The Capital Concert Band is performing a free concert next Saturday (22 November) at 3pm in Leith St Andrew’s Church on Easter Road.
Support the band and enjoy some childhood family favourites! All welcome.
Scotland ‘making excellent progress’
The number of people waiting for a transplant has fallen to its lowest level since 2006, a report detailing Scotland’s organ donation record has shown. The average number of people waiting for a transplant has fallen by a quarter in the last seven years – from 793 in 2006/7 to 595 in 2013/14.
The figures, detailed in a ‘report card’ published this week by the Scottish Government, shows marked improvement in nearly all areas of the organ donation process – with donor and transplant numbers up significantly in the last few years.
This is the first time the Scottish Government has published a report card on NHS performance in this area and it is to be widely distributed to staff and patients across the country annually.
It fulfils a commitment made in the Scottish Government’s A Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland 2013 – 2020, to publish an annual report card on four or five key national measures on organ donation and transplantation.
The report shows that the number of living and deceased donors rose by almost 60 per cent between 2011/12 and 2013/14 and, over the same period, the number of transplants from living and deceased donors rose from 345 in a year to 425 in a year.
In addition the number of patients referred to the organ donation service has more than doubled in the last three years, meaning more patients who have expressed a wish to donate their organs after death have had those wishes honoured.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “Over the last few years we have made important strides in raising awareness of the importance of organ donation in Scotland and we have been encouraging more and more people to make their wishes known to friends and family.
“We want Scotland to be amongst the best performing countries in the world for donation and transplantation, and this year’s report shows we are continuing to make excellent progress towards this goal.
“This is thanks to every donor and every donor’s family who have demonstrated such compassion and generosity in the face of tragic and difficult circumstances. It is also testament to the work of staff across the NHS in Scotland who work tirelessly to ensure that people’s organ donation wishes are respected and that every donation counts.”
The publication also highlights the need to increase the number of families who agree for donation to go ahead – which has seen a gradual rise from 57.1 per cent in 2010/11 to 61.6 per cent in 2013/14. Around 90 more lives each year could be saved if this figure rose to 80 per cent.
Mr Matheson added: “This year our public campaign focuses on encouraging people to talk to their friends and family about their decision to donate. Letting those closest to you know your decision makes it easier for them to honour your wishes if they ever need to.”
To register or find out more visit www.organdonationscotland.org or telephone 0300 123 2323
‘Members across Scotland say that in their experience you need at least £10 an hour and a full working week to have a decent life free from benefits and tax credits’ – GMB Scotland
GMB Scotland is calling for an increase of £1 per hour towards the GMB Congress target of a living wage of at least £10 per hour.
The items in the trade union’s claim, submitted to Cosla last Friday, are: £1 an hour increase on all hourly rates of pay, consolidation of living wage supplements and the removal of all pay points below the living wage pay level. The next review of pay is 1 April 2015.
GMB Scotland launched the pay campaign with photo calls at ten locations across Scotland, with GMB members employed by Scottish local authorities holding up large replica of a £1 coin
Alex McLuckie, GMB Scotland’s Senior Organiser, said: “GMB is kicking off this campaign for Scottish local council workers to receive a £1 an hour increase on their basic salary from April 2015. This is a step towards the target of a living wage of £10 per hour set by GMB Congress in 2014.
“GMB members across Scotland say that in their experience you need at least £10 an hour and a full working week to have a decent life free from benefits and tax credits. Less than £10 an hour means just existing not living. It means a life of isolation, unable to socialise. It means a life of constant anxiety over paying bills and of borrowing from friends, family and pay day loan sharks just to make ends meet.
“Many of our members provide vital frontline services and while these jobs are crucial to many of Scotland’s councils, the people providing these services are some of the lowest of paid.
“Over the years Scotland’s council workers have either received a minimal pay rise or no pay rise at all. Further to this many GMB members may have suffered a cut in earnings through hours being reduced, while at the same time having their workload increased with staff leaving without being replaced.
“With the reality of low pay and increasing workloads, coupled with the vital services which our members provide for Scotland’s councils, GMB Scotland believe £1 an hour rise on all basic salaries is a way of acknowledging the work done by Scotland’s council workers.”
A man has been treated in hospital for a facial injury after being attacked in Frederick Street’s Suva nightclub. Police said the 28-year-old was standing at the side of the dance floor when a man struck him on the face with an “unknown object” at about 02:30 on Saturday.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and was later released. The suspect is described as white and in his 20s. He was wearing dark clothing and was last seen running from the club.
Det Con Douglas Mogg said: “The victim suffered a painful injury to his face and we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry to trace the male responsible. Anyone who was in the club and witnessed the attack or who has information that can help us trace the suspect is urged to contact police immediately.”
