Day: January 24, 2014

Health Literacy – Do you know anyone who struggles with health information and messages?

As part of a wider project to develop a Health Literacy Toolkit for professional NHS staff, the Health Literacy project is making a Health Literacy DVD.

We are looking for people from all walks of life who may have difficulty understanding health information. This could take the form of not retaining information they are given by health professionals; not understanding medication information/dosage; confusion over drug names and/or language used; feeling unable/unwilling to ask questions; managing long term health conditions; understanding treatment options and shared decision making around their health.

If you know of any individuals or groups who may be interested in being part of this project, please contact Fiona Manson 0131-537-4230; 0787 554 5757; or Fiona.manson@edinburgh.gov.uk

Letter: People, not commodities

Dear Editor

Despite the massive potential wealth of the UK, around two million people are unemployed, causing great hardship, depression and a loss of dignity. If people are willing to work, and the materials needed are available, what then is the problem and what can be done about it?

We live under a system of capitalism whose main concern is to make profit: if it cannot, in any industry or enterprise, the owners of wealth will not invest, switching their money to where it can, irrespective of any damage or hardship caused in doing so. This cannot be right; it only appeals to the greedy and selfish and the events of the last few years have shown just how much damage has been inflicted on people.

Investors, then, have considerable power; supported by people in powerful decision-making positions, protecting the existing set up.

If switching of investment purely for profit is the creator of unemployment, then this activity must be changed. An initial steps could be to put a limit in place on the rate of interest on an investment, coupled with a minimum term of investment to prevent money being pulled out and putting an industry and employees at risk.

This immoral position of holding the threat of unemployment over people purely for private gain is long overdue for changing – people are not commodities to be used and discarded.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens