WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

When Mother & baby are at their most vulnerable

Thousands of pregnant women have confronted mental health issues before they become more serious thanks to a thriving perinatal mental health service in Devon.  Since it began 5 years ago the 10-strong Devon & Torbay Perinatal Health Team has identified, supported or signposted thousands of women who needed mental health support.  Now, all of the women who give birth every year in the 3 acute hospitals in Devon & Torbay are asked by midwives about their mental health and those who report concerns or are at risk are referred to the team.

In the last 3 years, 5,698 of the 22,715 women who gave birth needed the service.  All of those women received evidence based advice, either in a letter, following a telephone conversation or in response to a face to face assessment.

Researched Links:

NHS England:  Thousands of women confront mental health issues in thriving community perinatal scheme

Devon Partnership NHS Trust: Perinatal Service

Film to break down stigma and support others going through perinatal mental health issues

CQC:  Review of Health Services for Children Looked After & Safeguarding in Torbay

Perinatal Institute

Perinatal Support Services - Family Action

Costs of perinatal mental health problems

Perinatal Quality Network - Royal College of Psychiatrists

British Association of Perinatal Medicine

NHS Commissioning - C06. Perinatal Mental Health

DCP Faculty of Perinatal Psychology website | BPS

All Wales Perinatal Survey

Perinatal Health in Scotland

'Maternal Mental Health is Everyone's Business - Niamh

£220,000 to improve support for new mothers

NICE updates its guideline on safely treating mental health problems in women before, during & after pregnancy

Funding aims to lift shadow of perinatal depression

 

Work Socially, Work Smarter - The Definitive Guide to Driving Productivity  

There has been a major shift in public sector workplace management and operations as today’s technology enables new, flexible ways of working and innovation. Working smarter is now at the heart of transforming and streamlining organisations but to work effectively, people need to be empowered with the right tools and the right environment.

The ability to ensure your colleagues can communicate securely and efficiently between each other, as well as with clients, customers and partners, from any device, from any location and at any time, is the key to project productivity, public service innovation and success.

Let’s work smarterclick here to download your free copy.

 
Some issues remain with us whoever governs

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is lobbying ministers to agree to a Green Paper on young drivers in a bid to save the hundreds of 17-24 year olds who are killed or seriously injured on the roads each year.  A total of 131 young drivers were killed on the roads in 2013, while 1,159 were left with serious injuries.

Earlier this year, RoSPA wrote to all UK political parties asking them to consider a range of potentially life-saving options such as, graduated driver licensing (a phased driving experience for young drivers), and telematics (or black box technology) and the charity is now renewing its call following the General Election.

Researched Links:

RoSPA-led alliance calls on new Government to save young drivers’ lives

RoSPA:  Young Driver Safety

UK Youth:  Road safety made real

Brake:  Young Drivers

Road Safety Scotland:  Young Drivers

YOUNG drivers at risk - AA

RoSPA - Tragic deaths highlight more must be done to protect young road users

LGA:  Lower the drink drive limit to cut road deaths, say Fire & Rescue Authorities

RoSPA-backed coalition calls for manifesto pledge to save young drivers' lives

RoSPA:  Young drivers more likely to drink & drive, campaign reveals

Country roads: deadlier than you THINK!

EMCDDA releases state-of-the-art review on drugs & driving

Committee to Examine Proposed New Road Safety Legislation

RoSPA:  Fresh Advice For The Family & Friends Of Learner Drivers As Family Safety Week Reaches Mid-Way Point

Much stronger leadership on road safety required from Government say MPs

Black Box Pilot for Young Drivers at Risk

 
Manchester; Gateway to the Universe
The permanent headquarters of the world’s biggest telescope will remain in the UK at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank site.  Jodrell Bank currently houses the headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project for its pre-construction phase.  These premises will now be expanded to support the growing project.  Construction of the telescope, to be located in South Africa & Australia, will begin in 2018.
Researched Links:

STFC:  UK to remain headquarters for the world’s biggest telescope

The Square Kilometre Array:  SKA Home

The SKA:  Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

Australia & New Zealand SKA Project

Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa

World’s largest radio telescope takes major step towards construction

Long term economic plan for the north-west set out by Prime Minister & Chancellor

