Shaping the future: applying therapy research to practice

In these challenging financial times the use of research as a basis for effective health and social care cannot be overstated. 'Shaping the Future', a joint Public Health Agency and University of Ulster workshop (27 January) takes a fresh look at research within the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) to improve the care and experiences of people across Northern Ireland.The AHPs provide a wide range of services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, podiatry, speech and language therapy and orthoptics.The nature of their work enables AHPs to carry out research that can rapidly benefit patient care and experience. 'Shaping the Future' will look at priorities for new AHP research and consider how existing research can be more effectively shared and used in health and social care development, rather than perhaps being limited to the academic world.Speaking at the event, Professor Bernie Hannigan, Director of Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D), aDivision of the PHA, said: "A sound base of evidence from research is vital for effective health and social care practice. I welcome this study as an important resource that will help generate new evidence and highlight the potential for existing evidence to be applied in practice. The evidence base points to beneficial innovations that use the most up-to-date knowledge and keep the service user at the centre of care practices. At this event, health and social care policy makers, commissioners, academics and researchers will be able to consider how they can do and use research to ensure our AHP services deliver the best outcomes for patients and are sufficiently cost-effective to be sustained."A recent study funded by HSC R&D was carried out by the University of Ulster working closely with leading AHPs, key stakeholders and service users* from throughout Northern Irealnd. Presenting the results of this study at the 'Shaping the Future' event will help to identify ways to gather evidence and contribute to innovative projects and programmes.Professor Suzanne McDonough, of the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre at the University of Ulster, said: "In our study we used the Delphi technique, which is a structured process using a series of questionnaires, to gather information and gain consensus from AHP groups, stakeholders and service users."The results identified seven major priority areas for research. These ranged from: the need for more practice evaluation particularly in the areas of mental health, cancer, obesity; diabetes; chronic disease management (especially stroke and brain injury); the role of AHPs in health promotion; service delivery issues such as access to services and waiting times. This study provides an important road map for AHP research priorities. It is the first step in the process of identifying what research still needs to be undertaken, what research already exists but needs to be translated, and some of the processes that need to be in place to ensure that research is an integral part of the day-to-day practice of AHPs and of service delivery."

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) - Consultation Scheme

The Chief Executive is accountable to the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for the performance of the Public Health Agency and its staff.The Chief Executive is required to appoint a senior professional at Board level to provide leadership in relation to Personal Public Involvement.� In the Public Health Agency this role is undertaken by the Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions supported by the Assistant Director for Allied Health Professions and Personal Public Involvement. The Public Health Agency has also appointed a Regional Lead Officer for PPI.This document sets out the PHA's commitment to PPI and�recognises the importance of proper and timely consultation as an integral part of fulfilling its statutory obligation to make arrangements with a view to securing involvement and consultation with service users, their carers, the public and the Patient Client Council on decisions on planning and proposals for change affecting the provision of the health and social care services for which the PHA is responsible the�PHA will endeavour to conduct consultations in a timely, open and inclusive way.

Terms of reference for Project Board: Review of AHP Support for Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in Special Schools and Mainstream Education

This is the Terms of Reference for the Project Board of the review of Allied Health Professions (AHP) support for children/young people with statements of special educational needs.It outlines the:Purpose of the Project BoardResponsibilities of the Project BoardMembership of the Project Board

All-Ireland Health Data Inventory. Part 1: Metadata for key data sources, version 1.0

The All-Ireland Health Data Inventory. Part 1 is a catalogue of key sources of health data in the Republic and Northern Ireland. It includes relevant datasets from the major information reviews, conducted in the North and South, in the past few years. Information is essential for informed decision making and service provision. This inventory draws together information sources to facilitate such decision making. The inventory is intended as a resource for health professionals, researchers and the general public, providing the first phase of a ‘one-stop’ catalogue of health data. The datasets have been catalogued using an expanding numbering system which will allow for the inclusion of future resources. The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is in the process of expanding the Inventory to include further data sources.

Cancer Services - A Position Paper for the Professions Allied to Medicine (PDF 175 KB)

A Position Paper for the Professions Allied to Medicine Patients with cancer are living longer due to early diagnosis and better treatment. In recent years there has been increasing attention to issues related to the quality of life of patients with cancer and a recognition of the potential for habilitation and rehabilitation. As a result, PAMs as members of the multi-disciplinary team are now more actively involved with patients diagnosed with cancer during all phases of their disease. Each person’s life possesses a unique blend of psychological, social, economic and physical factors and comprehensive care requires the needs of the whole person to be addressed. This requires patients and carers having timely access to the most appropriate range of professional skills that will allow individual patients and their carers to retain control of their lives and associated circumstances for as long as possible. It also requires professions, in all locations, to work in a collaborative patient centred manner that affords the best outcome for patients. The need has been highlighted for a multi-professional approach to the delivery of cancer services in “Investing for the Future” and “A Framework for the Multi-professional Contribution to Cancer Care in Northern Ireland”. This need has also been highlighted in the PAM Strategy document. åÊ

