Information public enquiries

Public enquiry points HSE library and information services... 

A number of formal agreements have been made by the HSC with government departments and other bodies for them to perform functions on behalf of HSC/HSE under HASAWA. Conversely, HSE may act for other departments under similar agreements. Further information on the current agencies can be obtained from Public Enquiry Point. 

Francis, R. 2013. The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trusts Public Enquiry 6th Eebruary 2013 Chaired by Robert Francis QC. Kew Pubhc Sector Information, Information Pohcy Team. 

Health and Safety Executive Library and Information Services (HSE/LIS), UK Public Enquiry Points ... 

Except in the United States of America and New Zealand, where direct to consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription medicines is allowed, companies are not allowed to communicate directly with patients. The Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPl) Code of Practice has been relaxed a little in this area in recent years and companies can now communicate in a very limited fashion with the general public. Clause 20.2 of the Code allows the provision of non-promotional information either in response to a direct enquiry from an individual or via press conferences, press announcements, lectures and media reports, public relations activities and the like. 

The World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Office of Publications, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, which will be glad to provide the latest information on any changes made to the text, plans for new editions, and reprints and translations already available. 

Email enquiries A website may invite electronic mail communications from healthcare professionals and patients or the general public seeking further information about the company s products or other matters (e.g. feedback with regard to the website). The company may reply to such communications in the same manner as it would reply to enquiries received by post, telephone or other media. In communications with patients or members of the general public, discussion of personal medical matters must be avoided. If personal medical information is revealed, it must be held in confidence. Where appropriate, replies shall recommend that a healthcare professional be consulted for further information. 

Many of the promotional activities of the pharmaceutical industry are directed at professionals in the healthcare market (doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, etc.), as advertising POM medications directly to the patient is prohibited. However, companies are receiving an increasing number of enquiries directly from patients about their products. This has necessitated the provision of a regulatory Guidance for companies on how to answer such direct requests for information from the general public. 

The headquarters of the HSE Library and Information Service in Sheffield acts as the UK national centre for the ILO Health and Safety Service. Through the CIS, HSE enjoys links with 50 national centres in other countries. The ILO/CIS publishes their Safety and Health Bulletin and also various bibliographies which are available to subscribers. CIS also has a database CISDOC which is available on the European Space Agency Information Retrieval service in Italy (and available in the UK via the Department of Trade and Industry)" and also Telesysteme Questel in France. Anyone accessing ESA/IRS will be able to move quickly from one database, such as HSELINE, to another, such as CISDOC. The latter is a very good source for standards and legislation produced by other countries. There is a descriptive brochure, a sample of CIS abstracts and a list of publications on occupational health and safety produced by ILO available from any of the Enquiry Points above. 

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