Month: September 2012

Minister visits Gaelic school site

Alasdair Alan MSP with Cllrs Brock and Key at Bonnington

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages has visited Bonnington Primary, the site of the new Gaelic School, in advance of works beginning. On Tuesday, Dr Allan met with Councillor David Key, Vice Convener of Education, Children and Families to tour the school which will see extensive work carried out to the tune of £3.53million in order to prepare the school for its new role.

Councillor Key, said; “This time next year we will be into the first term of our new dedicated Gaelic Primary and Nursery School.  We are working with the Scottish Government to help deliver a modern educational facility that will nurture our young Gaelic speakers and help protect the future of the language. Pupils, parents and staff are currently being consulted on the name for the new school and I am pleased to say we should be in a position to make an announcement about it in the coming weeks.”

Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages Alasdair Allan said: “The Scottish Government has been clear on the benefits of funding this exciting development and I am delighted to visit the site to see for myself the scale of work that needs to be carried out over the next year. Edinburgh will soon have its first dedicated Gaelic Primary and Nursery School and I would encourage parents, whether or not they themselves speak Gaelic to consider the great opportunity this now presents for their children. I look forward to returning next summer to a newly refurbished facility ready for its first pupils.”

The school will replace the existing Gaelic Medium Unit (GME) based within Tollcross Primary School which was established in the 1980s – the GME unit has steadily seen its roll rise over the years as demand for GME education has grown.

The new school is due to open in August next year.   Parent representatives are involved in a working group taking forward the development of the new school and the new Head Teacher will be appointed before Christmas.

Does Edinburgh really need a dedicated Gaelic school – isn’t Gaelic a dying language?

Can we afford  this new school – shouldn’t that money be spent improving our existing schools? Let us know!

Go ahead for new Sick Kids

Plans to build a replacement for Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC ) and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN) have been approved.

The new building, next to the Royal Infirmary at  Little France, will provide a replacement for the current children’s hospital at Sciennes, the Department of Clinical Neurosciences currently based at the Western General Hospital and new facilities for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) which will move from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

The project is due to be completed in 2017 and is part of the NPD and hub initiative pipeline, supported by the Scottish Futures Trust, which will see £750 million of investment in health facilities across Scotland.

Negotiations over the site for the new building, currently car park B at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, have delayed the project but these were completed in August. Approval of the outline business case will see NHS Lothian take the next step in the process to select a private sector partner to design, build, finance and maintain the new facility.

Health Secretary Alex Neil made the announcement as he met young patients and staff at the current Royal Hospital for Sick Children. He also confirmed his commitment to investing over £1billion in NHS Scotland capital projects over the next two years, including £485m in 2013-14.

Mr Neil said: “I am pleased to say that the outline business case for the new RHSC and DCN has been approved meaning work to get the new hospital up and running for 2017 can move apace. “There have been delays with the new Sick Kids Hospital in the past, due to land and commercial issues with an inherited PFI contract on the proposed site. I am pleased to say that there is now a framework in place to resolve the legal and commercial issues that arose in the original contract. “This project is part of a £750 million health pipeline delivering a range of improvements to hospital and community health facilities right across Scotland.

“We have already seen £1bn being pumped into our hospitals and health centres since 2011 and I can confirm that another £1bn will be invested over the next two years. In 2013 alone we will invest nearly £500m. “I’ve been clear in the past that investing in our infrastructure is vital to growing our economy and the NHS presents huge opportunities to do this. Not only will it bring benefits to business and more jobs but it also means that patients can be treated in the best possible surroundings. “High quality health services as close to home as possible is what the people of Scotland want, and that is something this Government is determined to give them.”

Dr Charles Winstanley, Chair of NHS Lothian said: “Having the outline business case approved is a significant step forward in this important project. The benefits of having children’s, maternity and adult services on the same site are well documented. This project to re-provide services from the RHSC and DCN will create a centre of excellence at Little France, bringing paediatric care, specialist neonatal care, neurosciences and A&E together. The proximity to the University and the BioQuarter will also improve opportunities for partnership working and bring research to the bedside. We are working closely with the Scottish Futures Trust to plan the procurement process and, as required, we expect to advertise the project in the Official Journal of the European Union before the end of the year.”

