We’ll be taking a wander around Leith Links again this evening (Thursday 17th) from 6pm til 7pm. Come and join us. The weather looks to be dry and sunny. Gentle exercise, conversation, and fresh air.
Meet in our car park at 5:55pm.
We’re on Google Maps here > https://goo.gl/maps/KaAin1exaZPLZZTB7
A record 12.4% pay increase for junior doctors and dentists in training for 2023–24 has been accepted British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland members.
Together with the pay raise of 4.5% awarded in 2022–23, this amounts to a total increase of 17.5% over two years.
The deal also includes a commitment to future years pay, contract and pay bargaining modernisation and it brings to an end the threat of industrial action.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “I am very pleased that BMA members have overwhelmingly voted to accept this record pay deal for Junior Doctors. This is the single biggest investment in Junior Doctor pay since devolution, and maintains our commitment to make Scotland the best place in the UK for Junior Doctors to work and train.
“Due to the meaningful engagement we have had with trade unions, we have avoided any industrial action in Scotland – the only part of the UK to avoid NHS strikes.
“We will now implement this pay uplift, and will work with BMA to take forward the other aspects of the deal including contract and pay bargaining reform.”
This pay deal represents a £61.3 million investment in Junior Doctor pay – the largest in the last 20 years and the best offer in the UK – and means a doctor at the beginning of their career would receive a salary increase of £3,429 in 2023–24.
For those at the end of their training the rise would be £7,111 over the same period.
Sight Scotland, Scotland’s largest sight loss organisation, is appealing for more volunteer befrienders to help battle loneliness and isolation. The charity says that a regular visit to a vulnerable person can be life changing.
A volunteer befriender is someone who provides trained support and companionship to a lonely, or emotionally distressed, person. Befriending is proven to battle seclusion and self-isolation while increasing self-esteem and confidence.
Tamas Danyi-Nagy, a 31-year-old Hungarian who moved to Scotland eight years ago, is a Sight Scotland befriender. Tam visits Freda Steel, 67, from Musselburgh, every week and says the friendship they have built up has been life changing for both of them.
He explains: “Loneliness affects us all, whether that is directly or through someone close to us. Befriending offers supportive, reliable relationships, through volunteers to people who would otherwise be socially isolated. Befriending often provides people with a new direction in life and can unlock a range of activities that a person would struggle to do on their own.
“I visit Freda every Tuesday and help her with whatever she needs to do. Whether that’s a coffee and a chat, going shopping, or going for a walk. When I was a teenager, I had a friend who was blind, we were quite close, and I used to help him a lot. I found this very inspiring and felt I had a real instinct for helping, so I decided I wanted to help others in a similar way if I could.
“I started at the beginning of January 2023 and have found it just so rewarding. Freda and I have built up a strong friendship and we both get a lot out of the experience; I find it very humbling. I know I am really helping her, but in many ways, she is helping me just as much.
“When I first started it was like meeting anyone new, it was a little awkward as we were both trying to get to know each other. But we soon started to click, and Freda could see I was there to try and help her, and gradually she started to open up and tell me about what help she needed, and what struggles she was having. We had to build up trust with each other and it has now developed into a real friendship, where we both look forward to spending time in each other’s company.
“I try to explain everything to her when we are together, whether that is in the house, at a café, or out for a walk. She is a real inspiration, and so knowledgeable on many subjects. Freda is about the same age as my Mum, so I feel a real connection. She has made me appreciate everything I have and has made me listen to the beauty we hear every day around us.
“It is amazing to see how Freda’s life has changed through the befriending programme, she has become so much more confident and outgoing. During Covid, Freda was stuck in her house with no one to talk to, or help her, and this really affected her mental health. The difference I have seen in Freda since I started has been incredible, she has become so much chattier with me, and with others when we are out, I could see her confidence returning and growing week by week.
“She used to get all her food delivered, but now she looks forward to going out to local her local butcher for example, or local grocer. They all know her and treat her like a long-lost friend, it is so nice to see, and you can tell she is really enjoying it. We meet up every Tuesday and every week she is making more plans and has more appointments. I am just so happy I could help her.”
