Author: Peacock Carter

Digital mapping techniques have enabled the Health Protection Agency and British Geological Survey to produce a new radon map of Scotland. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which seeps up from the ground and is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK.

Dr John Cooper, Director of the HPA Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, said: “This new map will give Scottish householders the very best available information to determine if they should test their home for radon”

For more information download or view the joint press release and the Indicative Atlas of Radon in Scotland by clicking on the links below. https://www.ukradon.org/information/ukmaps

Community Food and Health Scotland is inviting applications from groups to deliver the new REHIS Elementary Food and Health Course for Carers of Adults with a Learning Disability. They will start assessing applications from 27 July for up to £600 towards the costs of delivering this new REHIS course.

Full information and details of how to apply for these additional funding opportunities is available on their website

In 1999 the Urban Task Force led by Lord Rogers published the report “Working Towards Renaissance”, championing a holistic approach to urban regeneration, part of which recommended the introduction of a standardised document describing the condition of brownfield sites as part of any transaction process. Following consultation across a broad range of organisations, property developers and government, the Land Condition Report (LRC) was launched, supported by a quality assurance sign off system by an accredited professional. To meet this need the Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) registration scheme was introduced; a register for experienced practitioners from a diverse range of professional bodies working in the brownfield regeneration sector and advising on land condition matters.

Whilst the scheme was initially designed as a qualification for the sign off of the LRC, it has developed progressively, establishing an important role in improving quality and standards across the industry.

For more information and how to register click on the attachment.

Many environmental health staff felt after the tragedy of the Tsunami last year, that perhaps more could have been done by the environmental health community to respond and offer practical assistance. As a result, a group of EHOs from England have teamed together with a number from the Irish Republic to form a group called Environmental Health in Disasters and Emergencies (EHiDE). To find out more about how to register an interest, see attached note

Earlier this year the Institute sent questionnaires to a random sample of 100 Environmental Health Officer members to establish levels of post-qualification training undertaken, to seek views on current post-qualification opportunities offered by REHIS and to ascertain opinion on future post-qualification training and development needs. A report was submitted to the Environmental Health Promotion Committee in September last year and the findings are now being evaluated and will be reported on in the near future. Paul Bradley, Chairman of the Environmental Health Promotion Committee would like to thank all members who completed and returned their questionnaires.

The REHIS offices were officially opened by Stewart Maxwell MSP, one of the Institute’s Honorary Vice-Presidents, on 24 June. The Autumn edition of Environmental Health Scotland will carry a fuller report of the event.

The REHIS offices were officially opened by Stewart Maxwell MSP, one of the Institute’s Honorary Vice-Presidents, on 24 June. The Autumn edition of Environmental Health Scotland will carry a fuller report of the event.

As the holiday season gets underway, radiation experts at the Health Protection Agency are urging caution in the summer sun. Each year many thousands of holidaymakers in the UK, and those who head abroad, burn their skin after spending too long in the heat of the summer sun.

See attached HPA press release for more information.

As the holiday season gets underway, radiation experts at the Health Protection Agency are urging caution in the summer sun. Each year many thousands of holidaymakers in the UK, and those who head abroad, burn their skin after spending too long in the heat of the summer sun.

See attached HPA press release for more information.

Edinburgh Cyrenians is an independent charity that has operated with continuous steady growth and success since 1968. They provide solutions to poverty and homelessness and work towards a Scotland that makes room for all. Their passion is to help people who have had severe problems, to help themselves improve their lives. They offer the kind of opportunities and support that enable people to turn their lives around. The Good Food Good Health Joint Award is tailored for the priority groups, is delivered over two days and aims to enable participants to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver practical in-house cooking classes and be able to promote and encourage healthier eating, cooking and food budgeting options to their client group to ensure consistent messages about food and health to those they work with. As well as the two days training, an important element of the Good Food Good Health Joint Award is that it also offers eight weeks of cooking classes.

 Graham Walker, REHIS Director of Training would like to thank the staff at Edinburgh Cyrenians for all their hard work and support, in particular Chris Stevenson, Cyrenians Food and Health Development Co-ordinator, during the development of this joint award. The delivery of this training programme including ‘on the job’ experience adds value to the work already being delivered across the sector, by increasing the skills set of support staff in extending knowledge, confidence and understanding of issues around food, health and social inclusion.

The photograph shows Tom Bell, REHIS Chief Executive, Des Ryan, Edinburgh Cyrenians Chief Executive and Chris Stevenson signing the Joint Award Agreement.

Edinburgh Cyrenians is an independent charity that has operated with continuous steady growth and success since 1968. They provide solutions to poverty and homelessness and work towards a Scotland that makes room for all. Their passion is to help people who have had severe problems, to help themselves improve their lives. They offer the kind of opportunities and support that enable people to turn their lives around. The Good Food Good Health Joint Award is tailored for the priority groups, is delivered over two days and aims to enable participants to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver practical in-house cooking classes and be able to promote and encourage healthier eating, cooking and food budgeting options to their client group to ensure consistent messages about food and health to those they work with. As well as the two days training, an important element of the Good Food Good Health Joint Award is that it also offers eight weeks of cooking classes.

 Graham Walker, REHIS Director of Training would like to thank the staff at Edinburgh Cyrenians for all their hard work and support, in particular Chris Stevenson, Cyrenians Food and Health Development Co-ordinator, during the development of this joint award. The delivery of this training programme including ‘on the job’ experience adds value to the work already being delivered across the sector, by increasing the skills set of support staff in extending knowledge, confidence and understanding of issues around food, health and social inclusion.

The photograph shows Tom Bell, REHIS Chief Executive, Des Ryan, Edinburgh Cyrenians Chief Executive and Chris Stevenson signing the Joint Award Agreement.

An independent expert panel has been set up by Scottish Ministers to consider the future delivery of the food standards regime in Scotland. It follows the UK Government’s decision last year to absorb some of the policy areas overseen in England by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a UK-wide body, back into Whitehall departments. Chaired by the UK’s former chief vet, Jim Scudamore, the review panel will consider the feasibility of establishing a dedicated Scottish FSA, and also the merits of establishing a standalone meat inspection delivery service in Scotland. Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “The Westminster Government’s decision to fragment the FSA south of the border has resulted in a situation where a UK-wide agency carries out different food standard functions in different parts of the UK. Scotland needs to consider how best to respond to this change, recognising the expertise of the FSA team based in Aberdeen. That’s why we have invited Jim Scudamore to lead a review that can provide Ministers with recommendations on the FSA’s functions in Scotland. The review will also include a full assessment of the feasibility of setting up a devolved meat inspection delivery service in Scotland. We expect the panel to consult widely before reporting to Ministers later this year.”

Issued on the Scottish Government website on 23 June 2011 – www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/06/23093327