A blog to promote debate and discussion around current issues of interest to the network. David MacKintosh, one of the founders of the network, writes a weekly blog piece, all editions of which can be found here. We also invite contributions to the blog from others with ideas and opinions on issues relating to health behaviours and urban health and wellbeing. If you would like to contribute, please send your post to us for consideration at [email protected] - if accepted for publication, your blog will be posted here on the GPHN website, as well as being included in the weekly GPHN alerts sent to all those in the network.
David's Blog
David’s Blog #60: Light Receding
This is not the blog I planned, nor the blog I wanted to write. My original intention was to look at the work the Global Public Health Network has undertaken over the last year and flag up some of...
David’s blog #59: Slàinte Mhath!
Looking back to my first blog of 2020, it is clear I have no future in fortune telling. Seeking to be optimistic, I spoke about the success of our Christmas alcohol campaign and my hopes for more ...
David’s blog #58: Glimmers of Hope During Dark Nights
The name of Margaret Keenan, the first person to be vaccinated against Covid 19 outside of the clinical trials, will likely come up in quizzes for years to come. The sight of people being vaccina...
David’s blog #57: Smoke fuelled anger
Stigma and a lack of empathy are normally seen as a bad thing when it comes to trying to tackle major social or health issues. Certainly, a public display of disdain towards those who use drugs, h...
David’s blog #56: Devotion, Creativity and Doing Less Harm
I am sure that, like many of you, much of my working life has been spent in meetings. Even a global pandemic doesn’t halt the cycle of meetings – it just means we get to see inside the homes of m...
David’s blog #55: Within Walls
A recent news story caught my eye. It stated that, according to the Prison Officers’ Association (the union which represents prison officers in England and Wales), prisons were safer due to the r...
David’s blog #54: Family Fortunes
Over the last twenty years I have had the privilege to meet and work with several amazing parents and carers who have experienced bereavement because of drug or alcohol use. Many have sought to tr...
Guest Blogger – Rankin Barr: How Covid Broke the Mould?
On 18th of March 2020 in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Hub for the homeless, a male rough sleeper rocked off the streets with the first recognisable symptoms of Covid 19. Before lockdown, before pathways a...
David's blog #53: Annual Rituals
Here in England the nights are drawing in. Despite the Covid restrictions, there are decorations going up outside many homes, shops are selling fake blood and scary costumes, and pumpkins sales re...
David's blog #52: To Beat A Virus
The UK, like much of the world, is having to reimpose major restrictions on how we live. Community and business sectors which were hoping that the worst was behind them are having to face a future...