To protect patient safety the Health Secretary has delayed the move of patients, staff and services from the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children to the new site at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which was due to take place next week. Continue reading New Sick Kids Hospital: MOVE HALTED
Redhall Walled Garden is holding it’s annual Razzmatazz Open day event on Saturday 20th July (12-5pm). Continue reading Razzmatazz Open Day at Redhall Walled Garden
TL Dallas, one of the UK’s leading independent insurance broking and risk management companies, is celebrating 100 years in business. To mark this significant milestone, the business has pledged to provide 12 months of support to a number of charities close to the hearts of its staff, including Alzheimer Scotland. Continue reading TL Dallas marks a century in business with charity campaign
A Musselburgh-based charity that supports the wellbeing of children and young people with chronic conditions through art therapy enjoyed a trip to Edinburgh Zoo with the team from Amazon Customer Services Centre in Edinburgh. Continue reading Local charity teams up with Amazon for trip to the zoo
It’s a busy summer across the Council’s estate, explains Finance and Resources Convener Cllr Alasdair Rankin:
Edinburgh trades weeks at the start of July is traditionally when many companies literally down tools for the summer holidays – but that’s not the case for our Council estate where building improvements are taking place across the city.
This is very much an all year round operation and our programme of works is significantly larger as a direct result of the decisions we’ve taken as an Administration to invest £119m in the Council estate.
Despite the challenging financial times for the Council this significant investment is a clear sign of our determination to improve the quality, safety and future sustainability of our buildings.
Although the focus in the first two years has been around our schools, our five-year programme includes improvement and maintenance works across the whole estate extending to areas like care homes and office buildings. This year work is planned at Portobello Swim Centre (above), which is managed by Edinburgh Leisure, and the historic City Chambers.
A huge amount of planning has taken place to enable such a wide programme of works to go ahead – this is our most extensive programme ever carried out over summer with almost 100 schools and nurseries being targeted. Works taking place range from general maintenance through to major refurbishment including painting and decorating, major roof repairs, window replacement programmes and lighting, heating and boiler upgrades.
For some schools these summer works mark the start of a major programme to address backlog maintenance requirements identified through our extensive condition surveys carried out across the whole of our estate.
Over 30 of these projects will deliver major improvements and in many cases this work will continue throughout the school year including at evenings and weekends.
For other schools this will be the final phase of works, and our Property and Facilities Management professionals will be working hard with our contractors to ensure that the works in these schools are completed in time for the pupils and staff returning after the summer break.
In addition to these improvements, we are providing additional classrooms to meet our rising school rolls across the City and work will commence on five new nurseries which will open their doors in August 2020 to support us in meeting the extended hours nursery provision for all three and four-year olds.
We are making significant progress with improving our whole estate and I firmly believe this proactive approach, along with further targeted investment, will ensure our buildings are fit for purpose both now and for years to come.
This article first appeared in Edinburgh Evening News
Scotland’s first health board-led Green Health Strategy has been published by NHS Lothian, Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation and greenspace Scotland.
Greenspace is often described as ‘our natural health service’, with a growing body of research evidence showing its positive benefits for physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace and Health Strategic Framework was prepared by greenspace scotland, on behalf of NHS Lothian and funded by Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation.
The strategy aims to fully realise the potential of the NHS Outdoor Estate and community greenspaces as a community health asset benefiting patients, visitors, staff and communities. It covers a range of Green Health activities, including community and therapeutic gardening, health walks, green prescriptions, Branching Out and Green Gyms, as well as greening the NHS outdoor estate and encouraging access to greenspace close to where people live.
Brian Houston, Chair of Lothian NHS Board, said: “We are increasingly recognising the role and importance of therapeutic interventions in greenspace on our health and wellbeing.
“For several years, the Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation has provided grants to support therapeutic gardening and the development of community gardens at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital.
“We have seen the benefits of these projects for patients, staff, visitors and the wider community – and we recognise the potential to achieve much more through a coordinated and strategic approach. The Greenspace and Health Strategic Framework will play a key role in guiding and shaping our work with partners to realise our vision of Longer Lives, Better Lived through our GreenSpace – Lothian’s Natural Health Service.”
Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Green spaces play a vital part in improving our physical and mental health. They provide people with many opportunities to be physically active, and to enjoy the benefits of contact with nature – such as going for a walk, taking part in a gardening project, or active play.
“Last year we published a comprehensive Physical Activity Delivery Plan, setting out a wide range of actions to support and encourage people to be more active, more often. I welcome NHS Lothian’s Green Health Strategy as a valuable contribution to that aim.”
Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland, said: “Studies repeatedly show the positive impact that greenspace can have on our quality of life and particularly on health and wellbeing.
“Greenspace really is our natural health service: a daily dose of green space could be just what the doctor ordered to keep us active and provide tonic for the soul!
“We were delighted to work with NHS Lothian and a wide range of partners from across the NHS, local councils, voluntary organisations and community groups to develop a clear vision and plan for how the NHS outdoor estate and local greenspaces can improve the health and wellbeing of people across the Lothians.”
The Strategic Framework sets out a Vision of Longer lives, better lived through our GreenSpace – Lothian’s ‘natural health service’, underpinned by a delivery programme with clear priorities for action.
The Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation has provided grants to Cyrenians, TCV and Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust to support early action on new green prescribing schemes, the development of community gardens and active green travel routes.
A Green Health Programme Manager is being recruited to lead the delivery of the Green Health Strategy.
To read more about the Green Health Strategy click here or to find out more about GreenSpace Scotland here
A young journalist has graduated from the university course shaped by his inspirational grandfather, which has given generations of talented Scots a pathway into the news industry. Continue reading Graduating from grandpa Bill’s journalism course!
People with lived experience to have their say
Volunteers are being asked to shape Scotland’s new, fairer social security system.
Applications are open to people from any background with experience of the current benefits system to join the Scottish Government’s Social Security Experience Panels.
Ethnic minorities, those living in rural communities and people under 25 are being particularly encouraged to apply to make panels as representative as possible.
The 2,400 panel members who have signed up so far are helping shape every detail of Social Security Scotland – from the opening hours to the design of benefit application forms.
Members are regularly asked for their views in a number of ways, including workshops, interviews and surveys that can be carried out face-to-face, on the phone and online.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We want social security in Scotland to be based on dignity, fairness and respect, that’s why the views from the people who actually use the service are so important.
“Panel members have told us they find the experience rewarding, offering a real chance to make a difference to thousands of people’s lives.
“Panels should be a true representation of our society, so I’d like to encourage those from all backgrounds to join us and help make the system one we can all be proud of.”
Rob, a volunteer experience panel member, said: “Sadly there isn’t a week which goes by without a story in a national newspaper highlighting the systemic problem with the current social security system administered by the DWP.
“Joining the Experience Panel has given me a renewed sense of purpose and has allowed me to meet and work alongside a range of other people with first-hand experience of the current system.
“The panels have brought us together with a common purpose to make the most of this unique opportunity to help design a new Social Security system fit for a 21st century Scotland.”
The Scottish Government Social Security Experience Panels have been running for two years and will run for at least two more.
A number of research reports have already been published on work with panel members so far.
People can apply online or by calling 0800 029 4974.
Applications can also be completed on paper forms, which can be requested on the number above or by emailing socialsecurityexperience@gov.scot.
