South Queensferry: Have your say on active travel at drop-in session

Do you live in Queensferry? The city council wants to improve walking, wheeling and cycling conditions there, creating more travel options for daily trips to school, work and in your local community.

Come to their drop-in at South Queensferry Community Centre, School Lane on Thursday, 30 June between 3pm and 7pm to meet the project team and find out more

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/…/southqueens…/

Snooker’s Scottish Open heads to Meadowbank 

The Meadowbank Sports Centre will welcome the best snooker players on the planet later this year when the Scottish Open comes to Edinburgh.

The world ranking event will run from November 28 to December 4 and will be staged at the Meadowbank Sports Centre for the first time. It will be the first professional snooker event in Edinburgh since 2003.

The venue hosted the Commonwealth Games in both 1970 and 1986. It closed in 2017 but reopened to the public this week following a multi-million-pound redevelopment.

Welcoming the news, Scotland’s top player John Higgins said: “It’s brilliant news for the Scottish players as we have really missed the chance to play in our home tournament over the last couple of years.

“I think there’s a lot of support for snooker and a lot of people playing the game in Edinburgh. I would love to win it in front of my own fans.”

Higgins was runner-up to Luca Brecel in the event last year and reached six finals over the season, albeit the only won he won was the Championship League. Reflecting on his consistency, the 47-year-old from Wishaw added: “If I keep knocking on the door then I think the trophies will follow. Ronnie O’Sullivan is an inspiration because he is still winning the big tournaments at his age so hopefully I can do the same.”

The top 16 seeded players will all compete at the venue and that could include the likes of Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, defending champion Luca Brecel and World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Tickets will go on sale on Monday June 27th with a SPECIAL OPENING OFFER of 20% off tickets for the first four days of the event from November 28 to December 1. For details visit www.wst.tv/tickets

In all there will be over 70 players in the field, with all tour players outside the top 16 to go through a qualifying round, to be staged in October.  The Scottish Open is one of the season’s Home Nations Series, alongside the Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open and Welsh Open. 

Last year the tournament was staged in Wales as WST was unable to host the event at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, where it took place from 2016 to 2019.

WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We know how disappointed the Scottish fans and players were to miss out on a tournament in their homeland last year, so we are extremely pleased to move the event to Edinburgh this time.

“It’s a new venue for this superb event and we’re excited about bringing snooker to this top-class facility in the Scottish capital. There is such a rich history of great snooker players from Scotland and we know the fans love our sport. This is their chance to get behind their heroes and experience a live event of the highest quality.”

Donald Goldsmith, Manager at the new Meadowbank Sports Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Scottish Open at the newly refurbished Meadowbank Sports Centre.

“Meadowbank has been an important part of Scotland’s sporting history for many years and our new Centre will build on this legacy. Snooker fans will be greeted with the warm Edinburgh Leisure welcome that we are renowned for.”

LGBT+ communities face significant health equalities, says new report

LGBT+ people across Scotland are continuing to face health inequalities across every measure of wellbeing, according to a major new report by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian and Public Health Scotland.

The findings of the Health Needs Assessment, commissioned by the Boards, found that the COVID pandemic has exacerbated issues, with significant numbers experiencing loneliness and isolation, while almost a half of LGBT+ people in the survey said they had experienced discrimination in the previous year – with trans and non-binary communities experiencing higher levels of abuse.

The assessment also revealed significantly high levels of mental ill-health, with more than half of all respondents reporting issues such as depression, anxiety and stress, with the highest rates experienced by trans and non-binary individuals.

The comprehensive assessment was undertaken to better address gaps in knowledge about the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ patient groups, to better inform approaches to public health for LGBT+ people, across seven groups: lesbian and gay women, gay men, bisexual women, bisexual men, trans women, trans men (trans masculine) and non-binary people across the Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Lothian areas.

Nicky Coia, Health Improvement Manager at NHSGGC said: “This report should serve as a wake-up call for everyone involved in the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ communities.

“Too many continue to suffer from discrimination and abuse, are experiencing social isolation and loneliness and suffering the impacts of poor mental health. This, combined with the poor socio-economic situations many find themselves in, contributes to a substantial health inequalities on every measure of wellbeing.

