Spatial variation of heart failure and air pollution in Warwickshire, UK: an investigation of small scale variation at the ward-level.

Objectives: To map using geospatial modelling techniques the morbidity and mortality caused by heart failure within Warwickshire to characterise and quantify any influence of air pollution on these risks.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Warwickshire, UK.

Evaluation of an independent, radiographer-led community diagnostic ultrasound service provided to general practitioners.

Background: Health care services traditionally offered in a secondary setting are increasingly being offered in a primary setting. There has been little assessment of quality and efficiency of diagnostic services such as ultrasound delivered in primary settings and no studies have looked at independently provided services.

Aims: To assess the benefits and disadvantages of a radiographer delivered, primary care-based mobile diagnostic ultrasound service by comparing it to an NHS Trust diagnostic ultrasound service.

IDentify, Educate and Alert (IDEA) trial: an intervention to reduce postnatal depression.

Objective: To test the effectiveness of a prenatal intervention in reducing the incidence of postnatal depression.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A large metropolitan obstetric hospital.

An outbreak of mumps in the metropolitan area of Walsall, UK.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of excessive mumps cases during the year 2000, within the metropolitan area of Walsall, UK; to assess the impact of the mumps outbreak on morbidity; and to inform future communicable disease control strategy.

Methods: Demographic records, school attendance, uptake of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and mumps-associated admission to hospital, were reviewed for all Walsall residents diagnosed and notified with mumps during the year 2000.

Results: There were 200 mumps notifications in 2000 (76.

Improving access to continence services: action in Walsall.

New government guidelines state that primary care trusts should be moving towards an integrated continence service. In Walsall a study was undertaken to inform the development of care pathways and to support a move to a single specialist continence service. The study looked at accessibility to services, and the opinions of patients (suffering from urinary incontinence), and professionals about the two existing specialist continence services.