Better Together With You!
Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme is improving cancers services in the West of Scotland. This includes services in the following health board areas:
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran
- NHS Forth Valley
- NHS Lanarkshire
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
If you have experienced cancers services in the past year, as either a patient or a carer, they would like to hear about your experience. The information you give will help them make cancer services better.
This project is part of the national Better Together Patient Experience Programme www.bettertogetherscotland.com
For more information and who to contact download the poster and flyer by clicking on the links below:
Better Together With You poster (word doc)
What's involved flyer (word doc)
Male victims of domestic abuse
The Scottish Government recognises that men who experience domestic abuse from their female partners, and men who are abused by same sex partners, also require a service specific to their needs.
For this reason a decision was taken recently to provide funding for a specific helpline for male victims of domestic abuse in Scotland. This will be rolled out in conjunction with a helpline for perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Both the Men's Advice Line and the Respect Line will be officially launched in Scotland today (17th March)
Press release: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/03/17143431
Men's Advice Line website
Respect Helpline
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - March 2010
The Prostate Cancer Charity want men, the general public, and health professionals, to be more aware of prostate cancer. Their awareness month helps raise vital funds for much needed support and information for men who have been diagnosed and their families. It also allows them to lobby the UK's key decision makers because it is high time that the issue of prostate cancer is brought out into the open.
For more information about Prostate Cancer and information on how you can get involved visit The Prostate Cancer Charity's Cancer Awareness website: http://www.hiddencancer.org.uk/
Breathing Space Day Book, Open up on 1st February
Don't forget Breathing Space Day on Monday, February 1.
On the day, pick up a copy of their brilliant collection of short stories in The Herald newspaper.
http://www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk/bspace/859.html
Cancer week highlights Scotland's Challenge
Recent research shows that men are almost 40 per cent more likely than women to die from cancer. Worse still, Scotland has the highest overall cancer mortality rates for both males and females, at 17 per cent and 16 per cent higher than the UK average, respectively. These are the shocking statistics that the Men’s Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) are working to highlight during this year’s national Cancer Awareness Week (starting 25 January 2010).
The Scottish charity, which seeks to improve the quality of men's lives by raising awareness of men's health and wellbeing issues, hosted a key seminar last month with the world’s first professor of Men’s Health, Alan White of Leeds Metropolitan University. It is this research which has identified that men in Scotland are not only more likely to develop and die of those cancers that should affect men and women equally, but that they have a 17 per cent higher cancer mortality rate than the UK average. Read more
Seminar: Men and Cancer in Scotland
The Men’s Health Forum Scotland seminar on Men and Cancer in Scotland took place on Friday 4th December in Glasgow. The seminar highlighted research that showed Scottish men had a 17% higher cancer mortality rate than the UK average. Research report (pdf)
The seminar report will be available online soon.
To view the presentations from the day and some of the press coverage click on the link below:
Men and Cancer in Scotland presentations
The Scotsman
BBC News
Annual rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection in Europe more than doubled between 2000 and 2008, according to a report released for World Aids Day 2009.
Nearly 51 600 people in the WHO European Region were newly diagnosed as infected with HIV in 2008, more than double the annual rate in 2000. In the 43 countries in the Region that consistently reported HIV surveillance data during this period, the infection rate rose from 44 to 89 cases per million population, according to HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2008, a report released today.
http://www.euro.who.int/mediacentre/PR/2009/20091130_1
World Aids Day, 1st December 2009
World Aids Day is an opportunity for people in the UK to learn about how HIV is affecting people here or if you are living with HIV to share your story.
The website provides people’s stories of living with HIV, stats and figures, ideas and resources for campaigning and much more.
http://www.worldaidsday.org/Do-something.aspx
Scottish Government seasonal flu campaign
Protect yourself and others
Free vaccinations against seasonal flu are available for people aged 65 and over and for adults and children aged 6 months to 65 years in certain risk categories from October 2009.
