Sexual Safety in English mental health in-patient beds: has nothing been learned?

All mental health Trusts in England were surveyed, using freedom of Information Requests, as part of an enquiry into sexual safety incidents. A response rate of 72 % was obtained. Results revealed that sexual safety incidents and mixed-sex ward breaches are both increasing.

The effectiveness of sexual assault referral centres with regard to mental health and substance use: a national mixed-methods study - the MiMoS Study.

Background: Sexual assault referral centres have been established to provide an integrated service that includes forensic examination, health interventions and emotional support. However, it is unclear how the mental health and substance use needs are being addressed.

Aim: To identify what works for whom under what circumstances for people with mental health or substance use issues who attend sexual assault referral centres.

Can Weight Watchers (WW) Help Address Maternal Obesity? An Audit of Weight Change in Women of Childbearing Age and Mothers-To-Be, Referred into a Commercial Slimming Programme.

Objectives: The scale of overweight and obesity amongst women of childbearing age or mothers to be, living in Wales, places a considerable burden on the NHS and public health. High BMI (over 30) during pregnancy increases the health risks for mother and baby. Policy advice recommends weight management services are available to help women lose weight before and whilst planning pregnancy.

Police custody in the north of England: Findings from a health needs assessment in Durham and Darlington.

Aims: To report on a health needs assessment undertaken in the Durham Constabulary (England) in 2013.

Methodology: The health needs assessment employed a variety of methods: analysis of arrest and healthcare data over a one year period; semi-structured interviews with the police and healthcare staff; and a survey of detainees' view of healthcare.

Main Findings: The main finding was that the healthcare provider to custody in Durham was delivering an appropriate multi-professional team of nurse, paramedics and forensic medical examiners that was responsive, trusted by the police and which gave detainee's few concerns.

Assessment of the mental health status of a one year cohort attending a two Sexual Assault Referral Centres in England.

A one year audit was undertaken of the mental health (MH) status of adult attendees to the Thames Valley Sexual Assault Centres (SARC). There were 301 relevant referrals over the twelve month period of whom 126 (42%) either fully or partially completed the mental health assessments. 38% (n = 66) of the population did not consent to the research.

Sexual violence and abuse and the care programme approach.

In 2008 it became policy that all those on the care programme approach were assessed for sexual violence/abuse. The implementation of this policy was assessed 8 years on. The findings of a survey and data request to Health and Social Care Information Centre are disappointing.

The Care Programme Approach, sexual violence and clinical practice in mental health.

Introduction: Research in Sexual Assault Referral Centres has shown that 40% of those attending are known to mental health services. The question we posed in this study was to what extent do mental health services know about this group? This was a pertinent question to ask as in 2008 the Department of Health (DH) amended the Care Programme Approach (CPA) to include a question on sexual abuse/violence as part of the overall assessment.

Aims: To assess the extent to which Mental health Trusts were implementing DH guidance on the CPA in relation to assessment of sexual violence and abuse.

Mental health risk factors in sexual assault: What should Sexual Assault Referral Centre staff be aware of?

Introduction: In England, people who have been raped can attend a national network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) for physical examination, the collection of evidence and sign-posting onto other appropriate services. The impact of rape on mental health is not always assessed comprehensively in SARCs despite national policy guidance.

Aim: To highlight the relationship between mental health and rape; thereby increasing SARCs staff and NHS commissioners awareness of the issue and the potential for longer-term risks to mental health.

Eating for 1, Healthy and Active for 2; feasibility of delivering novel, compact training for midwives to build knowledge and confidence in giving nutrition, physical activity and weight management advice during pregnancy.

Background: Women in Wales are more likely to be obese in pregnancy than in any other United Kingdom (UK) country. Midwives are ideally placed to explore nutrition, physical activity and weight management concerns however qualitative studies indicate they lack confidence in raising the sensitive issue of weight. Acknowledging this and the reality of finite time and resources, this study aimed to deliver compact training on nutrition, physical activity and weight management during pregnancy to increase the knowledge and confidence of midwives in this subject.

Influence of socio-demographic factors on distances travelled to access HIV services: enhanced surveillance of HIV patients in north west England.

Background: Patient choice and access to health care is compromised by many barriers including travel distance. Individuals with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can seek free specialist care in Britain, without a referral, providing flexible access to care services. Willingness to travel beyond local services for preferred care has funding and service implications.

Elvis to Eminem: quantifying the price of fame through early mortality of European and North American rock and pop stars.

Background: Rock and pop stars are frequently characterised as indulging in high-risk behaviours, with high-profile deaths amongst such musicians creating an impression of premature mortality. However, studies to date have not quantified differences between mortality experienced by such stars and general populations.

Objective: This study measures survival rates of famous musicians (n = 1064) from their point of fame and compares them to matched general populations in North America and Europe.

Predictors of risky alcohol consumption in schoolchildren and their implications for preventing alcohol-related harm.

Background: While alcohol-related health and social problems amongst youths are increasing internationally, both consumption and associated harms are particularly high in British youth. Youth drinking patterns, including bingeing, frequent drinking and drinking in public spaces, are associated with increased risks of acute (e.g.

The impact of partial smokefree legislation on health inequalities: evidence from a survey of 1150 pubs in North West England.

Background: The UK government claims that between 10 and 30% of pubs and bars will be exempt from proposed legislation to achieve smokefree enclosed public places across England. This arises from the contentious inclusion that pubs and bars that do not prepare and serve food and private members clubs, will be able to allow smoking. We aimed to survey pubs and bars across the North West of England to assess smoking policies and the proportion and variations by deprivation level of venues preparing and serving food.

Assessing and communicating the health and judicial impact of alcohol use.

Background: Alcohol consumption places an increasing burden on health services, criminal justice agencies and private industry throughout the UK. Despite a national strategy to tackle alcohol-related harm, there remains a lack of epidemiology on alcohol use and related harms at local levels. Utilising national data sources and existing research studies, Regional Public Health Observatories are appropriately placed to calculate such measures and examine their relationship with deprivation.