Tam adds: “If anyone is considering becoming a volunteer befriender my advice would be just go for it, it really is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. You are making such a difference to a person’s life; it is incredible to have the ability to do this for someone.”
James Whyte, Volunteer Development Manager for Sight Scotland comments: “Befriending is often transformational to a person with sight loss and can open a whole new world to someone who lives alone.
“We are currently looking for more volunteers like Tam, who are willing to give up their time to help others. Just doing the simplest things like having a coffee and a chat can make such a difference to someone who is isolated and lonely. A regular visit can be quite literally life changing.”
If you are interested in becoming a Sight Scotland Befriender or finding out about the many other ways you can volunteer with the charity, please visit:
sightscotland.org.uk/volunteer.
Alternatively, you can contact James Whyte, Volunteer Development Manager at james.whyte@sightscotland.org.uk or call 0131 446 3154.
The UK government will seek views on adding pack inserts into tobacco products to encourage more smokers to quit as it launches a new consultation today.
Placed inside the packaging of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, they would contain positive messages to encourage people to quit and signpost them to advice and support.
The messages set out the health benefits of quitting – for example, improvements to breathing within a matter of days and a 50% reduction in the risk of heart attack within a year – as well as showing smokers how much money they stand to save by giving up, with the average person likely to save over £2,000 per year if they quit.
Smoking remains the single leading preventable cause of illness and mortality in the UK. It results in nearly 4% of all hospital admissions each year – equivalent to almost 450,000 admissions. Tobacco-related harms are also estimated to cost taxpayers an estimated £21 billion every year, including over £2 billion in costs to the NHS.
Although smoking rates in the UK are at an all-time low, by taking further action, the government will seek to cut waiting lists and reduce the burden on the NHS. Introducing pack inserts into all tobacco products in the UK could lead to an additional 30,000 smokers giving up their habit – delivering health benefits worth £1.6 billion.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Smoking places a huge burden on the NHS, economy and individuals. It directly causes a whole host of health problems – including cancers and cardiovascular disease – and costs the economy billions every year in lost productivity.
By taking action to reduce smoking rates and pursuing our ambition to be smokefree by 2030, we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives.”
The consultation – which opens today – will seek views on the introduction and design of pack inserts.
Pack inserts are already used in other countries – including Canada and Israel, with Australia also announcing its intention to introduce them – and there is evidence that they can be an effective means of encouraging smokers to quit.
An evaluation of the policy’s impact in Canada found that almost 1 in 3 smokers had read the inserts at least once in the past month, and that those who were exposed to the inserts multiple times were significantly more likely to try to give up smoking.
The consultation builds on a recent package of measures designed to drive the government’s ambition to be smokefree by 2030 – which means reducing smoking rates to 5% or less.
These measures include:
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: “Smoking is very addictive, and it takes smokers on average thirty attempts before they succeed in stopping, so encouraging them to keep on trying is vital.
“Pack inserts do this by backing up the grim messages about death and disease on the outside with the best advice about how to quit on the inside.
“They will help deliver not just the Smokefree 2030 ambition, but also the Major Conditions Strategy, as smoking is responsible for all six major conditions from cancer to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, as well as dementia, mental ill health and musculoskeletal disorders.”
The consultation launch comes as the government publishes an initial report on its Major Conditions Strategy – which covers the six groups of conditions accounting for 60% of all ill-health and early death in England.
One in four people in England live with two or more major long-term conditions, and the initial report sets out the direction for the strategy to tackle these groups of conditions – cancers, cardiovascular diseases (including stroke and diabetes), musculoskeletal disorders, mental ill health, dementia and chronic respiratory conditions.
This includes by addressing key risk factors and lifestyle drivers of ill-health and disease, including smoking, which is a direct contributor to all six groups of conditions covered by the strategy. For example, it is the biggest cause of cancer, with one in every five cancer deaths in England connected to smoking.
A world leader in reducing smoking rates, UK levels are currently at their lowest on record at 13.3%. But across the UK, 1 in 7 adults still smoke – around 6.6 million people – and the impacts on the NHS and economy are significant.
Tobacco also costs the economy in England an estimated £14 billion in lost productivity every year, due to lost earnings, unemployment and early deaths. The average smoker stands to save approximately £2,000 per year from giving up their habit.
