Sun shines for summer party - Guild of Health Writers
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
Sun shines for summer party
Photographs: Rupal Shah-Sekhawat, PixelPlus Photography
Laura
Laura
Walkinshaw,
Walkinshaw,
left, Sabeha
left, Sabeha
Syed and
Syed and
Susan
Susan
Aldridge
Aldridge
Pimms, prosecco and a perfect setting – it was a return to the
Royal Society of Medicine’s Chandos House, with its elegant
rooms and beautiful terrace, for our summer party. About 60 Guild
members and their friends enjoyed an evening of networking,
socialising and a delicious barbecue. A huge thanks to Boehringer
Ingelheim for their very generous sponsorship of this event and for
their continued support of the Guild.
Michele Simmons, centre, with party-goers
Kasia Murphy and
Laura Bond
Gabriel Roberts
and Heather Janette Marshall, Jonathan
Stephen Woods and Kate Hawkings
p2 u
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
1
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
Nick Johnson, left,
Richard Pitt, both
Corporate Affairs Managers
at Boehringer Ingelheim,
greet Michele and
Jo Willey
Abbie Carter, left, Howard
Thomas and Helen Cowan
Kasia Murphy, left, and Katie Randerson
Danny Buckland, Jill
Palmer (background)
and Heather Maisner
Corinne
and
Jonathan
Swainger
A big thank you to
our sponsors to
Boehringer Ingelheim
p3 u
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
2
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
Letter from
the Editor
Those of you who have been
around the Guild for a while
might remember the days when
this newsletter popped through
your letterbox once every couple
of months. I still like print – and
I still work for print publications
– but, on the other hand, I’m
glad we now have so many other
ways of communicating with one
another.
So I’m excited
that my fellow
Above, from committee
left, – Michele, member
Alan Sumner, Charlotte Haigh
Head of MacNeil has
Corporate
just launched
Affairs,
Boehringer the Guild’s
Ingelheim, new Facebook group. Check her
and Janette article on page 4 which tells you
Marshall; all you need to know. Please
do sign up today and join the
Left, Katie
Randerson, discussion!
Kasia Murphy
and Janet What is more, we now have
Horwood a lively Twitter feed. Follow the
Guild on @HealthWritersUK for
Below: Helen
Foster, left, the latest health news and so that
and Madeleine we can retweet what you are up
Bailey to!
Mary-Claire Mason, left,
and Hilary Freeman Over the coming months, the
Guild will be focusing very much
on how we can all get more out
of social media – so if you have
ideas, please do get in touch.
And if you have ideas for
articles in Health Writer Online, I
would be delighted to hear from
you at susaldr@aol.com
Have a great summer!
COMING We have an exciting
programme of events planned
l Meet a charity – ‘speed
dating’ evening October 5 (tbc)
Expert panel (tba)
Further events to be
SOON . . . for the autumn. Watch out for… l Can diet cure diabetes? announced later in the year.
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
3
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
SPOTLIGHT on . . . Facebook
When I joined the Guild Committee
recently, I thought it was high
Committee member Why it will help your work
For those reasons and more, I’ve
time we had a Guild Facebook Charlotte Haigh been an enthusiastic Facebook
group. We already have a
successful Twitter account (@
MacNeil introduces member for nine years. I chat
to friends, share music and
HealthWritersUK, if you’re not the Guild’s new New Yorker cartoons and post
following us yet), where we share
facts, studies and articles that will
Facebook group pictures of my Burmese cats. But,
interest health writers – but there increasingly, I use Facebook for
was a Facebook-shaped hole in virtual smile and handshake, a work purposes.
our social media presence.
