REHIS News

The Institute’s Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 19 November at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline with over seventy members attending, some in person and others via MS Teams.  Prior to the AGM was the Institute’s annual Environmental Health Update where Lisa McCann gave her Presidential Report reflecting on the previous two years in her role as President.

The President’s Award is presented annually to an individual or organisation who has significantly contributed to the improvement and protection of health and well-being in Scotland through their activities in the Institute’s Community Training. This year, the worthy recipients are Edinburgh Community Food for the work they do as a REHIS Approved Training Centre delivering cooking skills, food hygiene and food and health courses to the community of Edinburgh and beyond.  

 The name Bernard Forteath is synonymous with high standards of professionalism in Environmental Health practice; with positive and proven leadership and delivery of the Environmental Health service within the local authority sector in Scotland; with wholehearted dedication to the important work of the Institute; and with diplomacy and constructive contribution to the world of international Environmental Health.
 

People attending venues covered by Scotland's COVID certification scheme are to be given the option of providing a recent negative lateral flow test for the virus, as an alternative to proof of vaccination.

It means that individuals who received a vaccine not recognised by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), or have experienced difficulty accessing their vaccination record, will be able to attend venues covered by the scheme.

Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular as businesses look for ways to heat their premises for less, while also reducing their carbon footprint. 

Reckitt, as the hygiene partner at COP26 was responsible for providing product and protocols for the hygiene interventions at this huge event, with an area spanning the size of 30 football pitches, and hosting over 26,000 delegates for 14 days. 

A team of 20 scientists from disciplines of virology, microbiology, chemistry, public health and behavioural science agreed the protocols for the event based on Targeted Hygiene principles. This was endorsed by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

By Helen Main (Main Course Training)

The UK Government has published an updated Border Operating Model - the guide to how the border works with the European Union

This new version of the model reflects the revised timetable for the introduction of UK border import controls, as announced on 14 September. 

 A £25 million fund to improve ventilation in business premises and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission is now open for applications.

Small and medium-sized will be able to claim back costs of up to £2,500 to undertake work such as the installation of carbon dioxide monitors and remedial improvement work to windows and vents.

Support will initially target high-risk settings where people come into close contact, such as restaurants, bars and gyms.

The Scottish Government have published an updated Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Strategic Framework.

The update to the Strategic Framework (last updated in June 2021) sets out progress against the range of strategies being deployed across government and the broader public sector in Scotland in response to the coronavirus pandemic and explains the Scottish Government’s approach to the future management of the pandemic.