“While there are positives to be taken in terms of how LGBT+ experience healthcare, particularly from the GPs, there is still work to be done to improve access to, and experience of, person-centred healthcare, that treats the individual, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.”

Dona Milne, Director of Public Health and Health Policy at NHS Lothian, said: “We interviewed more than 200 people and over 2,500 people took part in the online survey as part of this research. Their experience is in stark contrast to the progress that many of us may feel has been made in achieving equality in Scotland.

“I want to thank everyone who took part and express our shared desire to highlight this as a key public health issue and deliver real improvements in health and wellbeing for LGBT+ communities.”

Some of the key findings include:

·       Nearly three in four (73%) survey respondents said they ever felt isolated from family and friends and nearly two in five (38%) had felt lonely all of the time or often in the previous two weeks.  Trans and non-binary people showed the highest levels of isolation and loneliness.

·       The survey showed that overall more than half (54%) of respondents said they had mental health problems e.g. depression/anxiety/stress, but this was higher for trans masculine (75%), non-binary people (72%) and bisexual women (61%).  Only one in four (25%) survey respondents rated their general mental and emotional wellbeing positively – but this was lowest for non-binary (9%) and trans masculine (12%). 

·       Of those who answered the question in the survey, nearly one in three (31%) said that they had ever made an attempt to end their life.  Although the prevalence of suicide attempts was high across all LGBT+ groups, it was highest among trans masculine and non-binary people, with nearly half of respondents in these groups saying they had made a suicide attempt.

·       Overall, nearly half (44%) of LGBT+ people in the survey said they had been discriminated against in the last year, but this was highest for non-binary (65%), trans masculine (62%) and trans women (55%).

·       The survey findings show that 37% of LGBT+ respondents had ever experienced an abusive relationship; identity groups with the highest proportion reporting abusive relationships were trans masculine (48%), non-binary (45%), bisexual women (43%) and trans women (38%). 

·       only 59% overall rated their general health positively.  Gay men and gay/lesbian women were the most likely to rate their health positively, while trans masculine and non-binary people were the least likely. A third (33%) of LGBT+ people had a long-term condition or illness that substantially interferes with their day to day activities. 

·       Most (88%) survey respondent had financial worries at least some of the time. One in six (18%) had experienced food insecurity in the previous 12 months.  One in eight (13%) had ever been homeless.

The report’s authors have made 41 recommendations, including an immediate request that all Scottish local authorities should provide or fund at least some, community-led groups or activities for LGBT+ people, with provision for cultural, sport and physical activity and social interest groups, as well as targeting specific identity groups.

Other recommendations call for improvements in LGBT+ education in schools, improved LGBT+ training and awareness for health and other staff, improvements in mental health and gender identity clinics and more visibility of LGBT+ inclusive services.

Professor Nicola Steedman, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Scottish Government, said: “The assessment lays bare the fact that too many LGBT+ people are subject to significant inequalities which impact every aspect of their lives. I’m grateful to everyone who took part in the research and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian for carrying out this important work.

“The Scottish Government is committed to reducing inequality – in all its forms – and we welcome the report. We will continue to work with, and across our partners, to improve the health and wellbeing of our LGBT+ communities.”

Mark Kelvin, Chief Executive of LGBT Health and Wellbeing, said: “This report highlights what many of our community members experience in their daily lives.

“Whilst many people believe that LGBTQ+ people have achieved equality, this report reminds us that there is still a lot of work to do. Scotland is celebrated as being a welcoming and inclusive country and whilst that is true, almost half of LGBTQ+ respondents experienced discrimination in the past year.

“The report also highlights the health inequalities that still exist for many of us and provides very useful and realistic recommendations that will help LGBTQ+ people to live well.

Speaking specifically on how COVID-19 has impacted the LGBTQ+ community, Mark pointed out the dependency on LGBT nightlife for socialisation. He added: “Whilst the closure of pubs and clubs can be seen by many as an inconvenience, for LGBTQ+ people queer-friendly spaces provide an important place of safety and belonging.

“This meant that during the months of closures, people were shut-off from contact with others like them. I’m hopeful that this report can restart conversations with local authorities and other interested parties to open LGBTQ+ Community Centres, where people of all ages can access a place of safety, information, support, and importantly connection.”

