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NOVEMBER 2001 Dr M T Spence, President of the Section, opened the meeting and introduced the speakers as follows:- Dr J M Cowden (Consultant Epidemiologist, Scottish Centre for "Outbreaks as surveillance events" Dr Cowden discussed the importance of collecting standard information from the investigation of outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease (IID) and why outbreaks should be investigated, as opposed to merely described. The lecture addressed the motives and roles of environmental health officers and consultants in communicable disease control at the local level and the national surveillance Centre and the Food Standards Agency at the national level. As well as considering why outbreaks of IID should be investigated, the presentation discussed the benefits of surveillance to those concerned with protecting the public’s health and why achieving reliable surveillance based on good investigations is everyone’s responsibility. Mr J Drabble "Ambient air quality surveillance"
Dr M J Painter "Web-based surveillance: fad, fantasy or visionary?
Dr P Dey "Uses of cancer surveillance data" A five minutes question and answer session took place after each lecture. Members and guests of the Section showed their appreciation for what was a most interesting and informative afternoon by way of prolonged applause.
Apologies were received from Dr S Bradley and Dr G Smith. Dr. Spence introduced Professor J R Ashton CBE (North West Regional Director of Public Health & Regional Medical Officer) and Mr K Osborn (Company Public Health Scientist, United Utilities) for the debate: "Is our water safe in private hands?" Professor Ashton opened the debate supporting the proposition that water supply is not safe in private hands. There are political, ideological and utilitarian arguments, but Professor Ashton's presentation brought out some of the practical aspects. Privatisation has brought the disadvantages of monopoly without the benefit of public ownership and accountability. Companies are distracted by the profit motive away from the primary aim of production and distribution of water. The Annual Report of United Utilities has 12 references to savings, 3 mentions of investment, 16 of profit for shareholders and one of reducing bills. There is little reference to the fact it is a water company and much reference to diversification. Professor Ashton highlighted incidents which he considered showed problems with production, safety and maintenance of distribution networks. We now pay 44% more in England and Wales for water and sewerage than before privatisation. Shareholders have had a profitable investment. By 1998 there was globalisation and internationalisation of services with decisions about services being made in other countries where company headquarters are e.g. in US, France, which can undermine the public health of a country. There is a fundamental conflict of interests between profit and science. Keith Osborn responded. He was working in the industry at the time of privatisation and admitted that at the time he and many others had reservations. There are 10 water and sewerage companies and 14 water only companies. Privatisation was prompted by the need for capital injection, particularly to enable the UK to meet EU regulations. Foreign ownership of water companies is a result of the regulators desire to ensure competition. Keith showed that in the last 10 years water quality has improved. He discussed what we mean by the question - does it mean water is safer than if it were in public hands? Scotland remained in public hands. Although they have improved they still lag behind England and Wales in indicators of water quality. River quality and bathing waters are also improving. Water is a natural monopoly regulated by the DWI, the Environment Agency and OFWAT. A new single agency has been proposed for Scotland using the model in England and Wales. Keith commented that at privatisation it was not just the assets which were given away, the liability was also given away. The discussion was then opened up to the floor. Areas of discussion included trends in cryptosporidiosis, the role of regulators, trends in disconnection, poverty and access to water supply (including social responsibility), and progress in fluoridation of water supplies. The speakers summed up their arguments. The President thanked the speakers who were the guests at dinner.
FEBRUARY 2002 This year the presentations of work in Public Health in the North West took on a new format. Abstracts were invited from public health practitioners for presentation and the following were selected to produce, display and discuss their poster (Click here for instructions to enter). A structured discussion then took place facilitated by Professor R Heller and Dr M Painter, with interaction from both the audience and presenters. The presenters and their papers were as follows:- S Ashraf – "Preston Tuberculosis Audit" "The health and social impact of a major chemical contamination incident on a close working class community in Runcorn" A Macherianakis – "Management of blood-borne viruses in Cheshire drug users" J Reid – "Enhanced respiratory surveillance in a district; evolution and possible future direction" H Chellaswamy – "Predicting the likelihood of older people having emergency admissions" R A Harrison – "Combining patient and public health data sets to determine the epidemiology of, and potential lifestyle risk factors for miscarriage" H Lewis - Parmar – Cervical screening for women with learning difficulties" At the end of the session each presenter received a certificate commemorating the meeting.
The final lecture of the 2001/2002 session of the Public Health Forum of the Manchester Medical Society was held on Thursday 25th April 2002 at 6.00 pm. This was the third Chadwick Lecture and was held at the Manchester Dental Education Centre (MANDEC), University of Manchester. The President of the Section, Dr M T Spence, opened the meeting and introduced the speaker and his lecture:- Mr J W Owen CB "Globalisation and public health" Mr Owen explained that he felt health was a key component part of human security and should be an exemplar of modern foreign policy. He covered a number of issues and in particular called for action to: A vote of thanks was given to Mr Owen for a most illuminating lecture on significant issues concerning globalisation and public health. Following the meeting a dinner was held in honour of Mr Owen in the University Refectory and was attended by members and guests of the Section.
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MANCHESTER
MEDICAL SOCIETY