The new hospital will cost around £150 million to build and brings together children’s, maternity and adult services on the same site. The new building will:

  • bring together paediatric care, specialist neonatal care, neurosciences and adult and children’s emergency departments all on one site, ensuring that that teams can share experience and expertise for the benefit of patients.
  • provide the ability to deliver paediatric and adult neurosurgery in the same theatre suite, maximising the utilisation of specialist equipment (e.g. intra-operative MRI) and expert staff, with direct internal access to age-appropriate critical care and wards
  • mental health services for children and young people on the same site as acute hospital services, supporting their physical and psychological care
  • joint-working and economies of scale in high-cost specialist clinical areas such as theatres and radiology
  • the opportunity to improve emergency access to services by incorporating a helipad on the roof of the new building

 

Young filmmakers SEE for themselves

Short films produced by local schoolchildren through the Cashback for Creativity initiative were premiered at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last night, and both ‘Danny’ and ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ were real quality productions.

Participants from Broughton High School, CORE, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project and Muirhouse Youth Development Group worked with professionals from Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh to produce the two short films, with the young people were involved at every stage of the process – from script writing and finding locations to acting, selecting soundtracks and editing. The young filmmakers discovered that an awful lot of preparation and hard work goes into creating even a short film, but their efforts were richly rewarded with two fine short films.

Introducing the films, SEE project manager James McKenzie said: “I think you will agree that these films are remarkable, given that most of the young people involved had no experience of filmmaking. I am sure they will be very proud when they see what they have produced – these are excellent films”.

Danny dealt with the issue of schizophrenia in an unusually entertaining way, while ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ was a silent movie, simple yet touching.

In a question and answer session with SEE engagement officer Neil Rolland after the screenings, the filmmakers were unanimous in saying that they had learned a lot from the process and all expressed a wish to go on to make more movies.

Kyle Fitzpatrick said: “I thought to begin with I would only be acting but we all got involved in lots of different aspects, things we hadn’t thought we would be doing – for me it was using film cameras, for example. It was a great experience and we learned a lot over the course of producing the films. This was the first time we’d seen the finished films and I think they look pretty good!”

The films will now be entered into film festivals and will appear on SEE’s website – www.screen-ed.org – sometime soon. The young filmmakers will also get their wish for more opportunities to male movies – Screen Education Edinburgh plan to set up a North Edinburgh Young People’s Film Group in the not too distant future. So you never know, Danny Two – the full length sequel?

Letter: Proud parents

Dear Editor

I would be grateful if you can print a piece on my sixteen year old daughter Gillian, of whom we are very proud. She got an ‘A’ exam result for Art and Design and now has a full-time place at Telford College.

I enclose a picture she took on her mobile while in South Queensferry then painted it onto canvas.

P White

Easter Drylaw Avenue

Letter: This is a rubbish service!

Dear Editor

We residents in Granton Crescent sheltered housing are writing to complain about the communal paladin bins not being emptied regularly, and when we phone they say they will put it through as a special uplift – but nothing happens!

Sometimes they are not emptied for at least three weeks and the bin men complain about the rubbish lying around in the bin store which they are having to clean up! The driver said sometimes our pallet bins are not on his list – also we are told that our bins would be emptied by the morning squad and not the afternoon squad.

Furthermore, I have asked for fourteen years for the bin store cupboards to be cleaned, as the stench coming from it is unbearable and is travelling into our kitchens.

M McGhee (and neighbours)

Granton Crescent

Letter: Who Cares?

Dear Editor

So much has been spoken and written about Care; whether in hospital, at home or care home. In the light of investigations and inquiries and some awful revelations there seems to be an agreement that a huge problem exists, and with an ageing population it is a growing one which must be tackled now. Good caring, in all it’s forms, cannot be done on the cheap.