Mhairi Crawford, from LGBT Youth Scotland, said: “LGBT Youth Scotland notes the publication of the health needs assessment of LGBT research findings report. We know from our own recently published research that health care remains a significant issue for LGBTI young people in Scotland.

“In particular, we welcome the recommendations for healthcare providers and other public bodies to undergo training, which is a key part of our LGBT Charter, in which we also support organisations to undertake reviews of policies and practice to ensure that they are as welcoming as possible for the LGBTI community, whether they are staff, clients, pupils or wider stakeholders.

“We know that alcohol free spaces are highly valued by young people we work with in our youth spaces – so we welcome the recommendation for more LGBT spaces that don’t have alcohol.

“Finally, we also welcome the recommendation that schools should undertake the LGBT Charter as we know this can have a massive impact on daily lives of LGBTI young people.”

Royal Highland Show launches tickets for 2023 as gates close on barnstorming return to Ingliston

Tickets to the 2023 Royal Highland Show are now on sale as the gates close on this year’s barnstorming event, which welcomed 194,000 people over the four days (23-26 June). 

And with over 200,000 viewers of live online content on RHS TV, the reach of the Royal Highland Show has never been greater. 

Celebrating 200 years of showcasing the best of the country’s food, farming and rural life, high-profile figures attending included First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack, and Minister for Environment and Land Reform Màiri McAllan. 

40,000 children attended for free in line with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) charitable remit. 

A limited number of Super Early Bird tickets for the 2023 Royal Highland Show (22nd – 25th June) will be released today via the Show’s website (royalhighlandshow.org) priced at £27.50 (plus booking fee) with children 15 and under going FREE. 

Commenting on the success of the 2022 Royal Highland Show, Bill Gray, RHASS Chairman, said: “It has been phenomenal to finally celebrate the return of the Royal Highland Show, and the attendance figures this year prove that the public felt the same way. What we offer is a totally unique day out, which everyone, no matter their walk of life, can enjoy to the fullest. 

“The success of this very special bicentenary Highland Show is a testament to the hard work of the hundreds of staff and RHASS Directors who work tirelessly to put on this incredible event – one that’s loved equally by the farming community and urban audiences.” 

Highlights for this year’s show included 305 trophies, collectively valued at over £4 million, awarded to the 919 cattle, 1913 sheep, 1911 horses and 123 goats competing  

Furthermore, respected industry accolades were awarded to agri-tech pioneers in the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards. Pollock Farm Equipment and Penderfeed Livestock Equipment won Gold awards this year. 

The Scottish Championships saw food and drink producers recognised for outstanding produce across competitions in Dairy, Honey, and Bread categories – Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour and Strathearn Cheese Co were amongst the winners. 

Plans were also unveiled to name an equestrian ring in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee year. The ‘Jubilee Ring’ is home to equestrian events in the showground, including show jumping.  The ring will be formally unveiled at the 2023 Royal Highland Show. As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative and in partnership with Scottish Woodlands, native and ornamental trees will be planted around the Jubilee Ring. 

The show also demonstrated innovation with the launch of the RHS App, all the action being livestreamed through the Show’s online channel, RHS TV, and live and on-demand broadcasts through Facebook – the live/on-demand content has been viewed over 200,000 times in total from 82 countries. The content is available to view on demand via the RHS website. 

Every year at the Show, one of the eight member regions of RHASS is showcased – this year it was the turn of the Highlands Presidential Team to celebrate their area. With the theme ‘Scotland’s Natural Capital – Highlands and Islands’, a specially created exhibition focused on tourism, culture, food & drink, renewable energy and tackling climate change in the region. A large section of the Scotland’s Larder food hall was also dedicated to producers from the Highlands and Islands. 

The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, took place 23 -26th June 2022. 

For further information and to watch the action back via RHS TV please visit www.royalhighlandshow.org

TONIGHT: World Music Celebration at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Ama-zing Harmonies invite YOU to join them tonight for a World Music Day Celebration:

We aim to celebrate the diverse cultures within Edinburgh by exploring music and food together.

We are going to be having Ethiopian Dance, Scottish folk, Rap and Chilean drums so check it out.