Amid all the publicity surrounding swine flu, it is important not to under estimate the impact of seasonal flu. Every year it accounts for approximately 8,000 deaths. It can bring on serious complications for people in “at risk” groups and lead to other serious illnesses such as pneumonia. Read more
Media Release: Successful Self Management Fund for Scotland projects announced
The Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS), in partnership with the Scottish Government, is delighted to announce the first round of successful projects from the Self Management Fund for Scotland.
The Self Management Fund is available to voluntary organisations and community groups throughout Scotland. Its purpose is to support work encouraging people living with long term conditions to learn more about the management of their condition, and to be become active partners in their own care. Read more
Men's Health Around the World: a review of policy and progress across eleven countries
The report looks at policy and progress across eleven countries including Scotland and an overview of men's health in Europe.
Download report (pdf)
Alcohol abuse is a factor in 1 in 15 surgical deaths
Consultant involvement in surgery continues to rise
Press release: Alcohol abuse was a factor in 1 in 15 reported deaths that occurred during 2008 while patients were under the care of a surgeon. This is the key finding in the first interim report produced by the Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality (SASM) and the first time that SASM has included data on the involvement of alcohol in surgical deaths....read more
You can download a copy of the report below or go to: http://www.sasm.org.uk/
Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality Summary Report (pdf)
EMHF prostate health project - www.yourprostate.eu
EMHF is currently running a project on men's prostate health issues. Whilst problems with the prostate have started to be more widely noticed by men due to the work of patient organisations, and that of organisations carrying out prostate specific work, plus increasing coverage in the media, it is still an issue that men feel somewhat uncomfortable discussing and seeking support for. At policy level, the majority of work is clinically driven, as opposed to having its foundations in what men in the community say their experience of prostate problems, diagnosis and treatment has been.
The aims of the short project are:
- To gather information from men across Europe on their experience of developing problems involving the prostate, seeking support, diagnosis and treatment, and the responses they have had from health service provision.
- To use this information to produce a report to use by professionals and policy makers to aid them in dealing with men's prostate related heatlh.
The first main phase of work will be to use a website (www.yourprostate.eu) to allow men to ask questions of health professionals to complete their understanding of how the issues relate to them personally. They will also be encouraged to tell us about their experiences as outlined in the aims above. This will initially be run in English, although it will be advertised across Europe by as many relevant organisations as possible. If the project is completed successfully in English then it will be repeated in other languages to help us report on similarties and differences across cultural backgrounds.
This is where your involvement is vital to successfully helping as many men as possible give information on this important aspect of their health and wellbeing, as well as ask questions if they need to. By publicising this facility to your networks and through your normal channels of communication the number of men we can potentially reach will be largely increased.
Specialist urology nurses with an interest and experience of working in the field of prostate health will answer the questions men ask on the website. We envisage collecting a little surrounding contextual information from the person to assist in the provision of an accurate answer.
It would be great if you could publicise the project to anyone who you feel will find it relevant. To help you do this EMHF are able to provide banners and texts for websites. You can download a PDF flyer to send to members of the public below:
YOUR PROSTATE www.yourprostate.eu (pdf)
If you would like more information please feel free to contact Tim Street on:
tim.street@emhf.org
0044 7944 420321
0044 1560 484083
The Coalition on Men and Boys: new report
The Coalition of Men and Boys (COMAB) is making its new report Man Made: Men, masculinities and equality in public policy available today (13 July) ahead of the offcial launch in November.
The report provides a unique in-depth picture of the current circumstances of men and boys in the UK, focusing on the key themes of work, fatherhood, health, education and violence. It argues that public policies and services should address men, boys and masculinity in a more sophisticated way, and explores the opportunities and challenges in involving men and boys in gender equality strategies. It concludes with a comprehensive range of recommendations for the development of policy and practice.
