News Archive 2003


Chief Environmental Health Officer launches RIPH level 1 Health and Safety and HACCP qualifications

THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH launched two new qualifications at a major environmental health conference in September 2003, with the support of one of the UK's top Environmental Health Officers.

Nigel McMahon, Northern Ireland's Chief Environmental Health Officer, launched the RIPH's new 'Foundation Certificate in Health and Safety in the Workplace' and 'Foundation Certificate in HACCP Principles' at a special reception at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health's annual conference in Belfast on Wednesday 24 September. The qualifications are the latest additions to the RIPH's portfolio of practical qualifications designed for the workplace.

Speaking at the event, RIPH Chief Executive Nichola Wilkins said: "We are delighted that Nigel McMahon is here to support us in launching our new qualifications." She added: " The new RIPH Foundation Certificate in Health and Safety and Foundation Certificate in HACCP respond to the needs of industry and the request of our trainers for practical, level 1 qualifications in these areas. By launching them today we are proud to be underlining our commitment to improving standards of public health."

Launching the qualifications, Nigel McMahon said: "I am very pleased to be promoting the Royal Institute of Public Health's new qualifications. HACCP is fast becoming one of the most important issues for today's food businesses. This Level 1 qualification will meet the needs of the Food Handler, helping to promote HACCP and its principles throughout the food preparation process. And the Royal Institute's new qualification in Health and Safety will go a long way to help prevent accidents and make the workplace a safer environment."

As a recognised awarding body with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Royal Institute of Public Health provide a range of qualifications which are directly relevant to the workplace. Our portfolio includes food hygiene and safety (including HACCP), nutrition, health and safety, mortuary hygiene and salon hygiene. Over 900 RIPH trainers and examiners provide training throughout the world.

Registered Royal Institute Centres and trainers wishing to run either of these qualifications should contact the Examinations Department or download and complete a trainer registration form click here.

For further information contact: Tim Davies, Examinations Manager
Tel: 020 7291 8355 Email: tdavies@riph.org.uk

Sainsbury's Room Opened at the Royal Institute of Public Health

At a special event today Dr Geoff Spreigel, Technical Director of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, opened the new Sainsbury's Room at the Royal Institute of Public Health. The opening marked the completion of an 18 month project to refurbish the Royal Institute's headquarters at 28 Portland Place; a beautiful 18th Century Grade II* listed building in central London.

The event also included an outline of the Royal Institute's future plans, with an introduction by Sir Donald Acheson, President of the Royal Institute of Public Health and former Chief Medical Officer for England. The event was attended by senior public health professionals - members and friends of the Royal Institute - from the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Sainsbury's has for many years run training courses for its staff leading to Royal Institute of Public Health food hygiene and safety qualifications. Sainsbury's is a Corporate Member of the Royal Institute and has a longstanding relationship with the organisation.

Speaking at the event, Jack Jeffery, Chairman of the Royal Institute of Public Health said: "The Royal Institute has a very long association with Sainsbury's in terms of food hygiene qualifications, certificated products and training materials and we are delighted that this partnership has developed and grown over the years to result in the refurbishment of this splendid room now known as the Sainsbury's Room."

Undertaking the official opening, Dr Geoff Spreigel, Technical Director, Sainsbury's Supermarkets said: " We are very proud of our longstanding partnership with the Royal Institute of Public Health especially in the area of food hygiene and safety qualifications. Sainsbury's has been delighted
to have been involved in this project to transform this room into a very impressive and elegant meeting room. We look forward to continuing our partnership with this highly respected organisation"

The Royal Institute of Public Health is a Registered Charity and now that its headquarters has been fully refurbished its meeting rooms, including the Sainsbury's Room, at 28 Portland Place will be available to hire for functions, enabling the Royal Institute to raise additional income to fund its public health work.

For information on 28 Portland Place, including virtual tours of the rooms, visit: www.28portlandplace.co.uk

UK's first multidisciplinary public health register

The UK's first Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists was launched in May 2003, with the backing of all four UK countries.

As the first such register in the UK, the Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialist represents a major step forward in recognising the contribution of many different disciplines to public health and is particularly applicable to public health professionals for whom there is no existing registration structure.

The new register received the endorsement of Public Health Minister for England, Hazel Blears, who welcomed it as a significant milestone, when she addressed the Annual Public Health Forum in Cardiff in March. She also paid tribute to the Tripartite Group - the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, the Multidisciplinary Public Health Forum and the Royal Institute of Public Health - which has developed both the multidisciplinary national standards and the register for public health specialists.

The register is run by a Joint Board of independent, multidisciplinary public health professionals. At it's inaugural meeting on 27 May, Chairman Professor Jim McEwen said: "We urge as many people as possible to apply for registration. This is a tremendous opportunity for those involved in public health at a high level to be properly recognised and supported and for the health protection services in the UK to capitalise on the skills and experience of many different disciplines".

The UK Voluntary Register is administered by the Royal Institute of Public Health, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1DE.

Further information is available at: www.publichealthregister.org.uk

Examinations Prize Giving Ceremony
Friday 23 May, Central London

Congratulations to this year's winners, their trainers and many thanks to our sponsors.

The Royal Institute's Prize Giving Ceremony recognises the achievement of top students and also acknowledges the dedication of the registered trainers whose work has helped them achieve such outstanding grades. The prestigious event attracts high level industry sponsorship, with support this year from Reckitt Benckiser, De Soutter Medical, The Hairdressing Council, General Mills Europe and Sodexho. The prize winners, from a range of backgrounds and disciplines, achieved the highest grades in the UK in 2001 and 2002 for Royal Institute qualifications in Food Hygiene, Nutrition, Salon Hygiene and Anatomical Pathology Technology. As well as individual cash prizes, all winners received Royal Institute commemorative medals, display certificates and a year's free membership of the Royal Institute.

Congratulations to the following RIPH Training Centres whose candidates received top marks in 2001/2002:

Birmingham College of Food,Tourism & Creative Studies
Birmingham City Hospital
Calderdale College
Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association
City of Bristol College
Coors Brewery
COTU, City College Coventry
Croydon College
Defence Dental Agency Training Establishment
Food Dialog
Glasgow Western Infirmary
The Health, Safety and Hygiene Consultancy
PWT Environmental Consultancy Services
Royal London Hospital
RSA Environmental Health
Somerset College of Arts & Technology
Sussex Downs College
Verner Wheelock Associates
West Herts College
West Thames College

Are we too clean? - A question of immunity balance
Health & Hygiene Supplement - March 2003

The idea that we could be too clean for our own good has received a great deal of attention in the media. Unprecedented improvements in public health over the last 100 years have been associated with increasing longevity in developed countries. However, chronic illness has also increased and allergic disorders, in particular, have risen sharply during the last four decades. So what do the scientists make of the issue, and how are health and hygiene professionals to respond? Could being cleaner be one of the factors behind the steep rise in asthma, eczema and similar atopic conditions? Or is the 'hygiene hypothesis' a dangerous idea that could lead to increased infection rates from food poisoning?

A new Health & Hygiene supplement, recording the proceedings of a Royal Institute of Public Health Symposium examines the issue surrounding immunity balance and 'the hygiene hypothesis'. Authored by independent public health consultant, Dr Rosalind Stanwell-Smith, the report brings together the views of leading experts in the field and presents a rounded picture of this contentious subject.

Available from the Royal Institute of Public Health, 28 Portland Place, London W1B 1DE

Contact: Julie Knope: tel: 020 7291 8358, fax: 020 7291 8363, email: marketing@riph.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Are we too clean? - A question of immunity balance was produced and published by the Royal Institute of Public Health, as a supplement to the quarterly journal Health & Hygiene. It is a report of a Royal Institute of Public Health symposium which took place in September 2002.

2. Dr Rosalind Stanwell-Smith, MB BCh, M.Sc, FRCOG, FFPHM is an independent public health consultant and scientific adviser to the Royal Institute of Public Health. As a specialist in surveillance of infections, water-related disease, imported infection, hospital infection and health effects of climeate change, she has investigated a wide range of infectious disease outbreaks and facilitated training courses for community infection control and emergency planning. She is honorary senior lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and honorary secretary to the John Snow Society.

3. The Royal Institute of Public Health is an independent organisation promoting public health through education, training, communication, quality testing and policy development. It's international membership encompasses a broad range of multidisciplinary public health professionals including epidemiologist, food hygiene and safety specialist, doctors, nurses and environmental health officers. Membership benefits include the quarterly journal Health & Hygiene and associated supplements, the bimonthly scientific journal Public Health, discounts on conferences, designatory letters (MRIPH or FRIPH) and special members' events.


Julie Knope
tel: 020 7291 8358
fax: 020 7580 6157
email: jknope@riph.org.uk

The Royal Institute of Public Health, 28 Portland Place, London W1B 1DE

Hospital Cleanliness - A short lecture by Professor Chris Griffith

As part of the Royal Institute of Public Health's programme of public health promotion, Professor Chris Griffith, of the University of Wales, will give a short lecture on hospital cleanliness, on Tuesday 18 March 2003, at the Jurys Hotel, Mary Anne Street, Cardiff.

Professor Griffith, Director of Enterprise and Development within the School of Applied Science at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, has extensively studied workplace and home hygiene and is author of over 100 books and scientific papers. Addressing a group of public health professionals from a range of disciplines and organisations, Professor Griffith will consider current perspectives on hospital hygiene standards, hand washing and hospital acquired infections and examine the key challenges for the future. Informal discussion and networking opportunities will follow.

Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of Public Health, Nicky Wilkins said: "Hospital cleanliness is a vital prerequisite to good health care and we are delighted to be hosting the lecture by Chris Griffith who is a renowned expert in his field."

The lecture coincides with the second day of the UK Public Health Association Conference and Exhibition - a three day annual event for public health professionals which takes place this year in Cardiff.

This lecture is free but is by ticket only. To book a place to attend please contact:
Pauline Johnson: tel: 020 7291 8366 fax: 020 7580 6157 email: pjohnson@riph.org.uk

For further information please contact:

Julie Knope
tel: 020 7291 8358
jknope@riph.org.uk



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