Open to all ages so bring your children and parents!

6pm at the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

UK backing for new international drive to prevent and prepare for future pandemics

  • UK will give £25 million to found a new World Bank fund to prevent, prepare for and respond to future devastating pandemics
  • Investment in preventing future pandemics can stop the devastating human and economic impact of COVID-19 happening again

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced £25 million of UK aid backing for a new fund to ensure the world is better prepared to defeat future pandemics.

Hosted by the World Bank, the ‘Financial Intermediary Fund’ for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will provide funding to countries whose healthcare systems are dangerously unprepared for the challenges caused by large outbreaks of infectious diseases. It will ensure they can quickly respond to, and as far as possible contain, outbreaks before they spread across the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to at least 6.2 million deaths across the world and caused far-reaching economic devastation.

Stopping a pandemic like this ever happening again will require a concerted and coordinated international effort.

At the G7 Summit today (Monday), leaders will discuss the importance of helping countries manage Covid as an endemic disease and the pressing need to invest in preparedness and other measures to prevent history repeating itself.

The new fund will help fill some of the financing gaps exposed by COVID-19, particularly insufficient financing for preparedness in national health systems and disease surveillance at country, regional and global levels. Crucially, the fund can help catalyse countries’ own financing, so the world is as equipped as possible whenever and wherever a new public health risk emerges.

The Prime Minister said: “While the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic are, thankfully, behind us, we cannot be complacent. The next potential pandemic could emerge any moment and with it the devastating human and economic consequences we have experienced over the last two and a half years.

“We must ensure we learn the lessons of COVID-19 and are better prepared next time. We owe it to the people of the world to say, ‘never again’.”

The chance of a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19 occurring in the next 25 years could be as high as 50%, and a key lesson of the coronavirus pandemic is that even small investments in pandemic preparedness can have huge returns.

By contributing to preparedness in the short term, we can avoid huge economic damage in the long-term.

Under the UK’s G7 Presidency last year, the Prime Minister drove forward international work on pandemic preparedness under his ‘five point plan’ and the 100 Days Mission, work on which was led by Sir Patrick Vallance.

This included launching a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, increasing the global manufacturing capacity for treatment and vaccines, designing a new early warning system and agreeing global protocols for a future health emergency.

The UK also hosted a Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit in March, which raised over £1.2 billion to develop variant-proof coronavirus vaccines and speed up the process of developing vaccines against future health threats so this can be done in under 100 days.

David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, said: “I welcome the UK’s support for the new Financial Intermediary Fund to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response functions in developing countries.

“The fund will provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding to complement the work of existing institutions and operate with high standards of transparency and accountability.

“COVID-19 highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to build stronger health systems and mobilise additional resources to prepare for the next pandemic in countries, regions, and around the world.”

At the G7 Summit last year, the UK galvanised international action to donate 870 million coronavirus vaccines to those who need them. This commitment, combined with UK and other investments to support the development and rapid manufacturing scale-up of COVID-19 vaccines, turned the tide on Covid around the world. Two-thirds of the global population have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.

The supply of coronavirus vaccines now outstrips demand and UK efforts are therefore focused on action to end the acute phase of the pandemic, help countries manage COVID-19 as an endemic disease and prepare for the next health threat.

Governments, NGOs and private donors have been encouraged to donate to the Financial Intermediary Fund, which was called for by G20 Finance Ministers in April.

The funding announced by the Prime Minister today will establish the UK as a founding donor to the fund, alongside the US, EU and others.

Search is on for UK’s Favourite Parks

Fields in Trust – the independent charity that has been protecting parks and green spaces for almost 100 years – has announced that its search for the UK’s Favourite Parks is back this summer and is calling upon the residents of Edinburgh to get nominating now!

The popular campaign has returned for the first time since 2019 and covers the length and breadth of the nation to shine a light on the green spaces that hold a special place in our hearts.

Having acted as refuge to many over the past few years, Fields in Trust is bringing back the campaign to find the UK’s Favourite Parks to ensure that they continue to be celebrated in a post-pandemic world. 

The charity recently commissioned a study which found that almost half of us have visited local parks more often than we used to as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coupled with research that has shown that access to nature was one of the main ways people have supported their mental health during lockdowns, Fields in Trust is determined that this year’s campaign celebrates the spaces that gave us so much in our time of need. 

This year’s UK’s Favourite Parks campaign is made all-the-more important in light of the Fields in Trust’s recently released annual Green Space Index report.

The study – which analyses the provision and distribution of parks and green spaces in the UK – found that 2.8 million people live more than ten minutes’ walk away from a green space.

With only 6% of green space legally protected in Great Britain, Fields in Trust worries that this will only worsen in coming years if we do not appreciate and advocate for our local parks. 

Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths, said: “There is no doubt that the importance of green spaces has been acutely felt recently, with people increasingly turning to their local parks to find a sense of tranquillity, space, and belonging since the pandemic began.

“When restrictions were at their highest, many sought refuge in their daily walk around the park; and when restrictions lifted to allow outdoor gatherings, the same parks became the backdrop for reunions with loved ones and new memories made. 

“At a time when things were so hard for so many, these places provided respite; now, through our UK’s Favourite Parks campaign, we want to give people the chance to show their appreciation for the green spaces that were there for them.”

The search for the UK’s Favourite Parks starts today, meaning you can nominate your local green space now. Nominations are open until Tuesday 5 July, before the chosen parks go head-to-head in a public vote.

Regional spots to have made the UK’s Favourite Parks list in previous years include Figgate Park, Pittencrieff Park and Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, and this year, the Fields in Trust team hopes to unearth even more green spaces that are close to Scotland’s hearts.

“We are thrilled to be on the search once again for the UK’s Favourite Parks and we have no doubt that we’ll find some absolute gems along the way. We can’t wait to see the places that get put forward in Scotland.

“Whether it’s the park you head for when the sun is shining; your favourite place to walk the dog; the place you go to stretch your legs; or your family’s favourite spot to spend quality time together: we want you to nominate your favourite today!”

To nominate your local park, visit www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks.

New report must ‘change the conversation’ on controversial Hydrogen technology

Environmental campaigners are demanding that the Scottish Government rethink their commitment to hydrogen technologies after a new report exposed their inefficiencies, soaring costs and the threat posed to renewable energy supplies.

The report, ‘Hydrogen’s role in Scotland’s climate journey’, commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland found that 98% of global hydrogen production is from fossil fuels.

Fossil fuel-derived ‘blue’ hydrogen is made using carbon capture and storage (CCS) but this technology was revealed to only be 60% effective, meaning huge amounts of climate changing pollution is released, critically undermining the key argument made by its proponents. Blue hydrogen is dependent on CCS technology that is in its infancy in Europe and has repeatedly failed to get off the ground in the UK.

The research showed that ‘green’ hydrogen, whilst lower carbon than fossil fuel derived hydrogen, has serious drawbacks such as the enormous levels of renewable energy required to produce it. If Scotland’s 2030 target was to be met by green hydrogen, it would require 80% of the country’s entire renewable energy supply – enough electricity for over 6 million homes.

Using hydrogen for heating our homes was found to be more expensive and less efficient than direct electrification through technologies like heat pumps. Similarly, powering transport with renewable energy directly is already much more efficient, cheaper, and more advanced commercially than deploying hydrogen in transport.

The campaigners are now calling on the Scottish Government to end any further public funding to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, and to prioritise electrification over hydrogen in crucial areas such as heating and transport.

The report as Scottish Government officials admitted that so called ‘negative emissions technology’ like CCS and hydrogen would not deliver this decade, leaving a huge gap in its plans to cut climate emissions.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Climate Campaigner Alex Lee said: “This research must change the conversation around the role of hydrogen in Scotland’s climate efforts. The evidence clearly shows that hydrogen is either made from climate-wrecking fossil fuels or it becomes a huge drain on renewable energy supplies.

“The Scottish Government must end their support for the development of hydrogen from fossil fuels, which will only produce yet more climate pollution and give fossil fuel companies a chance to greenwash their image whilst they keep drilling new fields in the North Sea.

“Hydrogen from renewables is a high cost, low efficiency solution to our energy needs and the Scottish Government must urgently rethink their plans for its expansion.  Whether it is in heating or transport, support for hydrogen looks like a losing bet when compared to direct electrification through technology like heat pumps and electric buses.

