Transmit: Health protection service bulletin. 2011: Issue 7

This edition of Transmit leads with the arrangements for the management of seasonal flu during the 2011/12 campaign. It provides an overview of the vaccination programme, including details on who should be vaccinated, and includes a link to the updated chapter in the Green Book.The bulletin has duty room guidance on the management of invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) and the news section gives an encouraging update on measles in Northern Ireland.A number of routine reports are also summarised in this edition of Transmit. Statistics and graphs are provided to outline the latest reports on:· Immunisations and vaccine preventable diseases· Respiratory pathogens, quarters one and two 2011, Northern Ireland· Quarterly reporting of MRSA and Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) · Cryptosporidium 2010

2006 Drugs estimate refuels debate on governance, Issue 17, Spring 2006

In November 2005 €34.027 million was voted for the Drugs Initiative, which funds the local and regional drugs task forces, and the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF), in 2006 – an 8 per cent increase on the allocation for 2005 and ‘well in excess of inflation’ according to the government. The community sector strongly criticised this estimate, calling for an additional €8 million to €15 million, to fund the projects identified following the creation of the Emerging Needs Fund in January 2005. In February 2006, the government revised its drugs estimate upwards by a further €8.979 million. As well as criticising the 2006 drugs estimate, the community sector raised a series of concerns with regard to governance – the rules, processes and behaviour that affect the way in which powers are exercised4 – or, in short, decision-making with regard to drugs policy in Ireland.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

A key to the door - Homeless Agency action plan 2007-2010, Issue 22, Summer 2007

The Homeless Agency recently launched its action plan to eliminate long-term homelessness and the need to sleep rough in Dublin by 2010. This article will discuss the elements of the plan that relate to homeless individuals with addiction problems in the context of the wider policy framework on drugs and homelessness. The plan contains three strategic aims, relating to prevention, local access to quality homeless services and long-term housing options with support when required. The plan contains 10 core actions (high priority) that cover more than one strategic aim and 74 additional actions (lower priority). Individuals with mental health problems, addictions (alcohol and drugs) and dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health) needs have been identified as needing healthcare and other interventions as part of the strategic aim to prevent homelessness and reduce the risk of becoming homeless. As part of the development of the action plan, a total of 105 men, women and children, both current and past users of homeless services, were interviewed. The principal immediate causes of their becoming homeless were identified by those interviewed as family breakdown, and alcohol, heroin and mental health problems. Several studies have shown the prominent role played by drug use in exposing individuals and families to homelessness in Ireland.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

A re-focused and re-energised National Drugs Strategy, Issue 14, Summer 2005

The Mid-Term Review1 of the National Drugs Strategy 2001–2008, published on 2 June 2005, recommends a number of additions and amendments to the existing Strategy, including making rehabilitation a new, ‘fifth’ pillar of the Strategy. The Steering Group that oversaw the Review, and the extensive consultation process on which it is based, found that the aims and objectives of the Strategy are fundamentally sound. While what has been achieved varies from action to action, progress has been made across the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, and in the co-ordination of the institutional structures of the Strategy. The Review recommends the addition of eight new actions, the replacement of nine of the existing actions and amendments to a further eight. It also recommends revisions to the Strategy’s key performance indicators, reflecting new developments and data availability. The recommendations serve to ‘re-focus and re-energise’ the Strategy in the remaining period up to 2008.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.