had a closer look .......

A diversity training day for multi-agency staff will be held on Thursday 28 May 2009 at the Athletics Training Hall / Sports Academy of Gateshead International Stadium between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm on Thursday 28 May 2009.

For details on how to register please download flyer for contact details and further information:

Diversity Day Flyer, 172KB, PDF

Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust would like to invite you to a drop-in session to view the progress to date on the new Houghton Primary Care Centre.

The public drop-in session will take place at Houghton Library, Newbottle Street, DH4 4AF on Friday 8 May 2009, 2pm - 7pm.

For further details please download either of the following:

Houghton Flyer (flyer).pdf:

Houghton poster (final).pdf

This year our Cancer Prevention Campaign will focus on lifestyle and cancer.
More than one in three people in the UK will develop cancer during their lifetime.
Making positive changes to lifestyle choices and attending screening tests can all help to reduce your risk of cancer.

How can you Reduce your Risk

Dont smoke
Keep a healthy body weight
Know the risks of alcohol
Be active
Eat healthily
Be SunSmart
Take part in screening such as breast screening, cervical screening and bowel screening
Practice safe sex

If you would like to raise awareness of lifestyle and cancer, please contact the Public Health Improvement Information Team for a free awareness pack on 283 1124/ 283 1125/ 283 1126 or email healthinfo@sotw.nhs.uk

for further information on lifestyle and cancer go to:-

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
11th - 17th May 2009

Please help us in promoting breastfeeding!
National Breastfeeding Awareness week is fast approaching and we want to encourage you to highlight that breastfeeding is the healthiest feeding option for babies and mothers.

There will be national materials available to help you put up a display, hold an event or plan an activity around the benefits of breastfeeding. We need more individuals to help us in raising awareness of this week.

If you have not signed up to receive free materials please get in contact with the Public Health Improvement Information Team on:-

283 1124 / 283 1125 /283 1126
or email healthinfo@sotw.nhs.uk

Thank you for your support

For further information on National Breastfeeding Awareness Week go to:-

www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk

Success in achieving current national targets for reducing health inequalities will be evaluated in 2010. 2010 is almost upon us and the Government has recently announced a major review of health inequalities.

Tobacco Control Action Plans have been developed for Gateshead PCT, South Tyneside PCT and Sunderland PCT. Each plan contains smoking rates, impact of smoking on life expectancy, tobacco planning and co-ordination, a local tobacco action plan.

Gateshead Tobacco Alliance Action Plan 2008-09. PDF, 74KB

South Tyneside Tobacco Action Plan 2008 - 2009 _Updated October 2008. PDF, 85KB

Sunderland Tobacco Action Plan Draft v4 Dec 08. PDF, 61KB

Hi from the South Tyneside Cehi Drop in session

What is CEHI?

The Centre for Enabling Health Improvement, or CEHI, is a network of people in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland with an interest in improving health. Some work in the NHS, some work for Local Authorities, some work in the voluntary sector and some are members of the public who have an interest in health issues.

Want to find out more?

The February 2009 newsletter is now available on the NLH Public Health Specialist Library website
or you can download it here

Archived newsletters are now at:
http://www.library.nhs.uk/PUBLICHEALTH/ViewResource.aspx?resID=313467

There is a statutory duty under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act (2007) for local authorities and primary care trusts to undertake a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). A JSNA will identify current and future health and well-being needs of a local population. It will inform the priorities and targets set within Local Area Agreements and lead to agreed commissioning priorities that will improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

Download details of stop smoking support for PCT staff.

Quit Support for Gateshead PCT Staff

Quit Support for South Tyneside PCT Staff

Quit Support for Sunderland PCT Staff

To contact the Stop Smoking Service please call:-

Gateshead and South Tyneside:- 08005316317

Sunderland:- 08005874865

Follow the link below to download the national health campaigns calendar for 2009

National Health Campaigns Calendar 2009

These reports presents a local perspective on health issues which have a strong national profile.

Annual Reports of the Directors of Public Health for South of Tyne and Wear 2007/08 (pdf 4.3MB)

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for Gateshead 2007-08 (pdf 4.2MB)

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for South Tyneside 2007-08 (pdf 1.4MB)

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for Sunderland 2007-08 (pdf 2.8MB)

Health Improvement Monitor 2007-08 (pdf 3.5MB)

Please note that these are large files and may take some time to download, particularly if you are not using a broadband connection.