The UK Government Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has written to the devolved administrations inviting them for talks about how all parts of the UK can work together to tackle long-term waiting lists in all parts of the UK.
NHS services across the UK are a devolved matter, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting waiting lists a priority across the UK. Although approaches taken across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland share many common features, significant variations in outcomes exist.
In Wales, more than 73,000 people are waiting over 77 weeks for treatment, and at least 21,600 people are waiting over 78 weeks for an outpatient, day case or inpatient appointment in Scotland. In England, waiting times for patients over 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated.
The Secretary of State is inviting health ministers from the devolved administrations to discuss what lessons can be learnt from the different approaches taken.
In England for example, NHS patients are offered a choice of provider at GP referral – NHS or independent sector – provided that it meets NHS costs and standards. And from October we will proactively notify patients waiting over 40 weeks for treatment of their right to choose to be treated elsewhere.
In his letter, the Secretary of State writes that he would be open to requests from the devolved administrations to allow patients in Wales and Scotland who are waiting for lengthy periods to choose to be treated at providers in England, NHS or independent sector – building on the current arrangements for cross-border healthcare.
The Secretary of State has also asked UK health ministers to discuss how health data can be made more comparable across the UK. Northern Ireland official counterparts have also been invited to the ministerial meeting.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I hugely value being able to share knowledge and experiences on the joint challenges facing our healthcare systems. I want to support collaboration between our nations to share best practices, improve transparency and provide better accountability for patients.
“This will help to ensure we are joined up when it comes to cutting waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities – and will allow us to better work together to improve performance and get patients seen more quickly.”
The letter reads:
Dear Michael and Eluned,
Thank you for a constructive meeting last month.
As you know, the NHS is at the forefront of people’s minds, and the Prime Minister has made cutting waiting lists a priority to ensure people across the UK get the care they need more quickly. We must continue to take steps to support the NHS and reduce waiting times to ensure no part of the UK is left behind. I am therefore concerned by the variation in performance across NHS services.
As we look to address this issue, it is important that the UK Government and Devolved Administrations work together to ensure that no matter where you are in the country, citizens can access vital services quickly.
In England, we are delivering on the actions set out in the NHS’s Elective Recovery Implementation Plan published last February. Our target to virtually eliminate waits of longer than two years by July 2022 was achieved on time and waits for treatment of more than 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated. Although data is not collected on the same basis across the UK, recent figures show more than 73,000 people are waiting over 77 weeks for treatment in Wales, and at least 21,600 people are waiting over 78 weeks for an outpatient, daycase or inpatient appointment in Scotland.
Whilst there are common features across the approaches of England, Wales and Scotland, one area of difference relates to patient choice. In England, patients have the legal right to choose the provider for their first outpatient appointment (at the point of GP referral) for many healthcare services. Patients may choose to be treated free of charge at any provider – NHS or independent sector – provided they meet NHS standards and costs and hold a contract for the provision of services to the NHS. A Patients Association study has found that this can reduce a patient’s waiting time by up to 3 months.
From October, we will proactively notify patients in England who have been waiting over 40 weeks of their right to request to be treated at a different provider if clinically appropriate, again in the NHS or in the independent sector, provided they meet NHS standards and costs, and they hold a contract for the provision of services to the NHS.
The Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales share my desire to see patients across the UK have the same rights when it comes to accessing treatment. I would therefore be happy to facilitate a Ministerial working group session (with NI official counterparts) to share how we are implementing this choice approach in England, and to share lessons on work across the UK to tackle the elective waiting list. I would also be open to considering any request from you for patients waiting for lengthy periods for treatment in Scotland and Wales to be able to choose from alternate providers in England – NHS or independent sector – in line with the approach we are taking here, and building on the existing arrangements for cross-border healthcare.
I also believe we need to work together to ensure that health data is more comparable across the UK. It is important that all our citizens can understand the performance of the health services they are receiving and that we can learn from what has been tried and tested in one part of the UK to improve services across the country. I welcome the work our respective teams have been doing to improve data comparability, for example through the Office for National Statistics’ work to improve key UK-wide health performance metrics.
I am very keen to see this work progress and ask for your continued support in prioritising this moving forward.
In the absence of Ministers in Northern Ireland, I am copying this letter to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Yours sincerely,
RT HON STEVE BARCLAY MP
ADVICE UK FUNDING FOR GRANTON INFORMATION CENTRE
People struggling to manage their household finances can now benefit from increased support in a range of community settings thanks to a new accessible advice fund.
Almost £1 million has been distributed to partnerships between advice agencies and other local services such as schools, charities, hospitals and mental health services.
The fund will build on the success of the Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships initiative that put dedicated advisers into 180 GP practices in some of Scotland’s most deprived and rural areas – helping to reach those most in need.
Granton Information Centre launched the very first pilot in Scotland when they partnered with Muirhouse Medical Centre. Since that first successful partnership the outreach service has been expanded and GIC now delivers advice at GP practices across the city in Crewe Medical Centre, Ladywell, Barclays Medical Practice at East Craigs and Restalrig Park.
The new funding will enable Granton Information Centre to deliver new services in partnership with Pilton Community Health Project, The Ripple Project and Saheliya.
Two other Edinburgh projects have also received accessible advice funding. CHAI Edinburgh will partner with Rock Trust, and Harbour Homes (formerly Port of Leith Housing Association) with YMCA Edinburgh.
There will be a particular emphasis on providing advice to those who are traditionally hardest to help or who have not sought advice before.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “The cost of living crisis is putting many households across Scotland under huge strain. Advice services play an increasingly critical role across Scotland’s communities by helping people to access support and benefits they may be entitled to, as well as helping them to understand their rights.
“This funding is part of more than £12.3 million that the Scottish Government is providing this year to support income maximisation, welfare and debt advice services. It will ensure we provide people with advice in places where they are more likely to already be, and we will focus particularly on reaching families.
“We know that early access to advice can make a dramatic difference to people’s financial situation and prevent issues – including debt – escalating.”
Grants are being distributed on behalf of the Scottish Government by Advice UK, the largest support network for independent advice organisations in the UK.
Projects with a focus on families, including disabled or single parents, those caring for a disabled person and parents from minority ethnic communities are among those which have been successful in securing funding.
The scheme is funded in part through the Scottish allocation from the Debt Advice Levy, which is raised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority by applying a levy to UK Clearing banks and consumer credit businesses.
Evidence from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health has highlighted the success of embedding welfare advice in GP surgeries. Initial findings from an interim report, conducted by the Improvement Service and covering the period between January 2022 and March 2023, showed that 89% of the almost 10,000 Welfare Advice and Health Partnership service users were ‘new’ users of advice – highlighting that the provision of welfare advice in accessible and trusted settings is allowing wider populations to engage with vital services.
The Scottish Government estimates that more than 60,000 people were supported by Scottish Government-funded debt advice services in 2022-23.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Supercharged Sandwiches
Thought to have been invented in 1762, sandwiches have stood the test of time and are one of the nation’s favourite lunch options.
They are quick and simple to make, can be adapted to suit any dietary preference and they can be as extravagant or as basic as you wish.
Many people shy away from sandwiches when they are trying to eat more healthily, opting for salads or lighter options instead, but the humble sandwich can be a heart-healthy option when we take the time to plan out its components.
The bread
Choose wholewheat options which contain more fibre and are higher in vitamins than their white equivalent.
Fibre is an essential part of a heart-healthy diet, so it is a great idea to select higher fibre options when choosing bread. You can always switch up the bread for wholemeal pittas, wraps or bagels to add variety. Just be sure to look for lower salt options where possible.
The filling
It is important to make sure we include a source of protein in our sandwiches. Protein helps us feel fuller for longer and will keep our energy consistent throughout the day.
Avoid processed deli meats which usually contain high levels of salt, and opt for healthier options such as roasted chicken, salmon, egg, beans, lentils, or low-fat dairy options such as lighter cheddar or cottage cheese.
The veggies
No sandwich would be complete without some vegetables! It can be tempting to skip these, but adding some colour will make sure you receive a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals and add some more all-important fibre.
