Tag: letters

Letters: Delays to diagnoses are costing lives

Dear Sir/Madam,

My mother, Jean, died of sarcoma cancer nine years ago. Yet if she were alive today, she would still face the same excruciating wait for a diagnosis.

Delays to diagnoses are costing lives and devastating families across the UK. This has to change.

Shockingly, one in three (30%) sarcoma patients in the UK face an agonising wait of six-months or more for an accurate diagnosis of their cancer after first seeking medical help. One in six (17%) patients wait a year before being diagnosed.

This delay is unacceptable. Time is something those affected by sarcoma can ill afford. Sarcoma is one of the least understood but most aggressive forms of cancer and only 55% of patients survive more than five years. My mother fought the odds to survive for three years after being diagnosed and I count myself lucky to have had that time with her.

Put simply, late diagnosis costs lives, which is why I’m supporting the calls for change detailed in a new report launched by national bone and soft tissue cancer charity Sarcoma UK. Poor awareness, coupled with a complex diagnostic pathway, mean sarcomas often go misdiagnosed or are simply ignored and dismissed.

No one should ever find themselves in the position my mother and family did. People are needlessly losing their lives to this disease and will continue to do so if change doesn’t take place. The starting point for that begins here.

Delays Cost Lives: A call to policy makers to improve early diagnosis of sarcoma and more information about sarcoma, is available on the Sarcoma UK website.

Signed

Jess Phillips

Member of Parliament for Birmingham and Yardley 

Letters: Creating a step change in the health of the nation

Scottish charities call to cut deaths from our biggest killers

Dear Editor,

Heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lung disease and diabetes are responsible for around two thirds of all deaths in Scotland – around 39,000 every year – and are among the world’s biggest killers. And yet sadly deaths from these conditions are often preventable. The burden of these diseases on families and on our society cannot be underestimated.

This week, as a global campaign takes place raising awareness of the impact of these non-communicable diseases (NCDs), we have come together – representing ten of Scotland’s leading health charities – to call for action.

We believe many of these deaths and lost healthy years of life are preventable through addressing modifiable and societal risk factors. Official statistics estimate that each year around 14,000 deaths in Scotland could be prevented through public health interventions.

As a collective, we have set out a series of priorities to tackle three of the biggest risk factors that affect people today – tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets – to improve the health of everyone in Scotland.

Evidence shows the environment around us heavily influences whether we smoke, the amount of alcohol we drink and what we eat. The visibility of products on our high streets and the way they are marketed all contribute to Scotland having one of the lowest healthy life expectancies in Western Europe.

This is particularly true in our most deprived communities where levels of smoking, harmful alcohol use and overweight and obesity are often at their highest. Research shows us that this is in part due to the higher presence of outlets in these areas selling alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and drink. We must act now to ensure that the healthy choice is an easy choice for everyone in Scotland.

Covid-19 has also provided a wake-up call on these issues. We are becoming aware of possible links between smoking, alcohol intake and obesity on the severity of Covid-19 infections, highlighting the need to take action now more than ever as we continue to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Scotland has been a pioneer in public health. It was the first country in the UK to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces and the first in the world to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol.

In this week of awareness, we are calling on all political parties to place the prevention of Scotland’s biggest killers as a priority and to give a strong commitment, ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections, to work with us to create a step change in the health of the nation.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Douglas, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
Shelia Duffy, Chief Executive, ASH Scotland
Lorraine Tulloch, Programme Lead, Obesity Action Scotland
Lindsay Paterson, Interim Director, SHAAP
Joseph Carter, Head of the Devolved Nations, Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation
Michelle Mitchell OBE, Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK
Andrea Cail, Scotland Director, Stroke Association
Angela Mitchell, National Director, Diabetes Scotland

Letters: Caring for our older people

Dear Editor

The NHS, in all it’s forms, has been invaluable for people. This is understood: we would all be in deep trouble without it.

It is hard to believe organisations see the provision of health services as a means to make huge profits. One of the biggest dangers for the NHS is countries like the USA.

The importance of the people to own and control the NHS has been a tremendous lesson for all. It is now unthinkable to most that it should be otherwise.

This example of how to benefit society must now be extended to what is called the ‘care sector’. It, too, should be a publicly-owned extension of the NHS, not owned by private cmpanies or a business dependent on grants from local councils.

Every elderly person is exactly that, and must be treated with respect, not as an afterthought on some idea of ‘can we afford the cost?’ We can and must afford it!

The now elderly people need care and attention, love and respect for all they have done for us.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter to the Editor: new services to help families with disabled children in Edinburgh

Dear Sir

Recent research from the Disabled Children’s Partnership found that 66% of families with disabled children in Scotland have been providing a lot more care during lockdown and many continue to do so despite restrictions easing.

The current national emergency has compounded the challenges many parents of disabled children faced. And added layers of new ones as respite, therapies, care and schooling arrangements were largely stopped or changed and usual routines disrupted.

Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, is offering a helping hand to families in Edinburgh during this difficult time.

Family support appointments

We’ve launched free 1-1 telephone appointments with a family support adviser for parent carers looking for a listening ear, reassurance and practical and emotional support.

Workshops

We are running free virtual workshops on topics such as sleep, behaviour, wellbeing, money matters, and speech and language, to provide additional support for families who may be struggling during this crisis.

