IPH response to Department for Social Development consultation on future regulation of gambling in Northern Ireland

The Department for Social Development (DSD) recently undertook a review of Northern Ireland's gambling law sought views to help strike a balance between developing gambling as a leisure pursuit and minimising its potential negative consequences.  Following the consultation period, DSD aims to produce a balanced package of reforms which will strengthen the regulatory regime while easing some of the current restrictions on industry development.

IPH response to Department of Education (NI) draft Early Years Strategy

Tackling inequalities in social, cognitive and personal development in the early years is recognised as a priority action to reduce health inequalities. IPH welcomed the development of a strategic approach to the early years in Northern Ireland and drew evidence from the recent Health Impacts of Education – a review (IPH, 2008) in response to the Department of Education (NI) Early Years (0-6) Strategy

IPH response to Department for Social Development: introduction of powers to prohibit or restrict irresponsible alcohol promotions

Alcohol–related harm is an increasing public health concern and contributor to health inequalities on this island. IPH considered this consultation on powers to restrict alcohol promotions as a significant development towards harmonised all island regulations to tackle excessive alcohol consumption.

IPH response to Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Consultation - National Energy Retrofit Programme

In 2011, the National Energy Retrofit Programme will build upon existing energy saving programmes in both the domestic and non-domestic sectors.  This consultation focused on key design considerations.  IPH agree with the commitment to deliver a National Energy Retrofit Programme as a sustainable means of securing energy savings and reducing energy poverty and the nations carbon footprint.  The IPH response highlighted the significant benefit to health and would support the use of Health Impact Assessment

IPH response to the Department for Social Development Draft Regeneration and Housing Bill

IPH recognise that housing and regeneration initiatives are key determinants of health and have responded to the Department for Social Development (DSD), Draft Regeneration and Housing Bill.

IPH response to Department of Environment (NI) Planning Policy Statement 7

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) aims to improve health on the island of Ireland by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health.  The Institute promotes cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in public health research, training and policy advice. IPH acknowledge that health is influenced by a wide range of social determinants, including economic, environmental, social and biological factors.  Housing and residential areas are identified as key determinants of health and IPH welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Department of the Environment (DoE), Draft Addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7.

IPH response to Department for Regional Development public transport reform consultation

This is the IPH response to the Department for Regional Development's public transport reform consultation.

IPH response to Department for Regional Development Regional Transportation Strategy Review

Travel behaviour can make a significant contribution to physical activity levels and subsequent risk of poor health including conditions such as obesity.  DRD can play a key role in tackling obesity in Northern Ireland through the Regional Transportation Strategy. This is the IPH's response. The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) aims to improve health on the island of Ireland by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health.  The Institute promotes cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in public health research, training and policy advice. IPH acknowledges that health is influenced by a wide range of social determinants, including economic, environmental, social and biological factors.  Transport is one of the key determinants of health and IPH welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Department for Regional Development (DRD), Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) Review.

IPH response to Department, Trade and Investment (NI) draft strategic energy framework

The draft Framework set out the proposed priorities for Northern Ireland's energy future over the next ten years or so and illustrates the key energy goals in term of competitiveness, security of energy supply, sustainablilty and infrastructure investment. It also proposes new and ambitious renewable electricity and renewable heat targets by 2020, which reflect the need for effected action against climate change and the need to address other policy goals in terms of security and sustainability of supply and costs.

IPH response to Department of the Environment (NI) Planning Policy Statement 21 (PPS21)

In responding, IPH identify a number of potential health impacts including providing employment opportunities through farm diversification.  Other issues include access to open space and housing located close to traditional focal points.   The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is an all-island body which aims to improve health in Ireland, by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health. IPH promotes co-operation in research, training, information and policy in order to contribute to policies which tackle inequalities in health. IPH is particularly interested in the Draft Planning Policy Statement 21 due to the impact on the countryside and potential implications on health for the population of Northern Ireland. IPH conducted a Health Impact Assessment on the proposed West Tyrone Area Plan 2019 and through this work has developed extensive knowledge when looking at health and rural issues.

