MUMS and dads in Scotland are battling the stress and soaring cost of back-to-school shopping by hunting for loose change down the back of the sofa … and even borrowing from their own children. Continue reading Scottish parents tackle back-to-school stress
An off-duty clinician has been hailed as a “hero” after she was involved in a dramatic bid to save a seriously injured pensioner. Sharon McGill, 45, who works in NHS Lothian, went into action when she found an elderly lady bleeding in the street from a nasty head injury.
The 87-year-old woman had fallen and cracked her head open, was quickly losing a lot of blood and needed vital help.
Sharon, from Gorgie , who had been on a night out with her family, immediately took charge of the situation, directing police officers and relatives at the scene. She also made sure that the woman remained conscious and breathing until emergency services arrived, while providing comfort to the pensioner’s frightened young grand-daughter.Sharon2web.png
Sharon said: “If I see someone that needs my help like that, I would never walk away for anything. It’s my job, even outside of working hours.
“I always try to think, what if this was happening to me or one of my loved ones? I would want someone to step up and help. That’s how I always think about my patients as well.
“I just hope the lady is alright now.
“You should always stop and help, even if you’re not sure how. Sometimes just holding someone’s hand and asking them if they’re alright can make a world of difference.”
Although Sharon may have been a reluctant hero, her actions were commended by the police officers who worked with her throughout the incident. They wrote to the anaesthetic practitioner’s managers the following day to praise her “outstanding” actions.
In the letter sent to Sharon’s managers, the police officer in attendance during this incidence said: “I wanted to pass my thanks on to Sharon, but also highlight the assistance which she provided during the incident, which was outstanding. Sharon is a credit to you and your team and we were very grateful for her assistance in dealing with the matter.”
Sharon, who mostly works with breast cancer patients at the Western General Hospital, didn’t tell her colleagues how her night out took a dramatic turn.
But when Lorraine Murray, the clinical lead for the department, received the letter, she wasn’t surprised that Sharon had been singled out for praise.
Lorraine said: “This is just so Sharon. She always goes above and beyond for everyone. She takes care of every patient that comes into the hospital as if she knows them personally.
“She comes in when she has annual leave or even on her birthday, to support her patients when she knows that they need her.”
City of Edinburgh council leader Adam McVey is backing Scottish Rugby’s bid to become the home of Scottish football from 2020 onwards.
Continue reading Edinburgh council leader backs Edinburgh bid shock!
Grant Sugden has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at Circle. Grant previously worked at Circle as a Senior Manager before leaving in 2011 to take up his current full-time role as Chief Executive of Waverley Care, Scotland’s HIV and Hepatitis C Charity. Continue reading New Chairperson for Circle
Interested in a job in childcare? The Childcare Academy could be for you Continue reading Childcare Academy could be for you
Poverty Alliance are holding an event on 6th September from 10am – 12 at The Quaker Meeting House in Victoria Street. Continue reading Scottish Living Wage Campaign: plans and priorities for the way ahead
Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird has installed a dispenser offering complimentary sanitary products in an effort to support those experiencing period poverty. Shoppers in need are invited to take a free product from the machine, which is located in the women’s bathroom facilities at the Fort Kinnaird customer service centre. Continue reading Fort Kinnaird offers free sanitary products to help tackle period poverty
Girls reach for the stars with new space badge
Girlguiding, the UK Space Agency and the Royal Astronomical Society have teamed up to give girls and young women in the UK unique and exciting opportunities to engage with astronomy beyond the classroom. Continue reading Brownies to boldly go where no badge has gone before
We’ve known for some time that health inequalities exist, but a new report out today shows the scale of the problem. The NHS Health Scotland study (below) found that people living in the poorest areas have DOUBLE the rate of illness or early death than people in our wealthiest areas.
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Nearly a third (32.9%) of early deaths and ill health in Scotland could be avoided if the whole population had the same life circumstances as the people who live in our wealthiest areas.
Our report also shows that early death and illnesses associated with the things that harm our health the most, like drugs, tobacco, poor diet, and alcohol, are more common in the poorest areas than in wealthiest areas.
Dr Diane Stockton, the study lead at NHS Health Scotland said: “The stark inequalities highlighted in our report represent thousands of deaths that didn’t need to happen. Illnesses that people didn’t have to endure, and tragedy for thousands of families in Scotland.
“It does not have to be this way. The fact that people in our wealthiest areas are in better health and that conditions that cause most of the ill health and early death result from things we can change – like illnesses associated with mental wellbeing, diet, drug use and alcohol dependency – shows that it is possible to create a fairer healthier Scotland.
“Our report highlights that to do this, we have to improve the life circumstances of people in our poorest areas and prevent their early death or avoidable ill health. This is about more than encouraging healthy choices. It’s easier to access the things that harm our health in these areas, and so no one type of behaviour change is going to solve this problem on its own. It’s about addressing the environment we live, rest, play, work and learn in so that it supports us to be mentally and physically well. And it’s complex. There is no silver bullet, but, with collective effort for a fairer healthier Scotland, we can help to ensure that everyone in Scotland can enjoy their right to the highest attainable standard of health.”
Newhaven Community Choir entertained visitors at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Monday (20 August) with traditional fishwives songs as part of Edinburgh Shoreline, an exciting project to regenerate natural habitats along the city’s coastline. Continue reading Fisherfolk songs bring Shoreline Project to life
