Domestic violence

The Home Office reports on the past year's activity under the Domestic Violence Action Plan. Amongst the objectives for 2009-10 is the setting up of a DH-sponsored taskforce on health aspects and the publication of a Children and Domestic Violence toolkit.

Out in the cold

Ending rough sleeping by 2012 is the government's ambitious target, set out in No-one left out, published in 2008. A paper from the Communities and Local Government Department provides guidance for local authorities that may not have traditionally experienced high numbers of people sleeping rough. There's also a self-assessment toolkit to help local authorities review existing arrangements. According to the Department "there are 464 people sleeping rough on the streets of England on any single night" (based on the total street count for 2009).

Global classroom

The UK could learn from how other countries use the human rights framework in order to tackle poverty, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation argues. The JRF's research paper surveys activity in the US, Canada and Europe and as well as developing countries.

Alcohol

Alcohol misuse costs the NHS in England around £2.7 billion each year, according to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. Its report, Reducing alcohol harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse looks at the effectiveness of DH policies. Amongst its recommendations is that DH should challenge PCTs as regards reducing alcohol-related hospital admissions.

The BMA targets alcohol marketing as a means of reducing harm to young people, advocating a ban on advertising and establishment of minimum pricing.

Baby friendly

HSJ (8 September) looks at the Unicef/WHO accreditation scheme designed to promote breastfeeding, arguing for implementation across the NHS.

Rural communities

Tackling health inequalities in Fenland offers a particular set of challenges: as well as isolation and an aging population, the area is also home to a sizeable traveller community. The IDeA site offers a video podcast of Fenland District Council's approach which provides some insight into the local authority's thinking.

Children's Services

In it together, a guide produced by the Local Government Association, offers examples of good practice in delivering services for children with complex or challenging needs. The report focuses on commissioning, as well as multi-agency working and caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Infant mortality

Social deprivation, ethnicity and maternal age are the more significant predictors of infant death rates, a study published in the BMJ confirms. Variations between PCTs attainment of targets for infant mortality are more likely to be dependent on these factors than on quality of service or budget considerations.

Social marketing

The National Obesity Obersvatory offers guidance on geographical mapping. This briefing paper stems from market research relating to Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives. It explains the development of a more detailed geodemographic segmentation approach.

Home visits

Recent studies have shown home visiting programmes can have long term social and health benefits - but are they cost effective? A study published in the Journal of Public Health looks at a programme for vulnerable families during antenatal and postnatal periods.
Nurse led home visits are also highlighted as being valuable in effective assessment of childhood asthma, it is shown in a study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
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Sure Start

The Children, Schools and Families Select Committee is about to turn its attention to the Sure Start programme. The Committee will be looking at how far this integrated model of children's centres offers an effective response to deprivation. Written submissions should be in by 12 October.

Childhood obesity

A new leaflet for parents from DH, "Why your child's weight matters" explains the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and offers advice on healthy lifestyle linked to the change4life programme. Guidance for PCTs and schools for NCMP in 2009/10 is also available on the DH weibsite. BBC News reports on a study in Bristol of managing and treating childhood obesity in primary care. The qualitative study of frontline practitioners is published in the British Journal of General Practice.