Ensuring we eat some plants at every meal makes it much easier to consume our five-a-day. Great options include roasted veggies, grated carrot, cucumber, pepper, spinach, rocket and any other leafy greens.
For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:
Due to popular demand, another smoking focus group in our comfy #NorthEdinburgh community hub!
Share a delicious lunch, we want to hear your stories. Ask all the questions you want with @QYWLothian and @ASHScotland
Routine COVID-19 testing in hospitals, care homes and prisons is to be substantially reduced following clinical and scientific advice.
Due to the success of the vaccination programme and improved treatments, Public Health Scotland and Antimicrobial Resistance & Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland have recommended a return to pre-pandemic testing.
This means testing will be based on person-centred clinical decisions, rather than a routine policy for all individuals. Routine testing will continue for patients moving from hospitals to care homes and will be reviewed based on future advice and outbreaks. Tests will also continue to be available for those eligible for antiviral treatment.
The new guidance will come into effect by 30 August 2023.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Gregor Smith said: “Due to the success of vaccines in protecting people, and the availability of improved treatments, now is the right time to revise the advice on routine COVID-19 testing across health and social care settings and prisons. This will ensure the testing regime remains effective and proportionate.
“Routine testing will remain when patients are discharged from hospital to care homes, to provide additional reassurance for these settings, and testing will still be required when clinically appropriate.
“The clinical advice tells us that focusing on the risk to individuals under general infection control procedures will allow our hospital, social care and prison staff to better protect those in their care and that there is no longer a requirement to apply separate COVID-19 guidance across the board when so many are now protected from its worst harms.”
This UK Health Security Agency fortnightly flu and COVID-19 report brings together the latest surveillance data along with the latest public health advice.
The latest report was produced on 3 August:
COVID-19 case rates continued to increase this week compared to our previous report. 5.4% of 4,396 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were identified as COVID-19. This is compared to 3.7% of 4,403 from the previous report.
The overall COVID-19 hospital admission rate for week 30 was 1.97 per 100,000 population, an increase from 1.17 per 100,000 in the previous report.
ICU admission rates have decreased to 0.05 compared to 0.07 in the previous report.
Those aged 85 years and over continue to have the highest hospital admission rates; these have increased to 20.49 per 100,000 from 9.8 per 100,000 in the previous report.
Admission rates among those aged 75 to 84 years have increased to 9.45 per 100,000 from 5.54 in the previous report.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “We continue to see a rise in COVID-19 cases in this week’s report. We have also seen a small rise in hospital admission rates in most age groups, particularly among the elderly.
“Overall levels of admission still remain extremely low and we are not currently seeing a similar increase in ICU admissions. We will continue to monitor these rates closely.Regular and thorough hand washing helps protect you from COVID-19 and other bugs and viruses.
“If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, we recommend staying away from others where possible.
“The NHS will be in contact in autumn 2023 when the seasonal vaccine is available for those who are eligible due to health conditions or age, and we urge everyone who is offered to take up the vaccine when offered.”
The latest research taking place to help find a cure for one of the biggest causes of blindness will take centre stage in a Scotland-wide event.
Experts in the field of macular disease research will join the talk, including leading ophthalmology researcher professor Baljean Dhillion of the University of Edinburgh.
The online talks will take place over an hour on Zoom on Wednesday 13 September, 11am-12pm.
The event is overseen by sight loss charity the Macular Society, which is the only UK charity solely dedicated to funding research for macular disease. It supports people of all ages with a macular condition, of which some conditions have treatments to help people manage their central vision, though there is no cure.
Professor of clinical ophthalmology Baljean Dhillon will discuss some of the latest treatments available, as well as ongoing research into the fight against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Macular Society’s Sarah Clinton will provide an update on research projects funded by the charity, as well as the audience having the opportunity to put their questions to the experts.
To register for the event please email the Macular Society at groupsadmin@macularsociety.org or call 01264 560 259 who will then be able to provide the Zoom link.
Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected by macular disease and many more are at risk. The disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces.
Many people affected describe losing their sight as being similar to bereavement. There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable. AMD is the most common form of macular disease, affecting more than 600,000 people, usually over the age of 50.
For general information on macular disease, call the Macular Society on 0300 3030 111 or email help@macularsociety.org