little welcome into their world –
and means people feel a touch I’m a member of a
safer, knowing who can see their couple of freelance
How Facebook compares
posts (you can always customise journalist groups and
I find Twitter invaluable
sharing options if you’d rather find them supportive
for picking up all sorts
certain contacts didn’t read with everything from dealing
of fascinating nuggets
something). with late payments to help
- and getting in touch
with colleagues and PRs. As with expert suggestions. As for
Posts ‘stick’ for much longer on finding case studies, Facebook’s
tweets are public, Twitter’s
Facebook, in contrast to Twitter’s invaluable – that side of my
usually the way posts go viral.
rapidly-rolling feed – so your job is much simpler now that I
And because there’s no need to
connections are more likely can reach so many people by
request contacts, you can follow
to see anything you post. Plus, posting a request and asking
anyone you like, not just those
Facebook has numbers on its side my Facebook friends to share it
who accept you – that means
– an estimated 968 million daily among their connections.
celebrities, leading experts, even
active users worldwide, dwarfing
long-dead authors (I was once
Twitter’s 316 million. Working at home alone all
retweeted by Vladimir Nabokov
who died in 1977). day, I don’t have the chance to
chat to colleagues by the kettle
I’m a member of LinkedIn, too, and wind down in the middle
and that’s useful for professional Facebook pages for of a stressful day. But I can pop
contacts and for showcasing health writers onto Facebook to comment on a
work. Several colleagues have n Mosaic Science, from the fellow freelancer’s post – it serves
been approached for copywriting Wellcome Trust, posts fascinating a similar purpose.
work via LinkedIn as it tends long-read pieces about the
to be widely used by corporate science of life. So come and join us. We’re
clients who perhaps don’t have www.facebook.com/ posting Guild news and events
contacts in the traditional media. mosaicscience/?fref=ts and anything else we think you’ll
But Facebook’s always been my n The New Scientist page shares find interesting. We also hope
favourite social media site. With
a range of its brilliant stories. you’ll chat among yourselves.
www.facebook.com/search/ Feel free to ask for help with
no character limits, you can
top/?q=new%20scientist finding experts or case studies,
express yourself in a bit more
n The Sense About Science page talk about issues that affect health
detail and engage in something debunks health myths, comments
akin to a proper conversation. It writers, tell us about your book
on news stories posts highly launch or share your pieces.
feels friendly and personal. You shareable infographics.
can only see someone’s profile Just visit www.facebook.com/
www.facebook.com/ groups/146878362393614/ and
if they agree to your ‘friend senseaboutscience/
request’, which is a bit like a send a request to join.
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
4
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
A patient’s journey in the digital age
Social media has profoundly influenced every aspect of
our life. But what is the impact of social media on health
information? New Guild member and digital health writer
Radhika Narayan reports on patient care
MOST healthcare professionals to the online portals being To me, this sounds like an issue
are yet to fully embrace implemented by the NHS. that Guild members might
social media platforms for want to get involved with.
patient care but there is no The online patient
doubt that this is where we Connecting online can help to Portal limitations cannot
are heading – so now is the build a better physician-patient be ignored. Capabilities such
time to address some major relationship. The benefits as registration, appointment
issues. A key question to for patient engagement have scheduling, billing, access to
explore is – can social media been highlighted by research lab results, image uploads,
really direct patients to secure in Scotland and elsewhere. repeat prescription requests
communication channels Of course, merely making a and alerts are all possible.
and help them access health portal available at a healthcare
data? So far, it is certainly a facility is just the first step. But how much and what
promising tool that can support Implementation is the next kind of data should the patient
patients in their quest for the challenge. Getting any patient be in control of? Can patients
health information. For a start, to use a portal, does tend to be request a repeat prescription
with the government’s latest an issue, particularly if they are without having seen the
attempt to create a paperless not ‘techno-savvy’. doctor in person, for example?
health service and improve Which of the above elements
the use of IT in healthcare, Most patients are looking for are ethical to provide? And
accessing health records a consumer-like tool – like the can portals ensure patient
should now be possible via online shopping they are more confidentiality and privacy?
patient portals. familiar with. Therefore, there
is a need to educate patients A final aspect is the extent of
Patient engagement via about how online health patient portal adoption among
portals is a part of government portals work and the benefits. so-called ‘Millennials’ versus
policy and a means of Baby Boomers, ie, does age
involving patients in their REFERENCES make a difference when it
own care. These portals pull Patient Online. http://stfi.re/rjgarjx comes to the willingness and/
together health information Healthcare Improvement Scotland. or ability to become an online
from different health provider Social media and e-participation in patient?
channels into one common NHS Scotland.
platform and make it securely http://stfi.re/exolvlo I hope this gives you a
accessible to the patients. Healthcare patient portals: glimpse of how patient care
Recently, the Royal College Millennials vs Baby Boomers. may evolve with social media
of General Practitioners, in http://stfi.re/rjgvney and spark off some ideas and
partnership with the Royal Engage! Transforming healthcare debate. For more about what I
College of Nursing, published through digital patient engagement. do, visit my website at
Patient Online, a guide http://stfi.re/vnwgypj www.digitalhealthwrite.com
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
5
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
NE W M E M B ERS’ F oc us: Lyndon G ee
Lyndon Gee has been writing for 15 years but before
that worked in hospitality, training at the Savoy and
with Antonio Carluccio. He managed a bakery and
restaurant chain in the United States and has also run
the food and restaurant operations for Selfridges.
“As a health and food writer I love creating healthy
recipes and writing about food. The healing properties
of food are integral to my recipes. It’s rewarding
to develop dishes that help people manage specific
medical conditions or allergies,” he says. “I’m also a
food futurist, working on product development for
niche clients and big brands. So as well as sharing my
knowledge of healthy eating, I influence the future of
food for consumers in all elements of the food chain.”
What are you working on now? What achievement are you schedule is brilliant. Thanks too to
I’ve just finished a five day shoot for most proud of? technology I recently moved out of
Diabetes Balance magazine. I create As a founding board director of Slow London to the south coast – and I
the recipes to ensure they meet the Food in the UK, and through my two can now have a swim in my lunch
exacting nutritional standards of the campaigns, Eat:Fit and What’s on hour!
Diabetes UK clinical team. I always your Plate? I helped to bring media
make sure they taste great too – just focus onto food provenance and the
because you have a health condition importance of local foods. The major What are your work-related
doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy food. supermarkets and many restaurants ambitions?
So right now I’m in the kitchen now concentrate on the origins of I would like to do a more TV and
re-testing the recipes and simplifying their food so my work has helped radio work and also get another book
the methods to ensure they’re easy to change the way we eat. out. To celebrate healthy food in
follow and 100 per cent right before Also, recreating favourite dishes for every aspect, to the widest possible
it goes into print and eventually onto people who have a health condition audience, and thus help to improve
the Diabetes UK website (www. is very worthwhile. From a child the health of the nation.
diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/ who can’t eat gluten to someone
Recipes/) diagnosed with a heart problem,
being able to offer them healthy Finally, what do you like
recipes based on familiar tastes is a to do to relax when you’re
How has your work changed big help. not working?
over the years? I grow my own vegetables and
There are lots of opportunities writing go foraging for wild berries and
for websites and I do a lot more What are the best and worst mushrooms; I also like rambling on
work with corporate clients. Being things about being a freelance/ the Kent Downs or along the White
able to deliver the whole package is your job? Cliffs.
very attractive for business clients, One actually has more job security A couple of times a month I
so I’ve put together a team including as a freelancer than a staffer! You pop across to France and love to
photographer, dietitian and designer won’t be made redundant but you wander around the markets, buying
to deliver print-ready artwork for do need to constantly seek new ingredients from the small artisan
recipe cards, leaflets, brochures and clients and income streams to avoid producers to cook and enjoy with
in-store information. This one-stop becoming reliant on one customer. friends – along with a good selection
shop approach is very popular! The freedom to control my own of wines of course!
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
6
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
OU R N E W COM M ITTEE
Janette Marshall HON. Co-CHAIRS Michele Simmons
Janette is a freelance Janette Marshall Michele is a freelance
journalist and author Michele Simmons health journalist who has
specialising in health and contributed to titles such
fitness and plot-to-plate as Woman, Essentials,
healthy eating features HON. Secretary Sainsbury’s magazine, Top
about growing and cooking Janet Horwood Santé and Best. She has
your own food. She has edited magazines for the
edited health magazines, HON. TREASURER consumer and customer
written award-winning diet markets, including Practical
and nutrition books and Susan Aldridge Health, Healthy Times,
worked with food business Crossed Grain and Better
start-ups devising recipes MEMBERSHIP Health. She has also written
and menus. SECRETARY books on diet, wellbeing
Lee Rodwell and dreams.
Janet Horwood
Charlotte Haigh Susan Aldridge
Janet is a freelance
journalist and editor. She McNeil Susan is a freelance
has written for most major Sarah Stacey writer and editor,
national magazines and Corinne Swainger specialising in medicine,
newspapers. She was health, science and
features editor for Choice ADMINISTRATOR psychology. She is currently
Magazine, editor of Caring Editor of Diabetes Update,
Jatinder Dua Diabetes UK’s quarterly
(magazine for members
of the charity Carers UK) GUILD PRESIDENT magazine for healthcare
and until recently was professionals. She has
Dr Carol Cooper written and contributed to
health editor at Woman’s
Weekly. She is the author of, several popular science and
among others, Comfort for medical books including
Depression, Coping with the The Brain Book and Magic
Menopause, Caring: How Molecules: How Drugs
to Cope and Exercise for Work.
Arthritis.
Lee Rodwell Charlotte Haigh McNeil
Lee has been writing about health Charlotte is a freelance writer and
since the 1980s and her features editor covering all aspects of health
have been published in most of the and psychology. She contributes to
nationals, many magazines in the UK consumer titles including Women’s
and abroad, and on websites such as Health, Woman & Home, Marie Claire,
retiresavvy.com. She has produced Stylist and Yours, and to customer
leaflets, booklets, patient information titles such as Healthy, WeightWatchers
packs and press releases for charities magazine and Vitality. Charlotte also
and healthcare companies – and has writes content about behaviour change
written eight books, including ones on techniques for health charities and
sex, on women’s health and on prostate problems. For many healthcare clients.
years she was health editor at Take a Break.
Sarah Stacey Corinne Swainger
As health editor of the Mail on Sunday’s Corinne is a freelance medical
YOU magazine, Sarah writes a weekly copywriter, writer and editor, who
page on every aspect of health. specialises in producing content
Her particular interest is integrated for pharmaceutical-healthcare
medicine. She is a passionate marketing and education. She has
campaigner for public access to more than 20 years’ experience in
reliable broad-based information about digital and traditional media. Based
health and wellbeing. She was Health in London, Corinne is a lay member
Journalist of the Year 2013. Sarah was a of the research committee for the UK
founder member and first Hon Chair of Tuberous Sclerosis Association charity.
the Guild.
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
7
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
M E M B E RS’ NEWS
OBITUARY Elizabeth Adlam
It is with much sadness that we report
the death of long-standing Guild
member Elizabeth (Liz) Adlam.
Liz Hodgkinson remembers her . . .
Liz Adlam, who has died aged 73, was in many ways luckier
than most, blessed with a supremely happy long-lasting
marriage, a loving family, and a rewarding career that lasted
almost to the day she died.
Born Elizabeth Morley, she was the only child of a
Weybridge bank manager, and attended a local convent
school. She read English at St Andrews’ University, where
she met her future husband Tony Adlam. They married soon
after graduating, and remained soulmates for life.
Liz always wanted to be a writer, and after her first job
with a publishing company, began writing for Reader’s
Digest, always a highly demanding and exacting outlet,
where she was greatly valued. When Tony’s job as a
geography teacher took them to Australia, she was instantly condition seemed to have stabilized. She was reasonably
offered regular work with Reader’s Digest down under. able-bodied and able to resume both work and driving.
‘She walked straight into a job there,’ said Tony. After they
returned to the UK in 1987, Liz took up with British Reader’s In June 2016, she had a routine bone marrow biopsy
Digest again, specializing in health. when it became clear that all was not going well. She
went rapidly downhill and died on July 5, in Southampton
She also wrote many advertorials for them. In the General Hospital, with Tony and her twin daughters by her
1980s, Liz pioneered a campaign for child safety seats in side. “The last thing she said was: ‘you will be all right,
cars, now of course compulsory, and later won a Guild won’t you?’” Tony told me. He added: “I may be biased,
of Health Writers’ Award for a groundbreaking article but Liz was the kind of person who always thought of
on retinoblastoma, an uncommon form of eye cancer others before herself.” Indeed, she had nursed Tony back
that affects young children. Liz’s work was known for its from a serious heart attack a few years previously, and
attractive combination of close research and readability wrote amusingly to Guild members about putting her “Flo
– not always easy to achieve, as writers on complicated Nightingale cap firmly on”.
medical subjects will testify – and this was a major reason
why she was in demand right up to the end. Those who knew Liz will remember her sunny
personality, ready smile, great sense of humour and relaxed,
When the Guild of Health Writers was founded in approachable manner. She made friends easily, and
1994, Liz became an enthusiastic supporter and committee although an accomplished journalist, she remained very
member, even though she was by then living in Bembridge modest, never drawing attention to the highly professional
on the Isle of Wight. She travelled frequently to the capital work she had produced without fuss for decades.
for meetings and events, staying at the Royal Over-Seas
League. Liz leaves Tony, her two daughters Carol and Samantha,
and two grandchildren, teenagers Jemimah and Oliver.
Having enjoyed good health all her life, Liz was
devastated when, in 2014, she went to her GP with a bad l The family has requested that any donations should go
back and out of the blue was diagnosed with multiple to Myeloma UK. The Guild will also be making a donation.
myeloma, or bone marrow cancer. She was prescribed Tony would love to hear from Guild members who knew
chemotherapy, but a year later stopped treatment as her Liz. He can be contacted at ajawords@tiscali.co.uk
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
8
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
M E M B E RS’ NEWS
NEW BOOKS country. As the NHS faces one of its
most difficult financial periods since
its creation, the book celebrates the
continuing dedication and skill of
its workforce, and some of the most
Improving the NHS and
pioneering projects being carried
social care out at the frontline of health and
social care.
Paul Dinsdale, below, has produced
a new e-book, looking at how NHS
In projects ranging from the use
and social care professionals are
of mobile phone apps to improve
improving the delivery of health
mental health, to the training of
and social care in the UK.
prisoners as restaurant chefs and
the setting-up of social micro- by experts
enterprises in deprived areas, the including Dale
book gives a broad picture of health Pinnock, Ian
and social care innovations across Marber and
the UK, and provides ideas for NHS Janey Lee
and social care professionals to Grace, has
improve services in their own areas. been carefully
It also gives a current overview of developed
the state of the NHS and possible by Christine,
future trends in healthcare, at a time who is an
when publicly-funded care is under award-winning nutritionist and
intense scrutiny in the UK. chef. Whether you are looking to
lose a few pounds or seeking a
Tales The e-book is available from new way of eating to boost energy,
from the Amazon. Go Lean Vegan will provide you
Frontline: with all the nutritional principles
Improving The vegan approach to you need for a vibrant, healthy life.
the NHS weight loss The book includes nutritionally
and Social balanced recipes such as the
Care is In her new book, Go Lean Vegan Coconut Quinoa Bowl with Berries,
based on (Hodder, Yellow Kite), Christine Courgette Carbonara and Orange
a series of Bailey, above right, presents a Chocolate Pots.