Government unveils £6bn package for UK science & innovation

First antenna launched on precursor to world’s largest telescope

£119m investment to open new scientific frontiers in astronomy

£265m science investment for largest telescope and biggest microscope

Work starts on the world’s largest radio telescope

Sir Bernard Lovell

SKA project office statement - dual site announced

 
It’s a big, bad e-world out there, but very enticing for children

The ICO has begun a review of websites & apps used by children, as part of an international project to consider privacy concerns around the type of personal information services collect.  The ICO will look at 50 websites & apps, looking particularly at what information they collect from children, how that is explained, and what parental permission is sought.  The websites & apps will include those specifically targeted at children, as well as those frequently used by children.

The same approach will be taken by 28 other privacy enforcement authorities from around the world, with a view to publishing a combined report in the autumn.  The ICO will also consider action against any website or app that it finds to be breaking the Data Protection Act.

Researched Links:

ICO launches review of children’s websites and apps

Are you ‘Appy’ about the uses your personal data are put too?

Social media firms told to simplify terms & conditions

ICO warns consumers about the need for caution when downloading mobile apps this Christmas

Information rights should be embedded in schools, says ICO

Online safety:  NSPCC

Ofcom:  Using apps safely & securely on your mobile phone

MOMO Data Security: How The App Keeps Data Safe

 
It’s STILL happening
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust with an undertaking committing the trust to improving the way it handles patients’ information.  The action comes after the trust mistakenly sent 5 faxes containing information relating to the care of several patients to a member of the public.  The faxes should have been sent to a social care team working at the trust but the wrong number was dialled.
Researched Links:

ICO:  Fax errors lead to data breach at Northumbria NHS Trust

NHS must care for patients AND their confidential medical records

 
West is not always ‘Best’

Collaborate has launched a new report, Collaborative Capacity in Practice: Towards a Framework for Practice, supported by UNDP.  This report reflects of public service delivery, drawing primarily on the public service reform agenda in the UK, drawing lessons from a range of examples to form the basis of a delivery framework that can be discussed, adapted & applied internationally.

The global public services landscape is currently in flux.  In the aftermath of the biggest economic upheaval for generations, leaders around the world are raising profound questions about the role & purpose of government, and the scope & breadth of the public services provided to citizens.  As a consequence, some emerging economies are pioneering new investment & delivery models in an attempt to leapfrog stages of development to meet burgeoning need & demand.

Researched Links:

Collaborate:  Launch of 'Collaborative Capacity in Public Service Delivery'

United Nations Development Programme

 
One less cost to worry about

Fees for cremation forms signed by doctors will no longer apply in Scotland, as a new system of death certification comes into effect.  The crematoria medical referee system is to be abolished, meaning that next of kin will no longer have to pay around £170 for paperwork relating to their loved one’s cremation.  The move will save bereaved families around £5.5m every year.

For the first time, relatives will have the right to request a review of the information on the certificate if they have any concerns. Reviews will be carried out by an independent team at Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Assistance with post-mortem examinations will also be provided to bereaved families dealing with a death that has happened abroad.  Families will be able to apply for assistance, including financial assistance, to arrange for a post-mortem.

Researched Links:

ScotGov:  New system for death certification

 
And an ’Appy’ time will be had by all
BCSWomen, part of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘largest number of people simultaneously learning to code an Android app’. The record attempt will be held on Saturday 13 June 2015 in 20 different locations across the UK.  The event aims to break the record, but also to encourage young people, particularly girls, to consider a career in IT.
Researched Links:

BCS:   Women encourage girls to consider a career in IT with App-a-thon Guinness World Record attempt

Men & women are equal on ‘brainpower’ so deserve equal opportunities

Paid to train, no student debt, good employment prospects for both women & men and vital for future UK economic success