All-Ireland Traveller Health Study

Summary of Findings (PDF 9.4mb) Alongside the executive summary above, this report is further broken into 3 technical reports and an appendix, which are available below. Because of their size, Technical Reports 2 and 3 are available in low-resolution format and are also broken into 4-part higher resolution versions. Technical Report 1 features the findings of the Census of Traveller Population and a Quantitative Study of Health Status and Health Utilisation Technical Report 1: Health Survey Findings (PDF 10mb) Technical Report 2 reports on Demography and Vital Statistics including mortality and life expectancy data, an initial report of the Birth Cohort Study and a report on Travellers in Institutions. The Birth Cohort Study was a 1 year follow-up of all Traveller babies born on the island of Ireland between 14th October 2008 and 13th October 2009, with data collection up to 13th October 2010. Part D of Technical Report 2 is the Birth Cohort Study Follow Up and was published in September 2011. Technical Report 2 – Parts A, B & C (PDF 12mb) Demography & Vital Statistics: Part A of Technical Report 2 (PDF 5.3mb) The Birth Cohort Study: Part B of Technical Report 2 (PDF 9.6mb) Travellers in Institutions: Part C of Technical Report 2 (PDF 4.3mb) Technical Report 2 Bibliography – Parts A, B & C (PDF 2.7mb) The Birth Cohort Study Follow Up: Part D of Technical Report 2 (including bibliography) (PDF 7.1mb) Technical Report 3 reports on Consultative Studies including qualitative studies based on focus groups and semi-structured interviews with Travellers and key discussants, and a survey of Health Service Providers Technical Report 3 : Full Report (PDF 11.8mb) Qualitative Studies: Part A of Technical Report 3 (PDF 4.2mb) Health Service Provider Study: Part B of Technical Report 3 (PDF 5.4mb) Discussion & Recommendations: Part C of Technical Report 3 (PDF 3.1mb) Technical Report 3 Bibliography (PDF 2.6mb) Preamble Health Service Providers Questionnaire for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (PDF 75kb) Questionnaire for the Republic of Ireland (PDF 326kb) Questionnaire for Northern Ireland (PDF 140kb)

All Ireland Traveller Health Study: Our Geels - The Birth Cohort Study Follow Up

The birth cohort study was a one year follow-up of all Traveller babies born on the island of Ireland between 14th October 2008 and 13th October 2009. The mother had to self-identify as an Irish Traveller. The aim of study was to assess the health status of Traveller infants and their mothers, quantify health service use, conditions needing health services and to examine why Traveller infants die. Click here to download PDF 7.72MB See all reports here

Life Expectancy and All Age All Cause Mortality Monitoring (Overall and Health Inequalities) - Update to include data for 2007

The latest annual update on life expectancy data and all age all cause mortality rates, with data updated to 2005-07, which are used to monitor progress against Department of Health targets for overall life expectancy in England, and for the gap in life expectancy between the areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators (the Spearhead group) and the England average, was released on 13th November 2008 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

Health Inequality Profiles 2008 - All age, all cause standardised vs. EoE

DSRs (with CIs) for All age, all cause mortality 2001-03 to 2005-07, by gender, for Counties/UAs, County quintiles, County 80/20 standardises - as in previous years - against East of England Census 2001 population.

Health equity in all policies

Public Health England (PHE) worked with the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and the Local Government Association (LGA) to develop a masterclass to understand what PHE could do to support directors and consultants of public health to embed health and health equity in all policies at a local level. These documents provide a full report and executive summary of 2 pilot masterclasses held on: 25 February 2015 in London 17 March 2015 in Manchester The masterclasses aimed to: frame public health challenges and use appropriate language within the context of overarching local authority priorities effectively position health and wellbeing in the context of competing (and sometimes conflicting) policy agendas engage wider service and policy areas in the pursuit of health and health equity within current economic and funding contexts

Health and Education, Sources of Information

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has produced a series of reviews which look at the health impacts of identified subject areas. Four reviews have been produced in the areas of employment, transport, the built environment and education. All reviews may be found at http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiaresources. This resource supplements the ‘Health Impacts of Eduvation’ report. It highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and education.

Health and the Built Environment, Sources of Information

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has produced a series of reviews which look at the health impacts of identified subject areas. Four reviews have been produced in the areas of employment, transport, the built environment and education. All reviews may be found at http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiaresources. This resource supplements the ‘Health Impacts of Built Environment’ report. It highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and built environment.

Health and Transport, Sources of Information

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has produced a series of reviews which look at the health impacts of identified subject areas. Four reviews have been produced in the areas of employment, transport, the built environment and education. All reviews may be found at http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiaresources. This resource supplements the ‘Health Impacts of Transport’ report. It highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and transport.

Health and Employment, Sources of Information

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has produced a series of reviews which look at the health impacts of identified subject areas. Four reviews have been produced in the areas of employment, transport, the built environment and education. All reviews may be found at http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiaresources. This resource supplements the ‘Health Impacts of Employment’ report. It highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and employment.

Health Impact Assessment Screening tool

The screening tool provides assistance to those conducting HIA to quickly and systematically establish whether a particular policy, programme or project has an impact on health and whether a HIA is appropriate or necessary