From the President
Welcome to December's ebulletin.
The public health White Paper for England, Healthy Lives, Healthy People, has been published at last. In it, the Government makes an explicit commitment to public health – based firmly on FPH's updated definition and domains - and sets out its plans to reform the English public health system.
The clear intention to improve health and well-being is good news, and I think there is a lot in the white paper that we can work with to achieve the outcomes we all want for the health of our local communities. As you will see, we have been successful with some key areas of lobbying. This has required a huge amount of work from many people here in St Andrews Place and across the UK, and I am grateful to you all for your support.
But, however good the system, it won't deliver good health without adequate resources. I have been very concerned to hear the pressures many of you are facing at the moment and will continue to do all that I and FPH can to help, nationally and locally.
Jointly with our colleagues in the PHMCC White Paper Task Group, FPH has prepared some initial bullet points to help inform our media and other responses. These are only our preliminary thoughts, and we will be consulting with you all in the next couple of weeks to inform FPH's official response to the document and its consultation questions. (Please feel free to use them to shape your own response).
One of these, on statutory regulation, is a UK-wide issue, and I want to be sure that all our members have a chance to take part in that very important debate. Government has published its review of regulation. You can read the consultation now.
A survey seeking your views on the White Paper will be sent to you shortly, so do keep a look out in your email. But don't wait until then to feed through your views. If there is anything you want to share with us on the White Paper please send it to: whitepaper@fph.org.uk
I was pleased to see that the White Paper acknowledges that there is a role for regulation, albeit only when other approaches have been proven to fail or to have no chance of success. Many of you will know that FPH has accepted the invitation to take part in the national discussions between the Government and the food and drink industries on the proposed 'Responsibility Deal'. This was a difficult decision but, on balance, to join and inform the debate seemed a much more constructive approach than to decline.
The recent USA evidence on the impact of voluntary advertising agreements, which I heard presented at the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual conference in Denver last month, is not encouraging. If the public and professionals are going to have any confidence in the voluntary approach, we will have to do a lot better here in the UK and will need to see some early, tangible successes.
I was struck both at the APHA event and at the excellent FPH Scotland conference by the importance of networks and relationships. The Scottish conference was educational and highly professional, but it was also fun and a great opportunity to develop and refresh friendships. No one can do public health on their own and, perhaps more than ever in these challenging times, it's vital that we support each other.
Please do let us know if there's any way that FPH can assist your networks, now or in the future.
Lindsey
FPH news
Public health white paper – online resource
For up-to-the minute information on FPH's work on and response to the public health white paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People, and other related consultations, including press releases, letters and replies, as well as responses to previous consultation documents visit the White Paper page on the FPH website.
We also want to hear your thoughts/views/comments. Send them to: whitepaper@fph.org.uk
Speciality training applications open
England & Wales
Applications for recruitment into Specialty Training in Public Health in England and Wales open at midday (GMT) on 3 December 2010 and close at midday (GMT) on 20 December 2010.
Interested applicants should view FPH's pages on eligibility and how to apply for detailed information. Applicants will only be required to submit one application to apply for any/all programmes in England and Wales.
Applications will only be accepted through the National Recruitment to Public Health portal . Paper applications will not be accepted.
Scotland
Applications for Scottish programmes also open on 3 December 2010.
Further details are available at the Scottish Medical Training website, which provides programme information, vacancy numbers and the application form for download. Applicants are only required to submit one application to apply for all training programmes throughout Scotland.
Applicants should ensure that they refer to the Person Specification.
Appraisers - calling FPH Fellows
Would you like to train as an FPH appraiser?
FPH will be piloting full system revalidation with members early next year and is seeking fellows throughout the UK to train as FPH appraisers and to offer appraisal to those outside employer systems.
Appraisers will commit to a training day in February and undertaking between three and five appraisals over a six-month period, for which they will be paid.
If you are interested, please email clarewenham@fph.org.uk with the subject title 'Appraiser'.
Will YOU relate to the FPH responsible officer?
For some months now, FPH has been letting members know that FPH will become a designated body for revalidation and will have a responsible officer. The regulations stipulate how individual doctors will relate to responsible officers and this diagram, courtesy of the Department of Health, illustrates this.
If, as a member, you relate to FPH as your designated body and will need to use the services of the FPH responsible officer, please let FPH know so this can be recorded on our systems.
If you think you may relate to FPH's responsible officer please email Laura Webb, Head of Professional Affairs, at laurawebb@fph.org.uk in the first instance with the subject heading 'RO'. She will then confirm your personal circumstances and record you on FPH systems, if appropriate.
MSF and full system pilots continue to time - still recruiting
FPH has already advertised for expressions of interest in its multi-source feedback (MSF) tool and full system pilots of revalidation. We have been very pleased so far with the level of engagement but would like to call members and fellows once again to get engaged in this programme.
We would like to pilot with both medical and non-medical members and fellows. The extension of the piloting period gives FPH the opportunity to embed specialty standards, test MSF for public health and, importantly, to test process and mechanisms for its responsible-officer role and designated body status.
The new regulations relating to responsible officers will shortly be laid before parliament and, where public health consultants will not relate to a RO through their employment setting (which will be mapped out in regulation), FPH will be offering a route for them. This is likely to benefit members with portfolio careers outside NHS settings, who would, without FPH's RO, find it difficult to revalidate efficiently.
If you would like to pilot either the MSF tool or the full pilot process, please do contact laurawebb@fph.org.uk
We hope to launch the full system pilot in January.