You can obtain a copy of the Executive summary and full report from the COMAB website http://www.comab.org.uk/
Diabetes in the UK 2009: key statistics on diabetes
The report looks at diabetes in the UK today. It contains statistics about who is affected and how. Diabetes is serious. If left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure.
The report shows that in Scotland "More men than women have been diagnosed with diabetes, 53.8 per cent of people with diabetes in Scotland are male; 46.1 per cent are female".
For a copy of the report go to:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Reports/DiabetesintheUK-2009-01.pdf
Alcohol killing one Scot every three hours
New research shows alcohol-related illnesses could be killing one in 20 Scots - twice as many as previously thought.
The study totalled the proportion of 53 different causes of death - ranging from stomach cancer and strokes to assaults and road deaths - in which alcohol consumption played a part, to show that nearly 3,000 deaths in 2003 were alcohol related. (Alcohol Focus Scotland)....read more
Link to research:
Alcohol attributable mortality and morbidity: alcohol population attributable fractions for Scotland
Scottish Government launches new Sexual Health Scotland website
The Scottish Government have launched a new website to help reduce abortions and STIs. The interactive service, launched on June 17th, uses a light-hearted approach to dispel old wives' tales and offer advice on sexually transmitted infections and personal relationships.
The website, www.sexualhealthscotland.co.uk, offers information on the symptoms of and treatment for STIs and has a "risk-o-meter" for people to assess their personal risk. It also provides advice on the emotional aspects of sexual relationships.
A Positive Frame of Mind 2009
The 'see me' campaign has launched 'A Positive Frame of Mind 2009', a national photography competition. The competition will help 'see me' and local partners to challenge the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health by inspiring creativity through photography.
The competition is being run in partnership with local 'hosts'. Each will hold local area competitions, with winners going forward to the national final, hosted online by 'see me'. If you are interested in being a host or would like to help us promote the competition, please get in touch via info@seemescotland.org to order some promotional posters, or to receive some prepared text for use in newsletters, websites etc.
This year's category for entry is 'Be there. Be Yourself'.
If you would like to take part in the competition please submit your photo to your nearest host before 18th September 2009. Hosts will hold exhibitions of all the entries they have received in October.
Log on to www.seemescotland.org/photography for a list of local hosts and examples of the 2008 winners.
Press release: Men hit by 'inexplicable' greater cancer death risk
MEN ARE almost 40 per cent more likely than women to die from cancer, reveals a report published today (Monday 15th) by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer Research UK together with the Men's Health Forum to mark Men's health Week. Read more
Download report (pdf)
Website: www.ncin.org.uk
Hampered by hormones? - Addressing the needs of men with prostate cancer
A new campaign launched by The Prostate Cancer Charity, Hampered by hormones? The campaign highlights the needs of men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer (and their partners) and aims to secure improvements in the standard of care provided.
To inform the campaign the Charity conducted research into the experience of men receiving hormone therapy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, across the UK. This research found that the side effects of hormone therapy can have significant impact on the daily lives of men, their relationships and mental wellbeing. Despite these experiences over half of the men who responded to our survey said they received 'too little' information and support whilst they were on the treatment. Many men were not asked by the healthcare professionals involved in their care about their experience of side effects, or their support needs. This means men are missing out on vital information and support that could help them cope with the impact of this treatment on their lives.
For more information go to:
www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/hormones
Men warned of greater cancer risk
The reluctance of men to adopt a healthy lifestyle and visit the doctor may be fuelling a gender gap in cancer cases and deaths, experts say. Read more
Source: BBC News
Ex-service men and ex-service women living in Scotland
The Scottish Government has provided funds through Veterans Scotland to support an investigation into the financial situation of ex-services men and women living in Scotland. If you have served in the UK armed forces and currently live in Scotland (or you are the dependent of an ex-services man or woman), we would be grateful if you would complete a short survey. The survey can be completed online at
www.surveymonkey.com/veterans_in_scotland_2009
If you would prefer to receive a hard copy of the survey please contact Kate Lindsay on kate.lindsay@gcal.ac.uk or 0141 331 3772 to request a copy. A pre-paid envelope will be included.