articles in The Guardian, showing plant-based diet that can help you
how innovations in health and not only look great, but also lose For more information, go to www.
social care are having a real impact weight! This revolutionary step-by- yellowkitebooks.co.uk/books/go-
on people’s lives around the step 30-day diet plan, endorsed lean-vegan
2016 Jacobs Science Writer
Edge of Consciousness Alzheimer’s – New Insights into
Fellowship
Conference the Potential of Alzheimer’s and Zurich-based Jacobs Foundation is
its Care came out last year and offering Fellowship awards to science,
Maggie La Tourelle will speak at the
she wrote a blog for Alzheimer’s social and health policy journalists. The
Edge of Consciousness Conference
Dementia Awareness Week in May award covers travel and other costs to
at the College of Psychic Studies on
which is available at a five-day study programme in Zurich
September 3. She shares a platform
http://thegiftofalzheimers.com/10- from November 29 to December 3.
with Dr Penny Sartori and Anthony
Apply at www.jacobsfoundation.org by
Peake. Maggie’s book, The Gift of things-you-need-to-know/
August 21 2016.
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
9
health writer
onlıne
newsletter JULY l 2016
M E M B E RS’ NEWS
MJA awards well understood by scientists
as the relapsing-remitting type. Cystitis
winners campaigner
However, there are many
Madeleine Bailey and John ways that people can manage Angela Kilmartin,
Illman have both been their symptoms and recently a Braintree District
recognised in the 2016 there have been several and Witham Town
Medical Journalists Association promising breakthroughs in Councillor, is
Awards. treatment and research. The campaigning to stop
booklet can be downloaded cystitis in the elderly.
Madeleine was named from www.mssociety.org.uk She sits on the health
Charity Writer of the Year committee and recently
2016 for a health information John won the MJA award joined the Braintree
booklet for the Multiple for Feature of the Year District Council Cabinet
Sclerosis Society entitled (for a specialist audience) as a member for health
Understanding progressive for an extract from his in a road show exhibit
MS. Her aim was to create an new book Handling the in Witham town centre,
accurate, up-to-date resource Media: Communication where she helped
for people with progressive and Presentation Skills for launch the campaign.
MS as opposed to the more Healthcare professionals. The
common relapsing-remitting extract appeared in British
type. Journalism Review. The judges
pronounced the piece “thought
With this type of MS, there provoking on an issue that is
are no periods of remission vitally important for medicine
and, as yet, no treatments and medical reporting.
that can halt progression of the condition, Superbly written.” The article is available at
leading many people to feel that hope has http://bjr.sagepub.com/content/26/3/37.
been lost after diagnosis. It is also not as full.pdf
News in brief…
Charlotte Stirling-Reed, left, has recently up-
dated her website to allow her work as a child
New full Guild members
nutritionist to become more evident. Charlotte
has also written a comprehensive blog entitled David F Marks: Freelance
Top Tips to Dealing with a Picky Eater. Visit author and editor
Charlotte’s website www.srnutrition.co.uk/ Heather Stephen: Freelance
blog
Helen Cowan, right, has started writing for the Anna Pattenden: Freelance
writer
Hippocratic Post, at the following link www.
hippocraticpost.com/author/helen-cowan/ Laura Bond: Freelance
writer and online editor
This newsletter is kindly sponsored
Th e Gui l d of Health Wri ters by an educational grant from
Healthspan.
Dale Lodge, 88 Wensleydale Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2LX.
Guild office hours: 9am -12pm Monday to Wednesday. Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8941 2977. Email: admin@
healthwriters.com. Administrator: Jatinder Dua.
Members are very welcome to send in contributions to Health Writer and to submit ideas for events and
workshops. Copy deadline for next newsletter: August 16, 2016. www.healthspan.co.uk
For further information on Members’ News and forthcoming events visit: www.healthwriters.com
10You can also read