Families who have a disabled child can make an appointment or find out more details on the Contact website www.contact.org.uk/covid-response-services/

Yours sincerely,

Susan Walls

Contact Scotland, the charity for families with disabled children
The Melting Pot
5 Rose Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2PR

Letters: Let’s make sure the Scotland we return to is inclusive for everyone

Dear Editor

As lockdown eases the Scottish Government wants us to walk and cycle more, to reduce passenger numbers on public transport and encourage us all to keep fit and healthy.

RNIB Scotland believes this ‘Spaces for People’ initiative could transform active travel for everyone. However, we remain concerned that, if these moves are introduced too hastily, with not enough thought given to people who are blind or partially sighted or who have other mobility issues, it could actually end up putting barriers in place.

We want space for new cycle lanes to be taken from roads not pavements, for new designs to avoid the shared spaces concept, for clutter to be removed from our streets, and for controlled crossings to the road or bus stops to be installed. This will make things safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The current situation has made us all a little more aware of what it is like to feel vulnerable, to depend more on others. Let’s build on the sense of greater cohesiveness this crisis has created and make sure the Scotland we return to is inclusive for everyone.

James Adams

Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland

12-14 Hillside Crescent

Edinbugh

Letters: Lifeline

Dear Editor

May I express my thanks to the organisers and volunteers in setting up the outstanding work by so many local people in providing over a long period the delivery of meals and other supplies throughout North Edinburgh.

These have been gratefully received and have been a lifeline.

It has been successful and I feel it is an indicator of the possibilities of future activity and working together.

Tony Delahoy

Letters: Help prevent a kitten crisis

Dear Editor

Cats Protection is asking cat owners to help prevent a kitten crisis this year.

Due to fewer vets doing neutering during Covid-19, the charity estimates as many as 84,000 extra kittens could be born this summer.

This is why we are urging people to keep their unneutered cats indoors, and also unneutered males and females and siblings apart, until vet practices can become fully operational and resume neutering.

Cats Protection has produced an infographic with useful tips on how to stop cats becoming pregnant: www.cats.org.uk/neutering-your-cat

The charity can also support owners on limited incomes with the costs of neutering when vet practices are fully operational again. Call Cats Protection’s Neutering Line on 03000 12 12 12 (option 2) or visit the charity’s website at www.cats.org.uk/neutering

A survey of 1,000 cat owners has highlighted many are unaware of the importance of neutering and the consequences for not neutering cats at the earliest opportunity. Seventy seven per cent were unaware that a female cat can become pregnant from four months old and 86 per cent didn’t know that an unneutered female cat can have as many as 18 kittens in a year.

Our fear is that many kittens born will be left on the streets. Cats Protection is full up with cats and, owing to Covid-19, is unable to admit many more except in emergencies.

We hope your readers can help do their bit and help to prevent a kitten crisis.

Yours faithfully

Sarah Reid

Acting Head of Neutering, Cats Protection

Letter: Support for Fathers

Dear Editor,

Looking after a child can be a challenge for all parents at times but even more so in the current situation with measures put in place to contain the Coronavirus.

The lack of respite from children’s needs or relationship strains will be taking their toll on many parents; some will have lost their jobs and be experiencing financial difficulties and there will be those who have suffered illness and bereavement.

These pressures and anxieties will be intensified by the fact that families are having to cope without access to their usual support networks.

This month, as we mark Father’s Day and International Father’s Mental Health Day, we want to send a message to dads that there is help out there and, if you are finding things difficult or you feel you are struggling to cope, it is so important that you reach out for support. Looking after your mental health is vital for your own wellbeing, as well as your child’s.

Earlier this year, NSPCC Scotland teamed up with the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee to launch the All of Us campaign to let families know where and how they can get advice and support.

The different organisations involved in the campaign are working together to gain insight into how they can best support families and protect children across Edinburgh.

Our NSPCC Helpline counsellors are here for fathers whatever their worry. For parenting advice and support contact the helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or on 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.

To find out more about the campaign and about available local support visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

CARLA MALSEED, 

NSPCC Scotland campaigns manager,

on behalf of the All of Us campaign being run with Edinburgh Child Protection Committee

SCCR_leaflet_Conflict_Top_Tips

Letters: BHF launches free postal donation service for shops

Dear Editor,

I would like to let your readers know about a new service we have launched at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which will make it even easier to donate decluttered items and support our charity to help save lives right here in Scotland.

Many people will have spent their time at home having a much-needed clear out and have been kindly holding onto their preloved items ready to donate to us.

Our post to donate service is a quick, free and simple initiative where you can donate smaller items via post. As our 750 UK shops and stores begin to reopen throughout June and July, this service is the perfect solution if your local BHF Scotland shop is not yet open, or you’re simply not ready to head to the high street

From electronic items, clothes and vinyl records to video games, shoes and collectible objects, we hope to receive good quality items which will be sold either online via our eBay store or at a BHF shop.

You can post your donations for free by downloading a postage label online and dropping it off at your local Collect+ store. To download your label and find your nearest Collect+ store, visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop

Our charity shops rely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted anything that’s donated to us. Every pound raised in our shops here helps us to support the 720,000 people in Scotland living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19.

Yours faithfully

James Jopling

Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland