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'Complacency,' 'Stigma' Hindering Efforts To Reduce HIV/AIDS In Black Communities, Opinion Piece Says
"Nearly 30 years after the discovery of HIV and AIDS, the epidemic is still ravaging black neighborhoods in Baltimore and across the nation," Kevin Fenton -- director of CDC"s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention -- writes in a Baltimore Sun opinion piece. Fenton writes that "complacency about HIV and the continued stigma associated with the disease are hindering progress by preventing too many African-Americans from seeking either HIV testing and treatment or support from their friends and family," adding that "this is a challenge that can be overcome."According to Fenton, the Obama administration last month "took an important step in confronting the United States" HIV epidemic" when CDC and White House officials announced a five-year campaign called Act Against AIDS, which is "designed to refocus the nation"s attention on the HIV crisis here at home." Fenton notes that 14 black civic organizations -- including the NAACP, the National Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Council of Negro Women -- are "joining the CDC to increase knowledge, awareness and action within black communities across the country." He adds that the campaign "will harness the strength and reach of these organizations by enhancing their ability to make HIV prevention a core component of their daily activities." "By raising the visibility of HIV and AIDS, the new campaign also aims to confront and overcome the fear and stigma that help keep HIV alive in black communities," Fenton says. He adds that he has "been encouraged in recent years to see black leaders, including black faith leaders, speak out more openly across the nation about the need to confront HIV and the stigma that persists surrounding this disease." Fenton writes that "[e]nding this epidemic will require not only frank and difficult discussions about HIV but also a shared sense of responsibility and commitment," concluding, "All of us can and must be part of the solution" (Fenton, Baltimore Sun, 5/27).
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Patients To Have Their Say On Infertility Treatment In Scotland
Infertility Network Scotland has welcomed the announcement by the Public Health Minister, Shona Robison, that over the next three years the Scottish Government will provide funding to Infertility Network Scotland to work with Health Boards to help them to address the inequity of access that has existed in Scotland for too many years. We also welcomed the news that an expert advisory group will be established this summer to consider an action plan on infertility services.
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Complaints By The Elderly Valuable Information Or Trivialities?
What is done when the elderly lodge complaints about their services? elderly care? Why is it that staff describe complaints made by the elderly as "trivialities"? In two recent studies, Tove Persson, doctoral student at the School of Health Sciences, shows that staff, as well as social services directors in local administrations often trivialize complaints from the elderly, which in turn makes it difficult for the elderly to influence their everyday lives.
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2008 Workforce Census Published - Royal Pharmaceutical Society Of Great Britain

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has published its fourth Pharmacy Workforce Census, reflecting the working patterns of pharmacists registered in August 2008. The reports findings reveal changes in workforce patterns since the last census in 2005, together with new and emerging trends in the workforce. Census forms were sent out to all pharmacists with a registered address in Great Britain. The survey achieved a high response rate of 69.6%. Key findings included: - The Register increased by 1.7% overall between August 2007 and August 2008. The Register has grown by about 2% annually since 1991; therefore the increase is in keeping with the previous upward trend. - Pharmacists reported working the same mean number of hours as the 2005 census (35 hours), although men worked longer hours than women. The proportion of pharmacists working 49 hours or more per week has risen by 1% since the last census. - There has been a slight increase in the numbers of actively employed pharmacists working part-time, with these pharmacists representing a significant proportion (32.3%) of the working population. Part-time working (defined as working 32 hours or less) was most prevalent in the primary care sector (39.5%). - More than a third of pharmacists (41.9%) reported that they usually worked long hours and this figure rose to 52.2% for male pharmacists. - Almost a third of pharmacists (30.3%) felt that they didn"t have enough time to socialize with their family and friends and a similar proportion (30.7%) wanted to reduce their working hours, but felt they had no control. - Male pharmacists consistently recorded higher scores for the work-life balance measures than females, indicating that men may perceive they experience more problems with worklife balance than females. The only exception to this was in the case of pharmacists working part-time: male part-timers recorded lower work-life balance scores than females working part-time. - More than one in ten pharmacists (13.0%) are considering leaving the sector in which they currently work within the next two years. A similar proportion (10.9%) are considering quitting the profession altogether. The findings provide full and fundamental data for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) when it is established in 2010, and will be used to help inform workforce planning and policy development across the profession. Findings relating specifically to work/life balance will also inform initiatives such as the Society"s ongoing workplace pressures campaign. Sue Ambler, Head of Research and Development at the Society said: "Thank you to all those pharmacists that took the time to complete and return the census questionnaire. The data will be utilised to help identify how both the GPhC and the new professional leadership body can further and strengthen support for pharmacists in their advancing and evolving roles." A copy of the report is available on the Society"s website: http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/census08.pdf Notes The research on which the Census report is based was commissioned by the Research Division at the Society. The research was undertaken by a team at the School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester and funded by the Department of Health. The 2008 Census report is the Society"s fourth. The first census was conducted in 2002, the second in 2003 and the third in 2005. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain


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