Inadequate funding and gross under-staffing for the work needed is the reality: the exiting staff with best possible intentions cannot give the time and care,both physically and, in particular, the mental attention needed by an individual.

No-one knows the future health needs of ourselves or our families but we can make sure there is an excellent National Health Service: fully trained, fully staffed and fully funded, giving caring care and dignity to our loved ones in their time of need.

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Raise a cup of Fairtrade for Macmillan this month

Equal Exchange women farmers
Macmillan in Edinburgh are delighted to be supported by Equal Exchange, Scotland’s oldest and largest Fairtrade Coffee Co-op. The companies Edinburgh based café partners , including a number of Edinburgh’s Community Cafes,  will take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event to raise funds on 28 September, helping to reach the national £11 million target.

Heather Baird said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity and Equal Exchange are delighted to help raise funds from Fairtrade Coffee Mornings across Scotland this September. Cancer affects women worldwide and has touched many of the lives of the farmers we work with. “

All the women who we source our Coffee Grown By Women from are paid a fair price and extra women’s premium for their coffee. This year one of the farmer co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua spent their premium on cervical screening for its women members. Norma Gaeda Paiva was one of the woman farmers who set up this project and on her recent trip to the UK said “We want to give value and visibility to the important work that women farmers do and that has been traditionally ignored” Selling her coffee direct to Equal Exchange ensures cancer care like this exists in her community.

Macmillan’s Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, added: “We are very grateful to Equal Exchange for pledging such significant support to us through participation in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. Every penny raised will help fund more services for people affected by cancer in Edinburgh. Their involvement means there will be enough practical, medical, financial and emotional support to help to change the lives of everyone affected by cancer for the better.

“The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a really fun event that is really easy to take part in, especially as you can tailor it to suit yourself. Look out for the green coffee grown by women farmer’s stickers in cafes and shops across Scotland to show your support. If you were unable to hold it on September 28 just pick another day, if you’re not keen on coffee and would rather have cocktails or even herbal tea then that’s fine as well. All that matters is that you take part. So put a smile on your mug and help Macmillan reach more people affected by cancer in your area.”

To register to host a coffee morning visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 070 1315 or to join Equal Exchange’s pledge to support more women farmers in Fairtrade visit www.equalexchange.co.uk

 

 

Lazarowicz attacks government for 'betrayal' of disabled workers

Mark Lazarowicz MP has condemned the betrayal of Edinburgh Remploy workers by Government and calls on all sides to work together to support workers made redundant.

The North and Leith MP was reacting to news that the Edinburgh Remploy factory in South Gyle is to close. Mark Lazarowicz MP for Edinburgh North and Leith has attacked the betrayal by the UK Government of disabled workers at the factory and called on Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to work together to help find the workers alternative employment.

Mr Lazarowicz (pictured below) said: “The news makes me wonder whether the Government was genuinely seeking to find bids to keep factories open or whether it was simply offering false hope. One of the stated aims of its welfare changes is to support disabled people into work wherever possible – laudable in principle but it is hard to square that with the way that it has treated Remploy workers. Staff will now find themselves out of work at a time when unemployment in Scotland is almost two and a half million. I call upon Remploy, the Department of Work and Pensions, Scottish Government and the City Council to make a concerted effort to help them find alternative employment.”

The factory was reprieved from closure along with other factories in July as the Remploy Board deemed that there was a potentially viable business plan to secure its future, but those hopes have now been dashed.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that there had been an expression of interest in the factory, but that it had gone no further. She added: “We have followed the advice of disability expert Liz Sayce to use the £320m protected budget for disability employment more effectively, to support more disabled people into mainstream jobs instead of loss-making segregated factories. We have put in place an £8m package of employment support for those affected, including a Personal Case Worker to help individuals with their future choices, as well as access to a personal budget.”