Health Board: Upcoming conferences, talks, campaigns and events

1) Prof Cherly Missiuna, a Canadian expert in school-based rehabilitation programmes for dyspraxia, will give seminars to parents of children with dyspraxia and interested professionals on Tuesday July 3rd from 7.30pm-9pm and on Wednesday July 4th from 10am-noon in the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate St, Dublin. She will speak about the Canadian Partnering for Change (P4C) programme in advance of the piloting of a similar programme in some Irish schools in September, 2018. See dyspraxia.ie or call 01 874 7085

2) Forest therapy guide Shirley Gleeson will lead a forest bathing walk in Barnaslingan Forest in Co Wicklow on Sunday, July 15th from 10am-noon. The tradition of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku in Japanese) which originates in Japan, encourages walkers to slow down and reconnect with nature through mindfulness, sensory awareness and expressive arts. See naturehealthandwellbeing.ie for more details.

3) Anyone interested in having an input into the proposed national electronic prescribing of medicines in the community can send a submission to the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) by post or email. See draft recommendations on the ePrescribing programme on hiqa.ie and e-mail completed forms to technicalstandards@hiqa.ie or by post to Health Information and Quality Authority, eHealth Consultation, George's Court, George's Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Rachel Flynn, director of health information and standards at HIQA says: "ePrescribing can improve patient safety considerably by reducing cases of mistaken identity, incorrect dosage, incorrect medication and adverse drug interactions. ePrescribing can also save money and time compared to processing the same prescriptions manually."

4) Dental amalgam which is used in silver fillings will be phased out from this week. These fillings contains several metals including mercury and, following global agreement to reduce environmental contamination caused by mercury, this type of filling will no longer be used in baby teeth for children under 15 or in pregnant and breastfeeding women unless deemed strictly necessary. Their use will be reduced in other patients at the discretion of the individual dentist. People who already have mercury based fillings are advised to do nothing.

Seven tips to improve your memory

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‘My father sells himself as a hero, but I’ve just found out about his affair’

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‘I am in pain every day and sometimes it is almost too much to bear’

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His words to me were, ‘Rory, unfortunately, there is no cure and it gets worse’

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5) Health-related charities who have previously received funding from the National Lottery can enter their charity in the Health and Wellness category of the Good Causes Awards. The closing date for entry is July 13th. Applications can be made at lottery.ie/good-causes-awards.

6) The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle – the 35^th edition of which takes place this Saturday, July 7^th - attracts thousands of leisure cyclists to complete the 175km challenge across the scenic route. The main beneficiary charities chosen this year include Pieta House, the Irish Kidney Association, Enable Ireland, Kerry Hospice Foundation and Caherciveen Social Services. The cycle begins at 7.30am on Saturday.

7) Tallaght University Hospital is to hold a series of patient information and education sessions focusing on the area of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The school, led by Dr Anthony O'Connor, will be delivered by staff with expertise in particular areas related to the disease and will focus on aspects such as diet, the patient journey, medication and the psychological aspects of living with IBD. The IBD sessions, entitled "Back to IBD School" will take place on Wednesday, July 4th, from 4pm to 6.30pm, at the Trinity College Dublin Institute of Population Health, Russell Building, Tallaght Cross, Dublin 24. The sessions are open to the public. Those who wish to register can email tallaghtibdschool@gmail.com.

sthompson@irishtimes.com