Public Health Update Issue No 106 – April 2017
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PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE ISSUE NO 106 – APRIL 2017 Welcome to the 106th edition update. If you would like to contribute to future editions please contact: E-CIGARETTES EVENT SPARKS INTERESTING DEBATE [email protected] Aberdeenshire Local Tobacco Alliance (ALTA) recently held an event to raise awareness about e- Table of Contents cigarettes. Chris Littlejohn, Head of Health Improvement E-cigarettes Event Sparks showed how a 1% Interesting Debate reduction in smoking prevalence every year in NHS Grampian would see 46 fewer deaths, 218 fewer Working with Home Start to admissions and £2m total healthcare costs Promote Healthy Eating and saved. Fewer young people are smoking Active Living with data showing a drop of around 20% in the prevalence of 15 year olds who smoke regularly in the last 10 years - 7% regular Aberdeenshire Health Walks smokers in 2013 compared with 27% in – Making a Difference! 2002. Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy, Aberdeenshire Staff to Test Director of the Institute of Social New Medal Routes on Marketing and Dean of Research at the Mobile App University of Stirling, presented evidence showing that e-cigarette use is prevalent in Scotland but it is confined to current or Staff Changes ex-smokers, e-cigarettes are far safer than tobacco and there is growing evidence of effectiveness for smoking cessation. She added that worryingly, the general population and smokers have Material for the next PH Newsletter misconceptions regarding the relative should be submitted no later than harm and that this needs to change. th Tuesday, 20 June 2017 to Carol Muir, Health Improvement Officer [email protected] and Rachel Stewart, Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator highlighted concerns around the aggressive advertising and focussed marketing of e-cigarettes to non-smokers, especially very young children. While recognising that e-cigarettes reduce tobacco related harm, more research is needed about other impacts, such as whether young e-cigarette users move on to smoking. During the event participants discussed challenges they feel e-cigarettes have on priority groups and some said: “The event really opened my eyes to the fact that this is not just a tool for stopping smoking. It has become a business and more and more aimed at young people.” “Felt the day was very beneficial. Learned lots. Now more open minded about e-cigarette.” “When used in isolation – e-cigarettes are a cessation aid.” For more information, please contact: Jill Smith or Rachel Stewart Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator WORKING WITH HOME START TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING Public Health Aberdeenshire has funded Home Start to take forward a number of initiatives that promote healthy eating and active living among young families. The initiatives are varied, but in general cover food skills, active play, play@home (this includes baby massage) and infant feeding - including weaning. Home Start staff and volunteers are in a position to provide light touch key health messages to families where the opportunity arises. It is important that there is consistency with early years practitioners when giving these key messages and talking about these matters with families can be done with confidence. To this end, two training days have been organised by Public Health Aberdeenshire with Home Start and Aberdeenshire Voluntary Agency (AVA) this Spring for all staff and volunteers. Furthermore, over 60 home start staff and volunteers are undergoing online HENRY training (Health Exercise and Nutrition for the Really Young). HENRY training provides a holistic approach, recognising that emotional wellbeing and confident, responsive parenting are just as important for a healthy lifestyle as nutrition and activity. More information from: Dr Mary Bellizzi, Health Improvement Officer Email: [email protected] or Mhairi Philip, Senior Co-ordinator Email: [email protected] Home-Start Garioch ABERDEENSHIRE HEALTH WALKS – MAKING A DIFFERENCE! Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Paths for All have appointed a Health Walks Co-ordinator for Aberdeenshire. The role is to support the development of the existing community health walks and develop health walks where there are gaps in provision and take into account partner priorities. A health walk is a local, short, safe, social walk led by locally trained volunteer walk leaders. The physical health benefits of walking are well evidenced and, together with the social and mental health benefits, these walks make a valuable contribution health improvement and support community engagement agendas in Aberdeenshire. This is an exciting time for the development of health walks in Aberdeenshire. There are a number of existing health walks and walking groups across Aberdeenshire including: the Cairngorms Walking to Health Programme, Deveron Banff / Macduff, Gardenstown, Fraserburgh Walking Group, JIC Fraserburgh Walking to Health group, Kinnaird Fraserburgh, Buchan Healthy Walkers Peterhead, Pillar Portlethen, St Cyrus, Laurencekirk, Kintore, Insch, Banchory and the Positive Steps Group from Kemnay who can be seen here enjoying a health walk in fine winter sunshine on the outskirts of Kemnay. More newly set up health walks include the Garioch Buggy Walk held at the end of February, in partnership with the under 5's Development Worker. Another new walk started in Udny in March, in partnership with Udny Community Trust. Health walks can be organised and supported by Health and Social Care partners and by local communities e.g. Community Trusts. If you think your agency or local community would benefit from a local health walk, to find out more please contact: Alan Melrose Health Walks Co-ordinator Tel No: 07814 048400 Email: [email protected] ABERDEENSHIRE STAFF TO TEST NEW MEDAL ROUTES ON MOBILE APP Medal Routes are three short circular walking routes that start and finish at the same location. These routes are designed to take approximately 15, 30 and 60 minutes. The national Medal Routes initiative is a partnership project funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Paths for All and the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. All Medal Routes are available to download online. NHS Grampian is working with Ramblers Scotland to add walking routes to the App. Eight sites in Aberdeenshire will be available on the walking routes mobile App. Inverurie Hospital will be the main site, with Kincardine, Portlethen, Inverbervie, Peterhead, Crimond, Aboyne & Glen of Dee also offering Medal Routes. Health staff and staff from partner organisations can use Medal Routes to boost patients' health. Health and Social Care Partnership staff will be taking part in an initiative to become familiar with the local Medal Routes while getting active at the same time. Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff has been asked to complete a baseline survey of their current physical activity levels prior to the initiative and then will be encouraged to take part in a 12 week period of walking the routes. Ramblers Scotland will be offering staff prizes for taking part and working with NHS Grampian to evaluate overall results for each area. This initiative aims to support staff health and wellbeing and in maintaining the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Silver Health Working Lives award. The Medal Routes for staff initiative is being delivered by Ramblers Scotland with financial support from NHS Grampian. A similar initiative supported by the NHS Board is taking place in Lothian. The free Medal Routes App (Ramblers Medal Routes) is available via google play or on the App store. For more information contact: Carolyn Lamb Public Health Co-ordinator Email: [email protected] Tel: 01467 672704 STAFF CHANGES Congratulaltions to: Dr Kalonde Kasengele, Public Health Researcher who will be leaving the Health Intelligence Team to take up a training position in the Specialty Registrar Programme at the beginning of August 2017. Kalonde is based in Summerfield House and can be contacted on email: [email protected] or on Ext 58587. .