Edinburgh is next in line, alongside Stirling, to be transformed as part of CityFibre and Vodafone’s partnership to roll-out ultra-fast, Gigabit-capable full fibre broadband across the UK. The announcement, which brings the total number of homes and businesses identified as part of the partnership to over half a million premises across seven cities, represents an investment by CityFibre of £110m in the cities. Continue reading Edinburgh set to join broadband premier league
When Health Secretary Shona Robison announced in 2016 the closure of the East of Scotland cleft surgery unit in Edinburgh – which Lothian MSP Miles Briggs and parents campaigned hard against – she reassured people that “local outreach clinics, will continue to be delivered locally as they are now, across Scotland.” https://news.gov.scot/news/cleft-surgery-recommendation
A Written Answer (see below) shows that in two areas local clinics stopped altogether in 2017 with no indication of when they might start again. This means extra travelling and inconvenience for families, as well as having limited dates when they can be seen.
There has been a reduction in the number of Multi-Disciplinary Clinics (MDC) in Edinburgh, with only fortnightly appointments available.
The service is also still short of the third surgeon that it needs.
Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP said: “It is very apparent that the SNP Ministers decision to centralise the Cleft Palate Service has been a disaster.
“The families of babies and young people who require the service are the ones losing with an inferior service being provided.
“I am particularly concerned that parents are being forced to travel so far for appointments, often having to make longer journeys than the recommended limit for new born babies.”
Evonne McLatchie, lead campaigner to save the Edinburgh cleft unit, comments: “Parents in the East are angry but not the least surprised as the promises Ms Robison made were as predicted not worth the paper they were printed on.
“Many families in the East don’t even have correct contact details and it is parents that are driving patient reviews and consultations for their children having to resort to asking questions on Facebook to get answers for their concerns and then chasing up appointments.
“Shona Robison stated repeatedly that centralisation would improve care, especially if a surgeon was off- that has yet to be proven!
“The majority of parents are afraid to voice concerns as they have to work with the service for perhaps the next 20 years and despite assurances that any complaint won’t affect care they simply don’t want to risk it.”
“They never listen to the auld folk, son. We’re invisible.”
Earlier this month eighty older people from groups spread across the community got together in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre for a day of conversation, activities and entertainment. Continue reading Hearing the voice of older people
The Scottish SPCA is hosting their first ever 5k challenge across the iconic Forth Road Bridge on Saturday 9 June. Continue reading Join the Scottish SPCA’s first ever Forth Road Bridge fun run!
Edinburgh College is opening its doors for a day of community spirit and celebration at its Granton Campus next month. Families, community groups and local businesses are all invited to the college’s Granton Community Day to find out what the college has to offer and the role it has at the heart of the local community. Continue reading Be part of your community at Edinburgh College’s Granton Community Day
The number of tickets issued to drivers on parking on private land has surged by almost a million in just 12 months to a new high, the latest official data suggests. Continue reading Private parking tickets surge by a million
Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision in the Gorgie area. The incident happened at around 3.15pm on Wednesday (25 April) at the junction of Westfield Road and Stevenson Road. Continue reading Appeal for witnesses to Gorgie road traffic collision
Drylaw Telford Community Association and Queensberry Bowling Club are among dozens of community groups across Scotland today celebrating a share of a National Lottery windfall of £777,446 today. Continue reading Lottery small grants make BIG difference to community groups
Comas, a small local charity which supports the recovery community in Edinburgh & The Lothians, is urgently appealing for help to find new premises to enable it to continue its vital work. With less than three months until the end of the tenancy agreement on its current premises at Jackson’s Entry, in the city centre, Comas faces the closure of its Serenity Café and other facilities unless it can find a new home for them. Continue reading Save our Serenity: time’s running out for small local charity
A PIONEERING new research lab will explore ways in which blockchain technology can protect personal data from online scammers and hackers. The laboratory will be built at Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston campus as part of a £600,000 collaboration between the university and Hong Kong-based Blockpass. Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has welcomed the announcement. Continue reading Cyber Security: Napier building the world’s first advanced Blockchain Identity Laboratory
