May Election
As David Cameron becomes the Prime Minister of the UK, bringing a new coalition Government into power, we once again highlight the RSPH’s joint manifesto with the Faculty of Public Health, which urges the Government to make 12 significant changes to public health. These namely include tackling increased concerns over obesity and heart disease as well as alcohol misuse and sexually transmitted infections. 
Download the manifesto in PDF format
Deal Reached on Surplus Pandemic Vaccine
The Department of Health and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have reached an agreement on the Department’s outstanding orders of swine flu vaccine, resulting in substantial savings for the Government.
The UK Government originally ordered enough vaccine to protect the entire population from swine 'flu if needed. However, experts have now advised that this measure is no longer necessary as evidence on the swine 'flu virus has developed. As a result, the Government successfully reduced orders for the Pandemrix vaccine and also cancelled their contract with Baxter. The remaining vaccine will be put aside as reserve in case the virus causes a third wave of illness and will continue to immunise high priority groups. The Government will also donate 3.8 million doses of vaccine to the World Health Organization to boost immunity in Africa.
The former Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "'This deal means the UK will save approximately one third of the original value of the orders with GSK. This both protects the public purse and ensures the UK remains at the forefront of pandemic preparedness worldwide”. For further information, please click here.
Although recent evidence suggests that swine 'flu has reached its lowest level in the UK since the pandemic began, it is still imperative to remain vigilant and take preventive measures to ensure the flu does not spread. The RSPH are strong promoters of the necessity to maintain good hygiene as a way of effectively slowing down and stopping the spread of germs and diseases.
For more information on practicing good hand hygiene please click here.
A Health Inequalities Strategy for London
The strategy is a statutory requirement under the GLA Act 2007 and sets out how we will tackle health inequalities in London. The strategy aims to make London a place where individuals and communities can thrive and cope with life’s challenges, and where we work together to create healthier environments in a city where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy. For further information please
click here.
Public Health Regulation Review
The four UK Departments of Health have indicated their desire to carry out a review of the regulatory frameworks applied to public health professionals. This has been led by the Department of Health England as professional regulation is not a devolved matter.
The review will focus mainly on the specialist workforce, exploring various regulatory options and considering whether medical and non medical public health specialists should be registered under a single system. To download the full terms of reference for the review click here.
More information regarding the review can be found on the Department of Health website
Government to Review the Fund for Hepatitis C Sufferers
The scheme known as the Skipton Fund, which makes payments to those infected with the hepatitis C virus through contaminated NHS supplied blood, blood products and tissues is to be reviewed earlier than planned.
The review was planned for 2014 but has now been brought forward to this year after ministers listened carefully to a broad range of views from those infected with hepatitis C, their families and carers, and those in Parliament who represent them. They felt that the original review date would be too late for many of those affected. For more information please click here
Tick Awareness – Taking Care to Reduce the Risk of Catching Lyme Disease
Late spring, early summer and autumn are peak times for tick bites and coincide with people venturing outdoors for the warmer weather. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is raising awareness of tick bites by providing advice to The Royal Parks for their leaflet on Lyme disease. The Royal Parks are responsible for looking after 5000 acres of historic parkland in London and several of these parklands have large deer herds, one of many animals that can carry the hard-bodied tick which can transmit Lyme disease.
In recent years, according to HPA figures, there have been around 800 laboratory-confirmed cases reported annually in patients from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with an estimated 2000 to 3000 cases a year in total. For further information about the symptoms of Lyme borreliosis and tick bite prevention please click here.