“By prioritising electrification over green hydrogen, the Scottish Government can better protect households from high costs and ensure renewables can clean up our energy system.”

Key findings from the report:

– 98% of the global hydrogen production is from fossil fuels

– Using green hydrogen to meet Scotland’s heating demand would require 180% more renewable energy than Scotland produces currently

– 80% of current renewable energy supplies would be needed to create just 5GW of green hydrogen

– Electric heat pumps may be 168-342% more efficient than hydrogen boilers

– Hydrogen boilers may be 53-68% more expensive than electric heat pumps

– Electric vehicles are more than twice as energy efficient than hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

– Adopting green hydrogen in industry would require nearly twice as much new renewable energy capacity compared to electrification technologies.

NHS Lothian hospitals under rising pressure as Covid cases surge again

NHS Lothian has warned that increasing cases of COVID-19 are placing mounting pressure on hospital and community services. Health chiefs said community prevalence of the virus is causing serious capacity issues across the whole system.

An estimated one in 20 people currently have the virus in Scotland with two thirds of the cases identified in the 20-59 age group. This is having an impact on workforce, with one fifth of nursing staff not at work as a result of COVID-19 absence.

Dona Milne, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian urged people not to forget all that has been learned about keeping the virus under control.

She said: “COVID-19 has not gone away and cases are continuing to rise across Lothian. Our hospital system is under extreme pressure and we need people across Lothian to do their bit to prevent the system becoming overwhelmed.

“We would urge people to take sensible precautions when they are indoors or in crowded spaces and remind them that regular hand hygiene is vital and face coverings should be considered, especially in crowded places.”

Tracey Gillies, Medical Director of NHS Lothian said: “The number of hospital inpatients who have tested positive has increased by 50% since a week ago. This presents many logistical issues as they need to be cared for within COVID-19 specific areas.

“On top of that, and in line with community transmission levels, there are increased numbers of staff testing positive with COVID-19, who must then self-isolate to protect patients.

“All of this means services are stretched right across the system, including community and social care services, resulting in high numbers of patients who are medically fit to leave hospital but who cannot be discharged because they need care in place to support them at home.”

Relatives of patients are also being urged to help where they can by providing transport home for patients who are medically fit to be discharged, rather than have their relative wait for hospital transport.

This speeds up the discharge process and in turn frees up more hospital beds sooner, allowing faster admission for patients from our Emergency Departments where admission queues can form when the hospitals are full.

Relatives are also being asked if they can consider offering support to their loved ones who have been clinically assessed as “medically fit for discharge” but might still need extra help around their home.

Dr Gillies added: “We know that it is better for people to be looked after in a homely setting once they are medically fit to leave hospital. Unfortunately, the pressure on community and social care services means many patients are waiting too long for social care support and as a result spending longer in hospital than they need to.

“When appropriate, we therefore ask families to consider if they can step in and help support their loved one once they are fit for discharge. Again, this helps with the flow of patients through our hospitals and ensures that beds are available for the most urgent of cases.”

Dr Gillies reminded people in Lothian to make sure they get the “Right Care in the Right Place” by considering going to their local pharmacy or GP or by calling 111 to get an appointment with an expert in the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), rather than automatically going to the Emergency Department.

She said: “If you think you need to visit A&E, but it’s not life threatening, call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night.

“NHS 24 will direct you to the right care in the right place. They will direct you to an expert in our Minor Injuries Unit, GP or pharmacy and help reduce the length of time spent waiting in busy hospital departments.

“It is important too to remember that there is self-care information on NHS Inform.

“If it is an emergency always call 999 or go to your local A&E.”

Mardi Gras returns to Grassmarket

Mardi Gras Programme Announcement

On Saturday 16 July, after a two-year absence, the Grassmarket will yet again become home to the biggest party in the capital with multiple stages, non-stop entertainment and a host of bands.

This year’s packed programmes includes After Hours, Brass Gumbo, Hamish McGregor, Awkward Family Portraits, Dope Sick Fly, Cow Cow Boogie and Al Hughes.

This free event runs from 1 – 4pm and the Grassmarket Market will also be in operation on the day.