30/06/2013 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Call for North Edinburgh to nominate ‘older people’s champions’

North Edinburgh residents are invited to nominate their local champions for older people for the Age Scotland Awards 2013. The Charity is looking for individuals, groups, partnerships and services that are inspirational in making a difference to older people.

The Awards will be presented at the Scottish Parliament on 1 October, the UN International Day of Older Persons – with 30 August the closing date for nominations.

Nominations are invited in five categories: campaigning and influencing, partnership working, services for older people, volunteer of the year and Age Scotland member group of the year. These are sponsored respectively by McCarthy and Stone, Raeside and Chisholm, Specsavers at Home, David Urquhart Travel and Solicitors for Older People Scotland. Details on how to nominate are available online atwww.agescotland.org.uk/awards or by calling 0845 833 9334 to request a postal entry form.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland Chief Executive, said: “Through the Awards we aim tochallenge popular myths about later life and our ageing population, demonstrate the vibrancy of older people’s voluntary action, and inspire others to follow the example of Scotland’s best services for, and by, older people. So if you know of, or are, an individual, group or service in north Edinburgh worthy of wider recognition, whether in the public, private or voluntary sector, a nomination from you will be warmly welcomed.”

Good causes to benefit from carrier bag levy

The Scottish government will introduce a 5p levy on plastic bags from October 2014. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the charge should reduce bag use in Scotland and raise £5m a year for good causes.

Mr Lochhead said: “Discarded carrier bags highlight our throwaway society. We use more carrier bags per head in Scotland than any other part of the UK and this is unsustainable. They are a highly visible aspect of litter and we are taking decisive action to decrease their number. By reducing the amount being carelessly discarded we can cut litter and its impact on our environment and economy. A small charge should also encourage us all to stop and think about what we discard and what can be re-used. This charge is not a tax but will see retailers donating the proceeds to charity – this could be up to £5m per year after retailers have covered their costs.”

Iain Gulland, the director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We can all reduce the impact of carrier bags by making sure that when we must take one, we re-use it over and over again as many times as possible and then recycle it at the end of its life.”

Retailers have expressed concerns over the introduction of the charge, however.

A CBI Scotland spokesman said: “Modest economic growth coupled with a continuing shift to internet shopping is making conditions challenging for the high street, which is already feeling the ill-effects of the Scottish government’s £95m retail rates surcharge and its £36m rates levy on empty shops and other premises. The plans for costly additional red tape in the form of an environmental levy on carrier bags, after significant success recently in reducing the use of plastic bags by voluntary means, will only make a difficult situation even tougher for retail businesses.”

The Scottish Retail Consortium says that carrier bag use has already fallen by 40% and there is a need to concentrate on bigger issues. SRC Director Fiona Moriarty said: “The Scottish government has decided that it wants further and faster reductions and the only way it can achieve this is through legislation.

“However, it is our view that if we focus solely on plastic bags we are in danger of being distracted from much larger and more important issues around waste. The SRC will be working with the Scottish government to ensure that the legislation is proportionate and as far as possible consistent across the UK to avoid confusion for customers and businesses.”

Homeothapy no more for NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian will cease to provide homeopathic services following a meeting of NHS Lothian’s board on 26 June. The decision followed recommendations made by the Healthcare Governance Committee and is in line with the recent survey results of the homeopathy public consultation.

The consultation and survey, led by the Midlothian Community Health Partnership, asked whether NHS Lothian should pay for homeopathic services in Lothian. The survey results showed that 72 per cent of all those who responded were against the service continuing to be funded by NHS Lothian with 27 per cent in favour of the status quo and 1 per cent undecided. The results also showed that people who lived in the NHS Lothian health board area responded similarly, with more than 74 per cent against the health board continuing to pay for homeopathy and approximately 25 per cent in favour.