Significant new investment is being made in new and expanded alcohol treatment services by three local health primary care trusts.

NHS South of Tyne and Wear, which incorporates the primary care trusts serving Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland, has announced plans to invest £5.7m annually in additional services to help those with alcohol related health problems in its area.

Gateshead has had a Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC) since 2001, working to reduce falls and promote access to a healthy and affordable diet. In June 2007, Gateshead was invited to take part as one of ten, first wave sites in England in the promotion of earlier presentation of the symptoms of breast, bowel and lung cancer. Their findings are now available in an interim report.

Download Interim Report: HCC Interim Report July 08. Word: 4,453KB

December 1st is World AIDS Day. Building on the huge success of last year's event marking the occasion in the North East, a number of organisations have come together to plan what we hope will be another exciting march and event to celebrate the day and challenge the stigma and discrimination suffered by the millions of people worldwide whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS.

The November 2008 newsletter is now available on the NLH Public Health Specialist Library website at:

http://www.library.nhs.uk/publichealth/page.aspx?pagename=NEWSLETTER

The October 2008 newsletter is now available on the NLH Public Health Specialist Library website at:

http://www.library.nhs.uk/publichealth/page.aspx?pagename=NEWSLETTER

The September 2008 newsletter is now available on the NLH Public Health Specialist Library website at:

http://www.library.nhs.uk/publichealth/page.aspx?pagename=NEWSLETTER

The newsletter highlights new additions to the library, any special pieces of work and upcoming events.

This report intends to highlight Healthy Communities Collaborative community activity over the last twelve months.

The Sunderland HCC is targeting three wards across the City (St. Chads ward, St. Peters ward & the Hetton ward) encouraging earlier recognition and presentation of breast, bowel lung cancer in the identified local communities. These sites were chosen due to the combined high prevalence and mortality rates of bowel, breast & lung cancer in the areas. Three HCC teams of volunteers and health professionals are working at grassroots level in order to encourage local people to access their GP sooner with potential signs and symptoms of the three cancers in addition to advocating the importance of breast and bowel screening.

Here's the papers for Friday's meeting. Look forward to seeing you all at the CLC, Keel Row, 1.00pm - 3.00pm.

Agenda, Word 43KB
Minutes, Word 34KB

This first of monthly bulletins contains information on new health improvement material available to those of you involved in public health improvement activities. Any comments on the bulletin including what you would like to see in future editions please do not hesitate to contact me with your comments. For all of you working to improve health in Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside download edition 1 now!

Information Bulletin No. 1 July 2008

Check out this photostory using local photos and audio promoting Breastfeeding awareness.

This year’s campaign will be encouraging mothers from low-income backgrounds to initiate and continue to breastfeed their baby. The campaign focuses on encouraging women to access the support that will help them to breastfeed for longer, and the strapline, ‘Breastfeeding: every day makes a difference to your baby’, reflects the message that each day a women continues to breastfeed is another day the child receives important health benefits from its mother’s milk.

What’s going on in Gateshead!

Bosom Buddies celebration evening at Pelaw Social Club
Friday 16th May
7pm – 11pm with disco, buffet and raffle.
Tickets £4.00 available from Heather Stone at Felling Children’s Centre
Tel: 433 5639

“Buddies at Saltwell Park” – Saltwell Towers
Saturday 17th May
10 am – 4 pm
Information stands, colouring activities, craft, raffle, music and movement, face painting, raffles.
Contact Felling Children’s Centre
Tel: 433 5646

Minutes from the last meeting to download

Minutes 25.04.08, Word 63KB

The National Library for Public Health (NLPH) is an online specialist library of the National Library for Health. It replaces the Public Health electronic Library (PHeL). The NLPH was made available in mid-November 2007 with an initial focus on three key areas: Obesity, Alcohol, and Tobacco. The library was relaunched in April 2008.

Here's the agenda, minutes of the last meeting and papers needed for Friday's meeting:

Look forward to seeing you all at the CLC, Keel Row, 1.00pm - 3.00pm.

Download Agenda, Word 44KB Download Minutes from 4th April, Word 65KB
Download Action Plan, Word 67KB Download RNIB Guidelines, PDF 185KB

Community Cohesion and Empowerment: Championing the social, cultural, economic and environmental determinants of health

The Annual Public Health Forum is the largest multi-disciplinary public health conference in the UK, attracting up to 1,000 delegates from all parts of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and overseas.

The 2006/07 Directors of Public Health Annual Reports is a combined report reflecting how public health teams are organised across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The report highlights the similarities and differences between the health problems experienced by the three PCT areas.

National Knowledge Week on Tuberculosis (Infection Specialist Library)
http://www.neli.org.uk/IntegratedCRD.nsf/NeLI_Home1?OpenForm

The National electronic Library of Infection is hosting its next National Knowledge Week from 24th March. It highlights important developments in tuberculosis in the last year, and includes a collection of recent, peer-reviewed publications, expert commentaries and links to useful resources. This is hosted by the National electronic Library of Infection (NeLI-www.neli.org.uk) and the National Knowledge Service for TB, and has been timed to link in with World TB day on 24th March 2008.

http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/smokers/nosmokingday.htm

Throughout 2008 South of Tyne and Wear NHS will be raising awareness of a range of health issues such as Smoking, Breastfeeding, Heart Health, Cancer Prevention, Mental Health, Flu Awareness, Aids/Sexual Health and Alcohol. Anyone working to improve health in Gateshead, South Tyneside or Sunderland can get support and awareness material from the Public Health Improvement Information Service.

The Governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, through each country’s policy documents, have committed themselves to a comprehensive programme of action for protecting and improving the health of the UK population, and reducing health inequalities. The UK countries recognise that in order to meet their ambitious health improvement targets they need a well-informed and dynamic, multi-disciplinary public health workforce. To this end, a coherent, flexible public health skills and career framework has been developed for use across the UK. Click below for further details:

Public Health Skills Career Framework, Pdf 153KB

The North East Teaching Public Health Network (NETPHN) invite you to attend their Inaugural Conference “NETPHN: Helping Bridge the Health Inequalities Gap”

Wednesday 30th January 2008 at the Sunderland Marriott Hotel

No Conference Fee

Download further information and a conference booking form now:

NETPHN: Helping Bridge the Health Inequalities Gap Invite, MS Word 959KB

You may be interested to know that the Indicies of Deprivation 2007 is now available for download. The Indices are used widely to analyse patterns of deprivation, identify areas that would benefit from special initiatives or programmes and as a tool to determine eligibility for specific funding streams.

To download go to:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/neighbourhoodrenewal/deprivation/deprivation07/

Our friends at Gateshead City Learning Centre are hosting a Xmas Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday 1st/2nd December, 9.30-4.00pm at Gateshead CLC, Unit 13, The Watermark.

That's just along from Tyne Tees TV and close to the MetroCentre.

There's over 40 stalls of goodies and gift ideas - glass, wood, art/photos on canvas, jewellery, embroidery, confectionery, cards and papercrafts and lots more. Bring your purse/wallet!

Special appearances from Sam and Zozo (African Master Drummers) and maybe, just maybe, Santa Claus...

Free Entry. Free Parking. See you there!

Have you heard of a new national campaign called ‘Creature Discomforts’, which features characters made by Aardman Animations.

This consultation period has now closed.

Health inequalities can exist in many dimensions including ethnicity, age, gender, geography and socioeconomic status. The causes and definitions of such health inequalities are complex. Inequalities in health or outcomes such as life expectancy and ill health can be investigated along four broad themes:

• wider determinants of health such as employment, education, housing and environment;
• lifestyles or health behaviours such as smoking, drinking and sexual behaviour;
• secondary prevention e.g. screening, early treatment of conditions to prevent deterioration;
• access to services such as health and social care. Equity of access means equal access,
equal need, where need relates to the level of illness.

This monthly bulletin covers national, regional and local (St Helens & Halton) news, events and other relevant information which relate to the six key areas of the 'Choosing Health' white paper, and some wider public health information.
Read the August issue here

The bulletin is produced collaboratively by the Health Improvement Library, the Primary Care Library, St Helens Health Partnership and Halton Health Promotion Service.

From the Health Informatics Community news web page (14 August):

City & Hackney GPs use Text Messaging to Engage with Smokers
http://www.informatics.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2446

The new Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Specialist Library - managed by the King's Fund for the National Library for Health was officially launched today.

The library aims to support the implementation of patient, user, carer and public involvement in health care by providing access, in one location, to the best information which is available on the Web. Go to the PPI home page