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Scottish Clinical Excellence Awards
The Cabinet Secretary has now announced a freeze on distinction awards in the 2011/12 financial year.
There will be no increase in the value of awards, no new awards created and no progression through the scheme next year.
The implementation of the new Scottish Consultants' Clinical Leadership and Excellence Awards scheme has therefore been suspended.
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HSC Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has also announced a freeze on distinction awards in the 2010–2011 Clinical Excellence Awards Round.
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Equivalence Committee update
The committee, which assesses CESR (formerly Article 14) applicants, has been busy over the past year.
Assessor job description and person specifications have been approved, new assessors recruited and a vice chair appointed.
An FPH Assessor Induction leaflet has been launched and an assessor training workshop was recently held with the GMC.
The Speciality Specific Guidance has been redrafted and is awaiting GMC approval.
This demonstrates that there are robust processes and governance arrangements in place for CESR applications.
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Continuing Professional Development reminder for all FPH members
CPD returns for 2010 (or applications for exemption) must be submitted to the FPH office by 31 March 2011.
All FPH members must meet minimum CPD requirements in order to remain in good standing, either by submitting an annual return or by ensuring that FPH has formally agreed to the reasons for your exemption.
Submit a return at the FPH CPD Portfolio and Online Diary page.
If you have any queries about the completion of your return or your application for exemption, please contact cpd@fph.org.uk
If you wish to discuss your CPD requirements, please contact your regional/country CPD co-ordinator.
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Royal College status update
The FPH Petition for a Royal Charter of Incorporation has been submitted to the Privy Council Office.
This follows the passing of a membership resolution at the FPH AGM on 7 July and work to develop and refine the governance documents for the new organisation.
This marks an important step towards realising the vision to become the Royal College of Public Health.
The College Status Working Group will continue to drive this process forward for the organisation.
Work will continue to seek permission to use the appellation 'Royal' in the new organisation, develop arrangements to oversee the transition to the new organisation and to implement the communications programme.
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Membership Services and Engagement Group
FPH is setting up a new group to look at how it might improve membership services, engagement and communication. It is to be chaired by the Registrar, who is keen to ensure that its work reflects the needs of all members of FPH.
We are therefore seeking to recruit a retired member to serve on the group and also a member from a background other than medicine. The majority of the group's work will be undertaken electronically and by telephone conference.
If you would be interested in serving on the group, please contact Caroline Wren at carolinewren@fph.org.uk by Friday 17 December.
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FPH Board report
A summary report of the key issues discussed at an open meeting of the FPH Board on 17 November 2010 can be found at FPH Board Summary Report.
FPH events
2011 FPH Annual Conference – coming soon
We will soon be announcing the venue and date for the 2011 conference. Look out for the announcement in future monthly bulletins and on the FPH website.
In the meantime let us know what you think the big challenges for the UK's public health will be and help us prepare for the UK FPH 2011 annual conference.
Please email your thoughts, views and suggestions to fphconference@fph.org.uk
Public health news
Regulatory pathway for public health practitioners
At its November 2010 meeting, the UKPHR Board reinstated its commitment to achievement of a coherent regulatory pathway for public health practitioners. To this end, UKPHR has already supported pilot local assessment schemes.
The UKPHR Board has now agreed that preparatory work should commence immediately for the Register to open a regulatory pathway for practitioners in the spring of 2011.
The new arm of the UK Public Health Register would open initially to those practitioners who have successfully completed a pilot local assessment scheme. Currently, such schemes are running in Wales, South Central, Kent and Medway and the West Midlands.
Further details on UKPHR's planned development of practitioner registration will be available in the New Year. For further information, please see background information, including the standards for registration, on the UKPHR website.
In this issue:
From the President
FPH news
FPH events
Public health news
FPH in the news
Public health events
FPH in the news
The National Public Health Service
Health Service Journal
British women run higher cancer risk
Metro
McDonald's, KFC and Pepsi to help write UK health policy
The Guardian
The Daily Mail
Calorie tax plan recipe for tackling obesity (FPH Scottish Conference)
The Herald Scotland
Fear of public health nursing break-up
Nursing Times
Is the UK turning the clock back on public health advances?
BMJ
Who will deliver better public health?
BMJ
What does the public health White Paper hold for local authorities?
Municipal Journal
Public Health White Paper
BBC Breakfast News
BBC News Online (Healthy lifestyle role for all society)
BBC News Online (Can we be nudged to good health?)
Pulse
Practice Business
Gov Monitor
On the FPH blog
FPH is looking for new blog writers. If you are interested, please send a 50-word pitch to suvikingsley@fph.org.uk. Anything topical and public health related will be considered.
Read more on the FPH blog.
Public health events
For more information on any of these events please visit the FPH events website
Concepts of Epidemiology - Introductory Crash Course
Date: 06-10 December 2010
Venue: University of Edinburgh Medical School
CMACE Conference Obesity in Pregnancy: Improving Care and Effecting Change
Date: 07 December 2010
Venue: Royal College of Physicians, London
National Salt Awareness Week
Date: 21-27 March 2011
Venue: House of Commons - launch
19th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services
Date: 01-03 June 2011
Venue: Hotel Caribia, Turku, Finland
IEA World Congress of Epidemiology
Date: 07-12 August 2011
Venue: Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
Health and Wellbeing – the 21st Century Agenda
Date: 01-30 September 2011
Venue: London
For more information please visit the FPH events website
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