Professor Alex McMahon, Director of Strategic Planning, Performance Reporting and Information, NHS Lothian said: “We have consulted the public and listened to their views and the survey results are clear in showing that the majority of people who took part are against us continuing to provide homeopathic services. The majority of respondents cited lack of evidence for homeopathy and supported investing the funds currently spent on this service into other proven healthcare services.”

In total there were 3,720 responses to the questionnaire, which include 3,350 electronic and 367 paper responses.

There are approximately 200 new referrals each year to the homeopathy service with 1300-1500 return appointments. Approximately 20 new referrals are received per annum from other health boards.

The initial report detailing the consultation process and survey results is available at:

http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/Consultations/Past/Homeopathy/Documents/NHSLothianHomeopathyConsultationReport.pdf

It provides a breakdown of returns both online and paper copies as well as by Lothian residents, non Lothian residents and those who chose not to indicate where they lived.

Hundreds expected at annual emergency services open day

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the annual emergency services open day on Saturday 13 July from 11am – 3pm at McDonald Road fire station.

Hosted by the newly formed Scottish Fire and Rescue Service this free day welcomes locals to enjoy a selection of displays, demonstrations and fun activities run by the stations’ firefighters and other partners.

Firefighter Neil Bertram from McDonald Road fire station has organised this event for the last 4 years. He said: “The emergency services open day is always a great day out and it’s FREE! Last year we had almost 800 people through our doors at McDonald Road Fire Station. Located off Leith Walk, Edinburgh.

“The Police, Scottish Ambulance Service and Coastguard will all be represented on the day. It’s a great opportunity to come along, see an operational station and find out more about the emergency services and the role they play in keeping our communities safe.

“From our side we will have fire appliances on display. The height appliance will be working throughout the event, our community safety vehicle (CSV) will also be used and staff from our Community Safety team will be on hand to give advice and answer questions on Fire Safety in the Home and offer free visits. The training centre will be carrying out fire extinguisher and fire blanket demonstrations. The public will also have the opportunity to wear a Breathing Apparatus set and enter our breathing apparatus training pod, allowing people to get a taste of navigating in zero visibility to rescue a casualty.

“The feedback was great from the public last year, so NEW this year will be displays from crews demonstrating their working at heights skills and one of the `Phoenix crews` who are our young firefighters and they will be demonstrating ladder and pump drills.

“We also hope to raise money to help both our chosen charities again this year who are, `The Fire Fighters Charity` and `Hillview Children’s Unit` who offer intensive support and respite to children and young people persons with disabilities.

“Hopefully the weather will be kind to us again this year and we would urge people to pop along for what promises to be an educational, enjoyable and most importantly, family fun day out.”

Scots urged to take up energy advice for free

People across Scotland are being urged to take advantage of a new offer to seek assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, helping to reduce household energy bills.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today announced that from July 1, households can apply for a free Green Deal assessment which, once completed will provide advice on how homes can be made greener and more energy efficient and qualify households for a Green Homes Cashback voucher.

Getting loft insulation, for example, can reduce energy bills by up to £175 per year, while replacing single-glazed windows with double glazed ones could save the average home around £165 per year.

And taking simple steps to draught-proof can cut £55 per year off the average property’s energy bill, while getting a new, energy efficient boiler could save a three bedroom home owner up to £300 annually.

Mr Ewing (pictured below) said: “It is my belief that everyone in Scotland should live in a warm and safe home that doesn’t cost the earth to heat. In these current economic times, it is more important than ever that people take advantage of money saving opportunities like these when they can.

“There is a wide range of financial support and offers available to Scottish households to support them when it comes to making the decision that is right for them. And from today, households can apply for a voucher for a free home energy assessment.

“I would urge anyone who would like to reduce their energy bills to contact the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland hotline line as soon as possible to find out about how to get a Green Deal assessment and to find out about the offers available to them.”

More information on the Green Deal assessment and on how to apply for a Green Homes Cashback voucher can be found at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland or by telephoning the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland hotline -free – on 0808 808 2282