PHS Newsletter - November

In this issue

• UKHSA detects first case of clade 1b mpox in the UK
• Research shows effect that minimum pricing policies could have on reducing smoking rates in Scotland
• Public Health Scotland Publishes First Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report 2023
• 2023 Tuberculosis Annual Report for Scotland published

• Ensuring Scotland is prepared as mpox cases increase in Central and Eastern Africa
• Biodiversity and wellbeing on our doorstep - Greenspace mapping of the NHS Scotland Estate
• Life, work and mental health

• Unintentional injuries: Hospital admissions and deaths annual report 2023/24
• Reporting on viral respiratory diseases in Scotland
• An interim assessment of NHS Scotland Greenspace

UKHSA detects first case of clade 1b mpox in the UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed case of clade 1b mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.

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Research shows effect that minimum pricing policies could have on reducing smoking rates in Scotland

New research commissioned by PHS has assessed the potential effectiveness of minimum pricing policies for tobacco that could help reduce smoking rates and improve health in Scotland. 

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Public Health Scotland Publishes First Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report 2023

This is the first Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report for Scotland. It provides an overview of Scotland’s Vaccination and Immunisation programme for 2023 and the role it is playing to protect the population of Scotland from a range of infectious diseases. 

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2023 Tuberculosis Annual Report for Scotland published

The Tuberculosis (TB) Annual Report, published by PHS, shows that the number of TB cases reported during 2023 increased by 40.8% compared to the previous year.

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Ensuring Scotland is prepared as mpox cases increase in Central and Eastern Africa

With the World Health Organization declaring a recent rise in mpox cases in Central and Eastern Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Dr Kirsty Roy and Dr Kate Smith, Consultants in Public Health at PHS, explain more about the current international situation and what is being done to prepare for any cases seen in Scotland. 

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Biodiversity and wellbeing on our doorstep - Greenspace mapping of the NHS Scotland Estate

Andrew Gasiorowski, Principal Information Development Manager from PHS’s Geospatial team and Alba Rozalen Gonzalez, Senior Health Improvement Officer from our Climate and Sustainable Environments team, talk about the Interim Assessment of NHS Scotland Greenspace report and how the data can be used to create benefit for the environment and people’s health.

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Life, work and mental health

This World Mental Health Day 2024 Graeme Stevenson, Senior Health Improvement Officer - Public Mental Health and Mel Bridgewood, Health Improvement Manager - Fair Work and Employability reflected on this year’s theme: life, work and mental health.

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Unintentional injuries: Hospital admissions and deaths annual report 2023/24

This release reports on emergency hospital admissions for unintentional injuries between April 2023 to March 2024 and deaths for the calendar year 2024.

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Reporting on viral respiratory diseases in Scotland

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents epidemiological information on respiratory infection activity, including COVID-19, across Scotland.

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An interim assessment of NHS Scotland Greenspace

This report provides information on the amount of greenspace contained within the NHS estate in Scotland as of September 2024. Details of planned developments are included in the accompanying report, these include further work to complete data quality assurance.

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