Growing Pains: Getting past the complexities of scaling social impact

In communities across the UK, organisations develop new ideas to improve the lives of those around them. And yet despite growing demand for charity services, concerted attempts to take proven approaches to scale are few and far between, and successful examples are rarer still. This paper aims to bring about a change in tack by proposing a way of assessing the viability of scaling in different contexts

Diagnosis and Management of Marfan Syndrome (MFS) Throughout the Lifespan

This CME presentation aims to highlight the role of the primary care provider in diagnosis and management of Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder that affects many body tissues including blood vessels, eyes, bones, muscles, and ligaments. Pathognomonic findings include aortic root dilation and ectopia lentis. MFS is also often characterized by a constellation of physical manifestations such as arachnodactyly, tall stature, elongated face, flexible joints, and scoliosis. Diagnosis is made using the Modified Ghent Criteria. Primary care providers are responsible for referring the patient to the required specialists. Patients should be treated preventatively with a beta blocker and screened regularly with echocardiograms. Early diagnosis and appropriate management allows the life expectancy of patients with MFS to reach that of the general population

A qualitative descriptive study exploring the perception of confidence within midwives facilitating water birth in Western Australia

This qualitative study explored midwives' perceptions of 'becoming and being confident' in supporting water birth. Twenty six midwives participated. Three categories emerged: What came before the journey describes influences prior to initial exposure such as education and personal attitudes. Becoming confident – the journey offers insight into the impact of another midwife in the room, getting enough exposure and 'unlearning' ingrained practices. Staying confident highlights factors that ‘knock’ confidence plus empowering experiences that sustained confidence

A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence of the Impact of Surface Water Quality on Property Values

The desirability of living on or close to water is reflected in sometimes substantial property price premiums. Water quality has an important influence on property prices, since it impacts a water body’s appearance, capacity to support wildlife, and recreational potential. As water quality continues to be altered by human use and activity, and in light of new threats posed by projected climate and associated environmental change, understanding the impact of changing quality on property prices, and the associated property tax base, is paramount. This paper reviews the body of evidence on this topic to date. Of the 43 distinct studies represented in the 48 publications reviewed, the expected, statistically significant relationship between water quality and property price was demonstrated in at least one of the models developed in all but two studies. As a whole, they provide convincing evidence that clean water has a positive effect on property values