Improving and protecting health and wellbeing in Scotland through education, training and qualifications in Environmental Health
A Scotland in which lung cancer is virtually wiped out is a real possibility in years to come if the reduction in deaths speeds up as expected, Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns (pictured) said in his first annual report.
In a wide-ranging summary of the nation’s health, Dr Burns concludes that the overall picture is optimistic.
For the full report click here
The President of REHIS, John Stirling, has written to the Health Minister Andy Kerr (pictured), asking him to take action on the licensing of sunbed parlours. Measures were outlined in a propososed private Members’ Bill due to be put to the Scottish Parliament by Ken Macintosh, MSP. However, it now appears that there will be insufficient time for the Bill to proceed before the election in May 2007.
John Stirling wrote that it would be our preference that primary legislation is brought forward to require a licensing or a registration scheme across Scotland. Currently, some Councils have their own schemes in place, however, there needs to be a level playing field.
Five new Honorary Vice-Presidents of REHIS have been elected.Three of them received their Certificates at the Annual Award Ceremony which was kindly hosted by Glasgow City Council on 22 November 2006.
The new Honorary Vice-Presidents,elected by the Council of REHIS,are:
George Georgallas,General Secretary of APHI Cyprus
Robin Harper,MSP
Kenneth Macintosh,MSP
Stewart Maxwell,MSP
Professor George Morris
Ann Marie Part,Chairman of EHOA Ireland
The Council may elect as Honorary Vice-Presidents individuals who are able to further the aims of the Institute.
Pictured here are George Georgallas,John Stirling,Ann Marie Part and Stewart Maxwell,MSP.
Four members of the Institute have had the award of fellowship conferred upon them.The presentation of their Certificate of Fellowship was made at the Annual Awards Ceremony which was kindly hosted by Glasgow City Council on 22 November 2006.
The new fellows are:
Liz Corbett
John Frater
Martin Henry
George Morris
The award of fellowship is made for outstanding and distinguished service to the work of the Institute.
Pictured here are John Frater,Liz Corbett,John Stirling and Martin Henry.
The 1000th REHIS Food and Health Course Certificate has been presented to Ann Sargent of South Ayrshire Council. Ann received her certificate from REHIS President Bernard Forteath with South Ayrshire Councillor Pam Pearson at a presentation ceremony in Ayr.
The course,which is proving to be very popular,is available at REHIS food safety training centres throughout Scotland.
For more information contact Graham Walker on 0131 225 5444 or gw@
The President of REHIS, John Stirling (pictured) states in his opening address to this year’s Conference that the environmental health profession ‘is being relegated to the lower tiers of local government’
He warns that the dramatic reduction in the number of Environmental Health Officers ‘should be of concern to the powers-that-be’
Five delegates from the Association of Public Health Inspectors of Cyprus will fly in for this week’s Conference in Glasgow. The party is visiting as part of the link formed between the two organisations last year.
This year’s Conference, which is taking place in Glasgow for the first time on 22-24 November, will have free places for members to attend for the final day (Friday). The Annual General Meeting of the Institute will be held in the afternoon.
Bookings are also being accepted for the remainder of the days, which include a civic reception from the City of Glasgow.
For further information, see Events
(Photo – City Chambers, Glasgow)
Consumer groups in Scotland have been keen for some time to see greater transparency of enforcement and compliance with food safety legislation. For more information on ‘scores on the doors’ read the full news item, as mentioned in Environmental Health Scotland, Volume 18, Number 3.
A recent report published by the World Health Organisation highlights the importance of environmental health work
Readers of the Journal of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland will be aware that an appeal was launched for the above initiative in the Summer edition of ‘Environmental Health Scotland’. Full details of the appeal appear here.
The inaugural REHIS Roadshow was hosted by South Ayrshire Council at the impressive County Buildings, Ayr on Wednesday 26 April.
Delegates heard presentations from Tom Bell, Chief Executive; Val Cameron, Director of Professional Development; and Graham Walker, Director of Training.
