Category: Uncategorized

A REHIS survey has found that the Scottish ban has been an overwhelming success. Since its introduction on 26th March 2006, Scots Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) have conducted more than 55,000 inspections of premises, resulting in just one prosecution for a breach of the regulations.

The current Scottish Executive consultation on the Strategic Framework is open until 22nd June. The goal of the framework is the development of better systems to pursue environments consistent with and promoting human health and wellbeing and a Scotland of equal opportunity. The framework defines priorities in terms of health outcomes and identifies three target areas: asthma (e.g. air pollution, occupational health), cardiovascular disease (e.g. environmental stressors, safe environment for physical activity) and unintentional injury ( e.g.home safety, road safety). If you would like to contribute to the REHIS response to the consultation, please forward comments to Val Cameron by 10th June.Contact Val at vc@

Health Protection Scotland and REHIS are pleased to announce that the annual Communicable Disease Update will take place on the 21 August 2007 at the Royal College of Physicians in Glasgow.The programme includes sessions on National and International Perspectives,Respiratory Disease and GI Infections.There are also discussion sessions,opportunities to meet other professionals and to share ideas.

The Ad Hoc Group has reviewed the advice given by the Chief Medical Officer in 1998 on the safe cooking of burgers.In particular, the Group considered whether this advice is still appropriate for consumers,manufacturers,retailers,caterers and suppliers to caterers in light of the differences between the recommended cooking conditions in the UK and the USA.

Scottish Government Seminar on Contaminated Land, Edinburgh, 5 November 2007. REHIS Health and Safety Update Course,Edinburgh, 13 November 2007. REHIS Annual Presentation of Awards, Edinburgh, 21 November 2007(evening event). REHIS Environmental Health Update, Edinburgh, 22 November 2007(am). REHIS Annual General Meeting, Edinburgh, 22 November 2007(pm). REHIS Annual Conference,Edinburgh, 17 and 18 April 2008. For more information on these events contact the REHIS Office.

This Update is being issued to all Project Stakeholders to provide a summary of the activities which have been taken forward by the HPS Project Team. Since being launched on 12th January 2007 the Campaign has undertaken a number of activities aimed at reducing avoidable illness amongst patients,staff and the general public. The Update is attached.

The REHIS Public Health and Housing Update has now been announced and we are able to take bookings. The event is aimed at all environmental health professionals who are looking to develop their knowledge and awareness in this area. On day one, the morning session will focus on public health and communities and in the afternoon the theme will be changes to the public health legislation. Day two will be dedicated to housing issues and will provide an overview of the new Housing (Scotland) Act and the revised Tolerable Standard, the issues surrounding travelling people, Landlord Registration and Gangmasters. The event is scheduled to be presented on 13 and 14 May 2008 at the Menzies Belford Hotel in Edinburgh. The programme and booking form are attached for download. Please complete and fax to 0131 225 3993 or post to REHIS,3 Manor Place,Edinburgh,EH3 7DH.

This symposium has been designed to provide informed, contemporary and relevant information on some areas of current interest in infectious diseases. Zoonoses continue to be a very important and often misunderstood area of infection. The morning sessions will cover topical issues and recent developments in both the challenges of diagnosis and management of three important zoonoses; Q fever, lyme borreliosis and rabies. Click here for more information. Symposium details

REHIS Annual Presentation of Awards, Edinburgh, 19 November 2008 (evening event). REHIS Environmental Health Update, Edinburgh, 20 November 2008 (am). REHIS Annual General Meeting, Edinburgh, 20 November 2008 (pm). For more information on these events contact the REHIS Office.

The Autumn 2008 edition of Environmental Health Scotland,the REHIS Journal,can be accessed on the members area. Members will receive their copies of the Journal in the next seven to ten days.

Successfully running for the 7th year,Brownfield Briefing’s annual legislation conference will return to Glasgow this month.Respected industry speakers provide an in-depth look at the key changes in brownfield regulation and legislation, providing lawyers, regulators, developers, local authorities, consultants and other professionals in the brownfield industry with all the updates that will affect them over the next twelve months. Date – 28 Jan 2009 Venue – Glasgow For more information please contact us on conference@newzeye.com, or call 020 8969 1008. Click here for a brochure

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport, has announced measures aimed at protecting future generations from the devastating health effects of smoking. In legislation published yesterday cigarette vending machines and tobacco displays in shops are set to be consigned to history in Scotland as part of radical measures designed to reduce child smoking. Among the measures included in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill are the •banning of cigarette vending machines •banning of tobacco displays in shops •introduction of a registration scheme for retailers •introduction of powers to issue fixed penalty notices for retailers who sell cigarettes to under 18s •introduction of banning orders to prevent retailers selling cigarettes who continually break the law. Smoking in public places in Scotland was banned on March 26 2006 and on October 1 2007 the minimum age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18. REHIS has an excellent record of support for measures introduced to control tobacco in Scotland and fully supports the introduction of the Bill. Full information on the introduction of the Bill is available on the Scottish Government’s website www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009.