Submission to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government: Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is an all-island body which aims to improve health in Ireland by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health. The Institute promotes co-operation in research, training, information and policy in order to contribute to policies which tackle inequalities in health.   Over the past ten years the Institute has worked closely with the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland to build capacity for public health across the island of Ireland.   The Institute takes the view that health is determined by policies, plans and programmes in many sectors outside the health sector as well as being dependent on access to and availability of first class health services. The importance of other sectors is encapsulated in a social determinants of health perspective which recognises that health is largely shaped and influenced by the physical, social, economic and cultural environments in which people live, work and play. Figure 1 illustrates these multi-dimensional impacts on health and also serves to highlight the clear and inextricable links between health and sustainable development. Factors that impact on long-term sustainability will thus also impact on health.

IPH Submission to the Department of Health and Children Statement of Strategy 2008-2010

The Department of Health and Children Statement of Strategy will map out in broad terms the Department’s key areas of strategic action in the coming three years and act as the backdrop against which the Business Plans of each division of the Department will be prepared. The Institute’s recent submission on the Department’s Strategy Statement proposes that tackling inequalities in health form a key area of strategic action across all divisions within the Department in the coming three years. The Institute called for the Department to make additional commitments to tackle health inequalities at their root causes, in addition to developing services to meet the needs of poor and vulnerable members of society. The submission states that the full implementation of the National Health Information Strategy is now a matter of urgency and also strongly recommends that the Department makes the achievement of the recommendations of the recent A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland a priority in the coming years within its enhanced policy evaluation and analysis role. A stronger leadership role to advance the vision set out in the Primary Care Strategy is encouraged. The submission also recommends the development of a new set of high-level long-term targets relating to the reduction of inequalities to provide an overarching policy context against which related policies and the HSE operations could be structured.

Perioperative visual loss: a rare complication of general surgery

BACKGROUND: Perioperative visual loss (PVL) refers to the loss of vision following surgery performed at distance from the visual pathways. An ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is the most frequent clinical presentation of PVL, and can be bilateral. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 11 consecutive patients with PVL examined between 2002 and 2007 was undertaken. RESULTS: An ION was found in all 11 cases: 8 were anterior (AION) and 3 were posterior (PION). Visual loss was bilateral in 9 patients. Mean visual acuity (VA) was 0.2 on the Snellen chart (0.74 LogMAR). Most frequently an arcuate/altitudinal visual field defect was present. PVL followed orthopedic (6), spinal (1), cardiac (2) and vascular (2) procedures. The average delay between surgery and visual loss was 32 hours (range: 0-96 hours). Average lowest perioperative hemoglobin level was 75 g/L. Average follow-up time was 14.7 months. VA improved by at least 2 Snellen lines in 5/20 eyes (25 %). CONCLUSIONS: PVL is a rare but dreadful complication of surgery, and is usually associated with severe anemia. Like other causes of ION, there is no specific therapy. Prompt correction of the anemia might decrease the rate of this complication

Lutzomyia sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from middle and lower Putumayo department, Colombia, with new records to the country

A total of 4,840 phlebotomine sand flies from 54 localities in Putumayo department (=state), in the Colombian Amazon region, were collected in Shannon traps, CDC light traps, resting places and from human baits. At least 42 Lutzomyia species were registered for the first time to the department. Psychodopygus and Nyssomyia were the subgenera with the greatest number of taxa, the most common species being L. (N.) yuilli and L. (N.) pajoti. They were sympatric in a wide zone of Putumayo, indicating that they should be treated as full species (new status). Among the anthropophilic sand flies, L. gomezi and L. yuilli were found in intradomiciliar, peridomestic, urban or forest habitats. L. richardwardi, L. claustrei, L. nocticola and L. micropyga are reported for the first time in the Colombian Amazon basin. L. pajoti, L. sipani and L. yucumensis are new records for Colombia.