Another GP practice closes it’s doors …
Seems Scotland is shutting down …
Month: March 2020
Muirhouse Medical Group CLOSED to walk in appointments
A MESSAGE from MUIRHOUSE MEDICAL GROUP
Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Muirhouse Medical Group is now CLOSED to walk in appointments.
There will be NO open surgery each morning with immediate effect.
If you have a current booked appointment with a GP or Nurse, we are getting in touch to ask you about your condition. We will continue to see patients with no symptoms of the Coronavirus by arrangement. We will always tell you where that appointment is, and which entrance to use when you reach the surgery.
If you feel ill and need to be seen please telephone us on 0131 202 4444. In most cases a GP or Nurse will phone you back and will decide whether you can be seen and, if so, will make an appointment.
If you have any of the Corona Virus symptoms please follow the up to date Government advice. If you have developed a new cough or fever in the last 7 days you must self isolate at home for 7 days from when it developed.
You should contact us (or NHS24 when we are closed) only if your conditions worsen and you have shortness of breath or develop high temperatures – or if there has been no improvement after 7 days.
FOR PRESCRIPTIONS
For the moment repeat prescriptions can be taken over the telephone by using the enquiries line after 9 am. (0131 202 4444 option 4).
We will shortly set up a prescriptions email address where you can order your repeat prescriptions.
In the meantime if you cannot telephone your prescription in please put the requests in the box outside our main surgery rather than come into the surgery.
Prescriptions must be delivered to a pharmacy of your choice and will not be picked up from the surgery any more.
Thank you for your co-operation. We are trying to ensure our patients continue to receive medical attention.
REMEMBER – DO NOT TURN UP AT THE SURGERY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT – YOU WILL BE SENT AWAY
Coronavirus: Edinburgh College suspends classes
Edinburgh College has issued the following statement:
Due to the rapidly changing situation regarding coronavirus and to best protect the health and safety of all of our students, Edinburgh College has taken the decision to suspend all face-to-face classes from 4pm today (Monday 16 March) until Monday 20 April.
Starting from Monday 23 March, additional provision will be in place to enable students to continue studying from home. This week, all students will be issued with guidance on how to continue their studies during this time and individual class information will be made available on Moodle.
We understand that students will be concerned about the impact that this may have on studies and progression. We’d like to emphasise that this situation is national and reassure students that we are speaking with external agencies to limit the longer term impact on everybody.
This week, students will be issued with guidance via online channels on how to continue their studies during this time. Individual class information will be made available on Moodle.
It is important that students continue to keep up-to-date with information regarding the College and their studies via our online channels – email, Moodle, social media and website.
Libraries will remain open across all campuses until further notice for students who don’t have access to Moodle at home
The College is committed to limiting the negative impact this has on students’ studies. During this period, all bursaries will continue to be paid and we are confident we have a plan in place to ensure students can progress to the next stage of their studies.
As the situation develops, we will notify students of any updates on a daily basis via our online channels including this webpage and via email. Please continue to check our channels for the latest information.
It is important that you continue to follow the advice provided by the Government and public health agencies during this time to keep yourself and others protected.
This includes:
- Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, should stay at home and not leave their house for 7 days from when the symptoms started – regardless of whether you have travelled to affected areas or been in contact with someone who has the virus.
- NHS Scotland recommends using good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene. Coughing and sneezing should be into tissues that are promptly disposed down the toilet. Hands should be washed more regularly than usual with soap and water or using an alcohol hand rub even if hands are visibly clean
Coronavirus: City daycare services to cease TOMORROW
The UK government intimated yesterday that Britain’s over-70s will ‘soon’ be told to self-isolate for four months to stop the spread of coronavirus. Things are moving at breakneck speed, though, and that ‘soon’ is NOW – and hundreds of older people across the city will find themselves without much-appreciated daycare centres TOMORROW.
Older people’s organisations were advised this morning that their daycare services should be ‘stepped down’ from TOMORROW. Local services affected include Pilton Equalities Project and Drylaw Rainbow Club Daycare Centre in Drylaw Church, who have been asked to devise alternative ‘social distancing’ provision.
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership contacted organisations in receipt of grants at 11.30 this morning. It said:
‘I am writing to you as recipients of grants and as organisations that currently run activity based services for older people in Edinburgh. I wanted to share with you that today we wrote out to all providers of day care opportunities for older people to confirm a difficult decision that we have taken as a Partnership, which I’m sure will not come as a surprise, in light of the recent Scottish Government guidance published last week (attached for your reference).
