Day: March 10, 2011

Western urged to clean up its act

Western General: 'improvements needed'

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon expects infection control standards at the Western General Hospital to be improved ‘as a matter of urgency’ following a critical report published by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate this week.  The 23 page report, based on an unannounced inspection carried out on 24 January, highlights a number of areas of infection control where improvements are required.  These include:

– Having a designated healthcare associated infection (HAI) education lead to oversee education and training

– Fully implementing the sharps management policy for disposal of used needles

– Having a robust risk management system in the Acute Receiving Admissions unit (ARU) with appropriate numbers of sinks, bed spacing and isolation practices

– Reviewing the risk assessment for activities in Ward 11 (which is a Dermatology ward). Continue reading Western urged to clean up its act

Trees for Two at Botanic Garden!

DIGGING DEEP: Dana Linnet and Rchard Lochhead do the spadework

The Edinburgh launch of the Trees4TwoNations project took place in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on  3 March when two rare trees were planted by Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, and Dana Linnet, the US Consul General in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The trees, an Arran Whitebeam representing Scotland and a Rock Chestnut Oak representing the United States were planted to represent the deep historical and cultural roots, and the friendship between, the people of Scotland and the United States of America.  The initiative aims to bring about positive change in environmental understanding and co-operation through a collaborative process and organisers say that with growing evidence of global climate change, nations must work together to try to tackle the environmental and social challenges facing us for the benefit of future generations. Continue reading Trees for Two at Botanic Garden!

Early Years Fund launched at North Edinburgh Arts

Andrew Muirhead (Inspiring Scotland), Liz Dahl (Circle Scotland) and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram pictured at the launch
Minister launches early years fund
A new £6.8 m fund to help improve children’s lives was launched by Children’s Minister Adam Ingram, during a visit to family support projects in North Edinburgh on Tuesday (8 March).  The Early Years and Early Action Fund is designed to help national voluntary sector organisations work with local projects to improve support for children and families during the crucial formative years.
The importance of the effective support for children during their early years and the difference this can make to their future health, well being, attainment and life chances was underlined last week in Professor Susan Deacon’s report  ‘Joining the Dots’. That report also called for greater collaboration between the public, private and voluntary sector to provide services for children and families.
Mr Ingram visited the Circle’s Haven Project at Craigroyston Primary School, where he met staff and families,  before launching the fund at North Edinburgh Arts Centre. Continue reading Early Years Fund launched at North Edinburgh Arts