 
Subterranean route to fame & fortune
Buskers keen to perform on the London Underground (LU) network and TfL's broader estate will battle for busking slots in a public 'X Factor' style competition.  Talented musicians will face a panel of music industry experts in public locations around the Capital, and will be judged on their originality, technique & performance. Auditions are scheduled to take place between 18 July & 8 August as part of the Mayor of London's 'Busk in London' initiative, which was set up to support & promote busking in the Capital, with locations set to be announced over the summer.  Applications close at midnight on Sunday 31 May 2015.
Researched Links:

LU invites performers to new ‘X Factor’ style busking auditions

 
Scam Warning
The land Registry are aware that there are a number of emails being sent at the moment that claim to be from them.  These phishing emails are made to look like a standard email that LR send to their business customers who purchase services from us via a variable direct debit account.  The emails also include an attachment and have an added instruction asking the recipient to open that attachment.  The content of this attachment may change, but in each case it has contained a virus.
Researched Links:

Land Registry:  Identifying phishing emails

 
Children Flag Up the birth of Parliament and the Signing of the Magna Carta
80 flags designed by 7-11 year olds from around the UK will fly between today 18th and Friday 22nd May 2015 in Parliament Square. The 2015 Flag Project forms part of the Houses of Parliament’s public programme, Parliament in the Making, which commemorates two important anniversaries in 2015: 750 years since the Simon de Montfort parliament (1265) and 800 years since the sealing of Magna Carta (1215).
Researched Links:
80 Flags designed by primary school pupils present a child’s eye view of the UK fly in Parliament Square
 
Positions on the ‘Greasy Pole’

10DS:  Her Majesty's Government – Appointments - 12 May 2015

Elizabeth Truss returns to Defra

Wales Office:  Stephen Crabb MP re-appointed Secretary of State for Wales

Justine Greening re-appointed International Development Secretary

techUK:  New Government ministerial roles impacting the tech sector

Ministers appointed to Ministry of Defence

DH:  Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt on his reappointment

LGA statement on the appointment of Greg Clark as Communities Secretary

Wales Office:  Stephen Crabb welcomes Wales Office ministerial team

DFID welcomes new ministerial team

New ministerial team welcomed to the DWP

CQC:  David Prior appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)

 

 More contributions to the UK constitutional debate

More news, opinions, documents, claims & counter-claims;

Researched Links:

ScotGov:  Response to Devolution (Further Powers) Committee

Electoral Commission publishes details of spending by campaigners at the Scottish independence referendum

10DS:  PM visit to Scotland: May 2015

 

The election result may have been a win for the Conservatives, but it was an unpleasant shock for some. Our contributing editor David Walker paints a grim picture of public services fighting for survival over the next five years, while six trade union leaders lay out their fears for public services if workers fail to unite.

The local government community is marginally more optimistic: a new recruit to the council graduate scheme explains why she picked NGDP despite intense budget cuts, and Glen Ocsko, co-founder of We Love Local Government, is on the fence about Eric Pickles' legacy.

Most popular
In public services, heroism is dead. The next five years are about survival

In public services, heroism is dead. The next five years are about survival
Under the Tories local and central government bodies will shrink – and single bodies are easier to pick off

Trade unions: in the next five years we have to unite like never before

Trade unions: in the next five years we have to unite like never before
As the shock of the election result subsides, trade union leaders explain what they expect for the future

Local government is sinking into austerity – but I still love my job

Local government is sinking into austerity – but I still love my job
Shrinking budgets are difficult, but I chose the NGDP scheme for the emotional and political challenge

So long, Eric Pickles, and thanks for all the flags
Former communities secretary was never on our side - but he started the process of devolution

News in brief
• New Tory ministers include Matt Hancock for the cabinet office and Greg Clark for communities
• Former cabinet minister Francis Maude was named trade minister
• Unite's Len McCluskey denied Labour lost the election for being too left wing
• New business secretary Sajid Javid will change trade union strike laws
• Teachers have warned of the risk of Trojan horse complacency
• Tories made large gains in council contests after general election win
• Ukip won control of its first UK council in South Thanet
What you’re saying about...
Will English regions get Manchester-style devolution?

Will English regions get Manchester-style devolution?
Localists in England may struggle to get their voices heard above the issues of Scotland and Europe