It has been recommended that long term care facilities be subject to ‘social distancing’ to reduce the risk of infecting residents and their carers. This includes social isolation in rooms and removing communal mealtimes wherever this is possible. This will be a difficult time for many people and these are not decisions taken lightly but ones to reduce the risk of mortality in this particularly vulnerable group.
We have therefore decided to suspend all our own day centres and step down commissioned day opportunities until further notice.
We have advised providers that Monday arrangements should continue as planned with service users, carers and families informed that this will be the last day of service for the foreseeable, as in the current evolving circumstances, we are struggling to justify bringing vulnerable people together.
We of course acknowledge that there is significant therapeutic and social value but we cannot in good faith increase the potential risk of harm to people that we support. For this reason, I am certain that you will understand and agree that this is the right decision to be taking just now, based on what we currently know.
We would strongly recommend that you do the same, and stand down your current grant funded activities. Where possible, we would also ask that you activate your business continuity plans and ensure that you can provide alternative provision, targeted at those that need it most to remain independent and safe at home.
Those for whom attendance at your services provides an alternative to a contact which would otherwise be homecare, we would ask you to look at in relation to essential visits and telephone contact arrangements, where possible. If this creates additional demands that cannot be met you should contact Social Care Direct in the first instance so that any additional needs can be considered accordingly.
We will be reviewing the risk profile of all our services and endeavour to return to ‘business as usual’ as soon as, on balance, it is the right and reasonable thing to do. I cannot hand on heart tell you when this might be, the next period is somewhat unprecedented. We’re therefore going to need to be resilient and support each other.’
An attached letter from Judith Proctor, Edinburgh Health & Social Care’s Chief Officer, said:
‘I am writing to confirm a difficult decision that we have taken as the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership which affects either you personally, a family member, or someone you care for.
I want to reassure you that we are taking all available measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of our service users and our carers. At this current time, based on what is known of COVID-19 and other similar respiratory viruses, it is likely that older people and those with chronic medical conditions may be more vulnerable.
Recent Scottish Government guidance recommended that long term care facilities be subject to ‘social distancing’ to reduce the risk of infecting residents and their carers. This includes social isolation in rooms and removing communal mealtimes wherever this is possible.
We have therefore decided to suspend all our own day centres and step down commissioned day opportunities until further notice.
This means that as of 17th March 2020, if you, or someone you care for, regularly attends a day centre, this will no longer continue. We will of course review this decision regularly, as we learn more.
This will be a difficult time for many people and these are not decisions taken lightly however in the current evolving circumstances, we are struggling to justify bringing vulnerable people together. We cannot in good faith increase the potential risk of harm to you or your loved ones.
For this reason, I am certain that you will understand and agree that this is the right decision to be taking just now, based on what we currently know.
Alternative arrangements are being made to ensure that you personally, or someone you care for, continues to receive the support needed to remain at home and they will be contacted to confirm what these arrangements are.
This may include home visits, telephone contact arrangements or alternative arrangements to meet individual needs.
Staff at PEP have spent the day reorganising the service they can provide to their clients, many of whom are frail and elderly.
PEP Manager Helen Tait said: “We are planning to identify the most vulnerable and provide meals, and things like shopping – if there is anything left on the shelves, of course! All staff will be supporting our service users where needed.”
A spokesperson for Drylaw’s Rainblow Club Daycare Centre said: “The Centre will still be staffed and are open for anyone that requires care at home, shopping or meals. If you know of anyone requiring our services please call us on 0131 343 6643.
“These are difficult times – lets all pull together and keep safe.”
Edinburgh Theatres to close
A STATEMENT FROM CAPITAL THEATRES
We would like to reassure our customers that we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and adhering to guidance issued.
The advice of the Scottish Government is that events involving more than 500 people should not take place, with effect from Monday 16 March 2020. This applies to mass events across all sectors – including sporting events, cultural events, and religious gatherings.
Capital Theatres can announce that we will be cancelling or postponing all performances at the Festival Theatre, The Kings Theatre and The Studio throughout March and April as an initial measure. This will come into effect from Monday 16 2020 at 12 noon.
Customers who have tickets for performances during March and April will automatically receive a full refund over the coming weeks. Our box office staff will contact customers directly if there are any issues, please bear with us as we work through the refund process at this challenging time.
We are currently working to reschedule cancelled performances to dates in the autumn and will keep all customers up-to-date as quickly as possible regarding this.
Please refer to our website and social channels for further updates over the coming weeks.
We greatly appreciate the support of our audiences at this testing and anxious time. It is a fast-moving situation; we are monitoring it closely and will keep you posted. We are hopeful that things will get back to normal soon and we hope to see you return in the not too distant future, stay safe.
Crewe Medical Centre CLOSED
Crewe Medical Centre has been closed for routine appointments until further notice:
The surgery is closed for routine appointments until further notice. If you need medical advice please phone us during opening hours on 0131 552 5544 and a doctor will call you back.
For information on the coronavirus outbreak please go to NHS Inform or call the helpline on 0800 028 2816
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, do not go to your GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call your GP or 111 for advice on what to do.
Week of action to focus on vulnerable road users
Police Scotland’s Road Policing Division is carrying out a week of action this week focusing on the safety of vulnerable road users.
The campaign, which will run from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March, will see officers carry out enhanced activity at locations with a higher number of cyclists and pedestrians, such as schools, colleges and universities as well as town centres.
The aim is to interact with drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to raise awareness about how they can all contribute to making our roads safer.
In Scotland in 2018, Police Scotland responded to 1,253 pedestrian casualties, with those aged 12-15 or over-70 being most impacted for fatalities and serious injuries respectively. In the same period, there were 637 pedal cyclist casualties, 87% of which took place on built-up roads.
Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Head of Road Policing, said: “Road safety is an absolute priority for Police Scotland and it is vital that everyone is aware of the risks associated with using our roads, whether you use them as a motorist, a pedestrian, cyclist or any other activity.
“This campaign provides us with an excellent opportunity to highlight our collective responsibilities as road users. Some simple steps, being readily visible to others, being alert to your own surroundings, being aware and courteous to other road users, all go a long way to improving road safety.”
Alpaca parties headline new range of services at LOVE Gorgie Farm
Edinburgh’s urban farm is marking the beginning of a new era as it announces a new range of services only two weeks after opening the site back to the public.
LOVE Gorgie Farm, on the former Gorgie City Farm site, will offer a wide variety of activities, including birthday parties and pet boarding. On offer will be alpaca treks and birthday parties, and the farm can act as a venue for corporate gatherings and training events.
The farm can also be rented as a venue for community events and fundraiser parties.
Operated by education and social care charity LOVE Learning, most activities on the farm will nurture the organisation’s mission and consequently relate to education and social care.
As such, the farm will offer animal volunteer sessions for people with additional support needs, hold animal care and animal handling activities, provide “farm to fork” workshops and use its education centre to impart its accredited training programmes.
LOVE Gorgie Farm will also have a cuddle corner on the site, which can outreach to the community, including care homes and schools.
Moreover, the urban farm is committed to providing services that align with LOVE Learning’s environmental portfolio and will build a climate change garden, host green conferences and provide innovative social prescribing therapies in partnership with the NHS.
The urban farm is organising sponsorship packages to help fund the animals and the farm. Interested sponsors will be able to choose from a wide range of options like animal sponsorship, birthday packages and corporate bundles.
Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning said: “Now that the farm is back and running, we want to make sure we provide a wide range of activities that the community enjoys and ensure that we are financially sustainable, delivering enough funds to successfully run the farm.
“By offering animal, environmental and education services, we will make sure that LOVE Gorgie Farm becomes more than an urban farm but rather an education and social hub with strong environmental credentials that welcomes all members of the community.
“Aside from these new services, we are looking to launch sponsorship deals for people and businesses who want to be more involved and support the farm through their generous donations.”
To the general public, the farm remains open seven days a week and it is free to visit, though donations are encouraged.
Those interested in any of the services should contact LOVE Gorgie Farm at gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk or visit www.gorgiecityfarm.org.uk
Edinburgh woman convicted for smuggling drugs
A woman who illegally smuggled drugs in and out of the country has been convicted.
Following a multi-agency investigation by officers from the Organised Crime Partnership, a specialist team of Police Scotland and NCA officers, a package containing MDMA, sent by 40-year-old Xiao Ya Chen was intercepted in September last year on its way to Argentina.
Further enquiries established that Chen had received packages containing MDMA and herbal cannabis from Belgium in November of last year.
Officers arrested her on Tuesday, 26 November last year and a search of her home address in Edinburgh found further quantities of herbal cannabis along with £5000 in cash. The potential street value of controlled substances seized during the investigation totalled £277,100.
She was convicted at Edinburgh High Court on Friday (13 March 2020) after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of controlled substances and is due to be sentenced next month.
Members of the OCP, which includes Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency (NCA) operating under the agreement of the Lord Advocate, have now welcomed Chen’s conviction.
NCA Operations Manager, John McGowan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “Drug trafficking is a major source of revenue for organised crime groups, many of whom are involved in multiple crime types.
“There is exploitation and violence involved at almost every level, from source countries to the streets of Scotland where these substances are sold. This is why we are determined to do all we can with our partners such as Police Scotland and Border Force to disrupt those involved in the importation and supply of controlled drugs.”
Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “This is another excellent example of partnership working with the Border Force, Organised Crime Partnership and Police Scotland Divisional policing as key stakeholders to prevent these dangerous controlled substances reaching Scottish communities.”
Auld Reekie is hooked!
- New ‘Sea for Yourself’ campaign unveils Brits’ cooking habits at home, raising awareness of seafood caught in UK waters including sole, crab, monkfish, mussels, and herring
- Study reveals more than half (55%) of Edinburgh residents surveyed are planning to eat more healthily this spring – with seafood high on the menu
- More than a third of Edinburgh locals (34%) would incorporate even more fish into their diet if they felt more confident cooking it, with 64% people calling out seafood’s health benefits as the main reason for wanting to
New research has revealed that four times as many Edinburgh residents (23%) think seafood such as hake, mackerel, and trout is better to eat than avocados to get fit and healthy.
Edinburghers are picking fish, fruit, and wholegrain carbs as the top health foods to help them prepare for exercise and training, over wellness favourites like protein shakes (5%) and avocados (5%).
The study of 4,000 adults for the ‘Sea for Yourself’ campaign, an initiative supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Non-Departmental Public Body Seafish, highlights the foods we are cooking at home, and their attitudes towards exercising and healthy eating. The findings come as British Olympian, Denise Lewis OBE, backs seafood caught in UK waters as an important part of a well-balanced diet.
Packed full of protein, omega-3 fats and essential vitamins and minerals such as phosphorus, selenium, iodine and certain B vitamins, as well as zinc in shellfish, and vitamin D in oily fish, the health benefits of eating seafood are widely acknowledged, and more than half of the UK (52%) are already cooking salmon and tuna dishes at least once a week.
However, 34% of locals admit they would integrate more fish into their diets if they felt more confident cooking it, with 64% people calling out seafood’s health benefits as the main reason for wanting to.
Delicious, easy-to-cook species such as monkfish, mussels, and lemon sole are sometimes overlooked for our nation’s favourites but provide a great alternative to mix up a healthy diet and help Brits out of a recipe rut.
Denise Lewis OBE, British gold-medal Olympian, said: “As a former Olympian, I’ve always been committed to maintaining a healthy diet so I can live life to the full and stay fit enough to race around with my kids.
“Twenty years on from winning gold at the Sydney 2000, seafood continues to be my favourite source of protein and healthy fats, and I love the variety it allows me. Whether I’m concentrating on my training regime or whipping up a tasty meal like grilled brown trout with spinach for my family, testing out a simple yet delicious new seafood recipe is my go-to cooking choice.”
Juliette Kellow, Consultant Nutritionist at Seafish, added: “Most of us are familiar with nutrition advice that encourages us to eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables for optimal health, and it’s the same when it comes to seafood.
“Many varieties of fish provide a range of B vitamins, including vitamins B3, B6 and B12, all of which help fight fatigue for those of us always on the go.
“Incorporating new fish like herring, coley or hake, and shellfish like crab and mussels into your diet is smart as they provide a great source of protein and allow you to make the most of all the health benefits seafood offers.
“Whether you’re going through a busy period or have an active lifestyle, you don’t have to be an Olympian to enjoy the wealth of health benefits seafood has to offer.”
| Edinburgh’s top 5 food sources for training and exercise | ||
| 1 | Fruit | 30% |
| 2 | Wholegrain carbs such as brown bread, rice and pasta | 30% |
| 3 | Fish and shellfish | 23% |
| 4 | Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, and cabbage | 32% |
| 5 | Eggs | 15% |
For more information about the health benefits of fish or to discover new recipes to try at home, visit fishisthedish.co.uk.