WIREDGOV

General News

DFID:  Britain will supply more than 4 treatments every second for people in the developing world for the next 4 years as part of a global push to help eliminate infectious tropical diseases, International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien announced recently.

The pledge marks a 5-fold increase in Britain's support as part of an international effort to help rid the world of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), currently affecting 1bn people & killing more than 500,000 every year.

Press release & links

WAG:  Change4Life is sending out thousands of free recipe brochures to help people in plan & cook healthy evening meals that won’t break the bank.  Welsh Health Survey figures reveal that around a third of children are classified as overweight or obese and the Change4Life Supermeals recipe brochure has been created to provide 14 days worth of easy-to-make, healthy, inexpensive evening meals. 

Everyone already registered with Change4Life in will receive a Supermeals brochure through the post and anyone new who registers with Change4Life online at www.wales.gov.uk/change4life before Friday 10 February will also be sent the brochure. 
Press release & links

MO:  New research has found that solar output is likely to reduce over the next 90 years but that will not substantially delay expected increases in global temperatures caused by greenhouse gases.  Carried out by the Met Office and the University of Reading, the study establishes the most likely changes in the Sun’s activity and looks at how this could affect near-surface temperatures on Earth.

It found that the most likely outcome was that the Sun’s output would decrease up to 2100, but this would only cause a reduction in global temperatures of 0.08 °C. This compares to an expected warming of about 2.5 °C over the same period due to greenhouse gases (according to the IPCC’s B2 scenario for greenhouse gas emissions that does not involve efforts to mitigate emissions).

Press release & links

MoD:  The Surgeon General, Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli, gave a speech at the Combat Trauma Innovation Conference in London last week about the need for partnerships in delivering care to troops.

Press release & links

MoD:  A remarkable group of wounded, sick & injured Service personnel were ‘stars on the West End stage’ last weekend.  They've all suffered brutal or life-threatening injuries, but a group of servicemen & women who paid a terrible price serving in 's Armed Forces are back firmly on the road to recovery, thanks to a theatre in the West End .

'The Two Worlds of Charlie F' is a Service person's view of injury & recovery. The play explores the consequences of both physical & psychological wounds and the impact on others during the fight to win the new battle for survival at home while coming to terms with the cards that life has dealt.

Press release & links

DSA:  From last week the driving theory test will no longer use pre-published questions in a move to stop candidates from learning answers by rote.  Until now all the questions used in the driving theory test have been published. These changes will mean that learner drivers & riders gain a better understanding of driving theory, because they can no longer rely on simply learning which options are correct for individual questions.

The familiar Theory Test books & software still offer revision questions for candidates to test themselves and assess their progress.  They now also have exercises so learners can practice applying their knowledge on each topic to case studies.  There are also new sections of revision support for motorcyclists and a free e-book for car drivers.

Press release & links

PCS: 

New analysis published by the Trades Union Congress claims to show that ‘for every £1 spent on having union reps in public sector workplaces, up to £9 is returned in benefits to the wider economy’.  The TUC report also shows failings in figures relied on by a group calling itself the Trade Union Reform Campaign.

Far from costing taxpayers money, the report 'Facility time for union reps: separating fact from fiction' says that reps could be worth between £267m & £701m a year to our economy.

Press release & links

ScotGov:  Scotland's newest prison, due to open in March 2012, will use its modern design & facilities to impose a regime of work & rehabilitation for the 700 prisoners expected to occupy HM Prison Low Moss. 

It will provide 700 cells as well as facilities to allow prisoners to address their re-offending & reintegrate into the community on their release from prison.  These facilities will include a link centre where prisoners will be able to deal with matters relating to employment, housing, social work, through-care addiction service.

Press release & links

DH:  The Department of Health has published the terms of reference for 2 reviews established following the recent concerns about PIP implants.

Press release & links

HEFCE:  UnLtd, the UK ’s largest provider of support for social entrepreneurs and the Higher Education Funding Council England last week launched a further programme of support for social entrepreneurship in English universities and colleges. 

The initiative will help universities & colleges to develop their support structures for social entrepreneurship, making it easier for students & staff to start up a social venture and thrive within the higher education environment.  The programme aims to encourage a social entrepreneurship culture across the HE sector.

Press release & links

MO:  Following the successful Met Office weather app on iPhone, weather forecasts from the Met Office are now available for Android.  The app can be used on all android phones and includes a widget so information can be accessed directly from the dashboard.

Press release & links

Monitor:  Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, has found that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust is in significant breach of the terms of its authorisation,

Press release & links ~ Related PR re Derby Hospitals ~ Related PR re Poole Hospital

DFID:  Britain will send lifesaving emergency aid to help thousands of children facing severe hunger across the Sahel region of West Africa, Andrew Mitchell announced recently.

Press release & links

MoD:   Troops from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) have been bombarded with petrol bombs & missiles during public order training in a mock village at Lydd Ranges in Kent .  The paratroopers' training has been helping them learn how to deal with hostile crowds that they may face in their role as the British Army's Rapid Reaction Force.

Press release & links

DH:  NHS patients should be able to benefit from genomic technology which can improve the health service’s understanding of the nature of disease and mean that treatment can be tailored to patients’ individual genetic make up – providing the right treatment to the right patient.

In its report to Government on genomic technology, the Human Genomics Strategy Group, highlights the ’s achievements in genetics research to date and proposes a strategic vision to realise the future benefit of genomics.

Press release & links ~ Building on our inheritance: Genomic technology in healthcare

MoD:  Costing £130m and weighing 360 tonnes, the NATO Submarine Rescue System is one of the most sophisticated pieces of equipment in the world.  For 4 days, 70 experts from 3 countries put it through its paces.   Owned by Britain, F & it is always on standby - and happily, so far, it has never been used.
Press release & links

FSA:  Iceland is recalling its frozen minced lamb because some batches may be contaminated with salmonella. The affected batches have a 'best before' date of 11 October 2012.  If you have bought the product don’t eat it.  The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Press release & links

Unite:  NHS Foundation Trust could face legal action over plans that could see staff being hundreds of pounds worse off when they use their own cars for work purposes.  Unite, the union, said plans by the trust to put health visitors, midwives, community nursery nurses, district nurses and speech & language therapists on the public transport rate assumes that NHS professionals should be using trains & buses to visit patients and clients in a predominately rural area. 

The trust has told staff that from 1 April 2012 they will be paid 24p a mile – the public transport rate – and not the current 47p a mile when they use their vehicle for work purposes. 

Press release & links

Unite:  Unite, the union (which represents health visitors, community nurses, mental health nurses & sexual health advisers), has expressed concern about the continuing delay into how the Nursery & Midwifery Council (NMC) regulates the nursing professions and provides protection to the public.  Last week the government ordered a strategic review of the NMC. 

Press release

Defra:  Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Sailing events have been given a boost after the Environment Minister Richard Benyon approved the first stretch of the Coastal Path at Weymouth Bay .

The route, which will start at Rufus Castle in Portland and will end at Lulworth Cove, will improve access to 32 kilometres of the British coastline for everyone’s enjoyment and will allow those interested in spotting the Olympic Sailing to do so as they make their way along the path.

Press release & links