Deadly skin cancer cases rising
Binge tanning has caused the number of Britons diagnosed with the deadliest form of skin cancer to top 10,000 each year, Cancer Research UK has said.
Women are more likely to be diagnosed than men: 5,600 are diagnosed each year compared with 4,800 men.
But men are more likely to die from the cancer, and rates of diagnosis among them have risen fivefold, whereas in women they have more than tripled. Read more
Source: BBC News
New Book ' From Fear to Freedom'
Masculinity, Control and Change, a workbook for Men
Edited by Dave Morran
The aim of this book is to speak directly to men who, through their controlling beliefs and behaviours, are causing worry and harm to their families, partners and children, and not least, to themselves.
The title 'From Fear to Freedom' suggests that while some men's behaviour is often frightening and damaging for others, it can also be frightening and confusing for men themselves. Once men begin to examine, comprehend and choose to work at ceasing their abusive and controlling behaviour, this can be a liberating process for them as well as others.
From Fear to Freedom is also intended as a resource for professionals such as counsellors, health practitioners, alcohol and drug workers, social workers, probation officers and others whose practice brings them into contact with troubled and troubling men.
This book does not set out to be an academic text and few academic references appear in any of the chapters. It is nevertheless underpinned by a substantial body of theory and research around men's controlling and abusive behaviour and has been written by experienced practitioners in the UK who work with men on issues around masculinity, control, abuse - as well as on the rewards of developing senses of responsibility and respect for self and others.
No promises are made in this book and no guarantees are offered to men or their partners as far as men changing their attitudes and behaviour is concerned. What From Fear to Freedom does offer is a starting point, providing information and insight about the damage that power, abuse and control does in relationships, what might underlie such behaviour, and what men might do in order to begin addressing such behaviour. The book also introduces stories of change to motivate and encourage men as they commence their own journey towards behaving non-abusively, and in doing so, achieve a greater sense of peace themselves.
To order the book go to:
http://www.basw.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=199&language=en-US&product=82
Launch of new White Ribbon Scotland website
Men: please take 2 minutes to challenge violence against women
White Ribbon Scotland (WRS) is a campaign for men in Scotland who want to end violence against women. WRS are part of a global campaign of men and boys committed to taking action to stop violence against women.
Men in Scotland have a crucial role to play in challenging violence against women. Please go to our new website to join the actor Brian Cox, the First Minister Alex Salmond, Rangers and Celtic managers Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan, author Christopher Brookmyre and others in taking a stand against violence.
It will take you just 2 minutes to go www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk and sign a pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. The site also has lots of ideas, information and resources on how to get more involved.
We also welcome women's support for the campaign and seek to support the fantastic work of women's organisations in Scotland.
Press releases:
Men move to end violence against women
Stop violence now
Men's health: closing the gender gap
Preparing a lecture recently on the topic of men's health caused Donna Davenport to consider why men continue to be disadvantaged when it comes to health promotion ...
Recently, I decided to ask a number of male friends and family of varying ages when they would go to the doctors; and without fail, every one of them said "When I am not well". Read more
Source: Nursing in Practice
A good example of men's health
The Camelon men’s health centre was Scotland’s first primary care nurse led service offering a range of services aimed entirely at improving the health of men.
Since opening in September 2001, the Camelon Centre has offered comprehensive, individualised health assessments and health promotion activity designed specifically for men.
You can download the summary and full report below:
Summary report (word doc)
Full report (pdf)
NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics
The report presents information on clients attempting to quit smoking with the help of the NHS smoking cessation services, and quit outcomes, during the 2008 calendar year. Included also are comparisons with data for previous years. The primary source of the data is the National Smoking Cessation Database, managed by ISD Scotland.
http://www.scotpho.org.uk/smokingcessationstats2008/
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