June 2020 – Page 11 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Bioquarter launches public consultation

Edinburgh BioQuarter has launched an online community consultation with the intention of developing a new mixed-use neighbourhood, as part of plans to create the city’s “Health Innovation District”.

A new fly-through of the proposed development shows the latest design phase of the masterplan to the local community, with the consultation seeking feedback on how the site will evolve over the next decade and beyond.

BioQuarter, which sits to the south east of the city in Little France, is already home to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh Medical School and Centre for Regenerative Medicine, alongside a number of medical research institutes and life sciences businesses.

The ambition is that BioQuarter will grow to a community of more than 20,000 people who will live, work or study at the 167-acre site. The expansion will support an estimated 9,000 longer term new jobs, plus additional construction jobs, while greatly expanding the numbers of spin out and start-up companies.

BioQuarter’s partners – the City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise, and the University of Edinburgh – are updating their existing masterplan to include a wider mix of uses including an increase in residential and commercial properties planned at the site.

The consultation on the plan will run online – due to current restrictions caused by Covid-19 – between 18 June and 6th July 2020.

Proposals featured as part of the online consultation include the construction of shops, cafés, a gym, hotel, nursery and residential homes set alongside state-of-the-art innovation, teaching and healthcare facilities.

With the commitment of its partners, BioQuarter has already benefitted from over £500million of public capital investment and has a further £300million of investment planned over the next five years.

The site is also home to innovative research including STOPCOVID, a project aiming to test existing and experimental drugs as treatments for Covid-19, spearheaded by the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Inflammation Research.

Commenting on the launch of the consultation, Anna Stamp, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Interim Programme Director, said: “Over the past two decades BioQuarter has grown as a place for health innovation with some of the country’s top medical research and life sciences businesses working together across the site.

“We want your views to help shape BioQuarter’s development. This is an exciting time as we look to create a new community in the city; a vibrant neighbourhood that promotes health and wellbeing and compliments its surrounding areas. We have a unique opportunity here, which, if developed in the right way, can deliver huge benefits to the City, including economic growth, jobs skills and education.

“As part of the development of our Health Innovation District, we want to make sure it includes the right mix of amenities that will ensure it becomes a great new place to live, work and discover.”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I’m delighted to see plans progressing for this hugely exciting project for Edinburgh. I’d encourage everyone to feed into the consultation for this cutting-edge development.

“Life sciences have long been extremely valuable as a sector here in Edinburgh, and the BioQuarter will play a crucial role in its ongoing success. This can make a massive contribution to the ongoing regeneration of the south east of the city.

“This scheme will create a whole new community of people, with access to a vibrant new public square. In addition to this, it’s estimated the development will create around 9,000 new local jobs, with many more construction roles being created while it is being built.”

Consultation-Documents

Those unable to access the plans online can request detail on the development by writing to Edinburgh BioQuarter Programme Team, Community Consultation, NINE, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX.

Scottish lawyer calls for a change in legislation to protect cyclists

An Edinburgh lawyer is calling for the UK to adopt a similar approach to other European countries of presumed liability of drivers when cyclists are involved in a road accident.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic the government has been promoting cycling, not only for its health benefits during lockdown, but also as an alternative to public transport. Personal injury specialist at Thorntons, Michelle Adam, believes that UK roads aren’t set up to deal with an increase in cyclists, meaning there is a higher chance of an accident happening – and cyclists should be protected.

Michelle said: “If the government is serious about increasing the use of bikes, they need to invest in the correct infrastructure to keep cyclists safe – resurfacing roads and creating more designated cycle lanes. Without this, it’s inevitable there will be more accidents.

“At the moment in the UK when a cyclist is involved in an accident with a car or other vehicle, the cyclist needs to prove that the car driver is to blame for the accident. That can sometimes be difficult, particularly if a cyclist is very badly injured and there are no witnesses.

“Across most of Europe however, there is a different approach which is known as presumed liability. That means that a car driver will be liable if they collide with a cyclist. The only way to avoid responsibility is if the driver can prove that the crash was unforeseeable or out of their control. I believe this approach should be adopted in the UK.

“If a cyclist is involved in an accident with a car, they are much more likely to be seriously injured than the car driver. Motor vehicles are heavy pieces of equipment which are full of safety features to protect their passengers, which is not the case for someone on a bike.

“Cyclists should obviously obey the rules of the road and take care for their own safety but they ought not to have the burden of having to prove the other party is at fault. In our changed world, I believe now is the right time to change the law, raise awareness and make all road users safer.

“But for now, if the worst happens and you are knocked off your bike and suffer an injury, you might be entitled to compensation if you can prove the other party is at fault. If you have an accident, try to get names of any witnesses, details of the driver and the registration number of the vehicle involved. These will be useful evidence if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim.”

Step Up and Speak Out For Children plan Father’s Day protest

A newly-formed campaign group is to hold a protest outside the Scottish Parliament tomorrow to highlight their campaign for equal parental custody.

The Step Up & Speak Out for Children event at Holyrood will take place from 10am – 1pm:

Dear Editor

We are a new campaign group aiming to change the Children Act 1989. We have recently discovered that non-residing parents are being consistently let down by the current family law system.

Parents are still using their children as a way of revenge for the breakdown of their relationship and are getting away with it. I, myself was a child victim of the system 30 years ago. And not one thing has improved.

60% of women have admitted to obstructing contact between a child and their father.

Over 1 million children in the UK have zero contact with their father.

Only 21% of child arrangement court orders award joint custody.

Women fight every day for equal rights and opportunities, me being one of them.

However, they still want to hold power over men using dirty tactics and playing God with their children’s lives. We can’t have it all ways.

There has been a significant rise in mothers and fathers violating court orders since the lockdown began. Even though government legislation states that contact can be maintained. By the time the family courts get around to enforcing these orders, lockdown will be over. That is months of love and support lost for a child who needs both parents in their lives.

Women are being encouraged by lawyers to lie in court about domestic abuse so they receive legal aid. This in turn, is preventing the child access to their loving parent for months, sometimes years before the matter is resolved by a judge.

We are fighting to make shared custody mandatory in the breakdown of a relationship, proving that the non-residing parent has parental responsibility to said child.

We are holding a protest this Fathers Day outside the Scottish Parliament Building in unison for all the fathers who are being held hostage by the system and cannot be with their children on Sunday.

It is time that this issue is brought back into the forefront of peoples minds. We need to stand up for our children.

Thank you for reading.

Kindest Regards

Stacey Menelaws,

Step Up & Speak Out For Children

Police: ‘Advice remains – avoid making unnecessary journeys’

Chief Superintendent Sean Scott has reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s message of ‘Stay Safe, Protect Others, Save Lives’ and appeals to the residents of Edinburgh to keep up their excellent level of discipline and compliance as we move into phase 2 of the coronavirus recovery.

Chief Supt. Scott said: “The regulations remain that people should only leave the house for very limited purposes, for example for basic necessities, for exercise or recreation, for medical needs or travelling for work which cannot be done from home.

“The Chief Constable has made it clear that we are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to stay safe, protect others and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.

“Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance. We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation.

“We recognise that people have made significant sacrifices but we would ask they use their judgement and avoid making unnecessary journeys to areas in the city such as Portobello beach, Holyrood Park, The Pentlands and The Meadows.

“I appreciate that young people may be particularly frustrated at the current situation, but please resist the temptation to gather in large numbers as these measures are in place to protect you too.”

First Minister: ‘virus in Scotland is firmly in retreat’

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the media briefing in St Andrew’s House on Friday 19 June:

Everyone, thank you very much for joining us. I am joined today by the Economy Secretary, Fiona Hyslop and our National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch.

Let me give you the usual update on the COVID-19 statistics.

An additional 27 positive cases were confirmed yesterday – that takes the total now in Scotland to 18,104.

A total of 904 patients are currently in hospital with the virus either confirmed or suspected.

That is 25 fewer than yesterday and it includes a reduction of 19 in the number of confirmed cases.

A total of 19 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is 4 fewer than yesterday.

Since 5 March, a total of 3,961 patients who had tested positive and been in hospital have been discharged from hospital

And in the last 24 hours, 6 deaths were registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having COVID-19 – the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, is 2,470.

My deepest condolences are with the families behind these statistics and indeed to everyone who is grieving a loved one because of this illness.

And my thanks go to everyone across our health and care services who continue to care for those affected.

Yesterday I confirmed that we would move into Phase 2 of our exit from lockdown which is good and positive news

That was made possible by the significant progress we have all made over the past three months and I want today again to thank everybody across the country for that.

The virus of course hasn’t gone away that is something we need to continue to keep in our minds but there’s no doubt that the virus in Scotland is firmly in retreat.

That’s why the changes to the rules and the guidance that I announced yesterday, though significant, were also careful because we have to keep the virus in retreat. We have today published the supporting evidence, which informed those decisions that we took and we confirmed yesterday.

Now, I don’t intend to repeat everything I said yesterday, but let me quickly recap on some of the main changes.

The Cabinet Secretary will talk in a moment about the measures that directly affect businesses – and the reopening of our economy.

For my part today, I want to focus on the changes relating to social interaction and leisure.

Ahead of the weekend, just to remind you the new rules for staying safe.

And that’s what we are now asking you to prioritise.

You will see on the lectern in front of me that Stay Home has been replaced with Stay Safe, and now we asking you to focus on Staying Safe, Protecting Others, Saving Lives.

That’s what we are asking you to do. And as we start to go out and about more, we need people to pay more attention to the basic steps we can all take to stay safe.

From today, you can meet with up to two households outdoors – rather than just one.

However, it should be no more than two at a time, and no more than two in a day. And we are still advising that there should be no more than eight people in any group.

The risk of mixed household gatherings indoors is still too great. So these meetings still have to take place outdoors. However, if you are meeting in the garden of another household, we’ve changed the guidance so that you can go indoors to use a toilet.

If you do that – of course – you should avoid touching surfaces, and immediately and thoroughly clean those you do touch. That’s essential in preventing the spread of the virus from one household to another.

We’re continuing at the moment to ask people to stay within or close to their local area. That means – for leisure and recreation purposes – you should be travelling no more than around five miles or so. Although let me stress that limit does not apply to meeting with family and friends.

Those are some of the more general measures which apply from today. But I also want to highlight two sets of changes we’ve made, for specific groups.

The first relates to people who are shielding. The guidance for those individuals remains very different to the general population. And we’re continuing to advise shielding people, to be very cautious because you are most at risk from this virus.

However, we’ve also announced some careful changes, which will hopefully improve your quality of life.

We’ve said that – unless you live in a nursing or residential care home – you are now able to go outdoors for exercise – for example for a walk or cycle.

You can take part in non-contact outdoor activities – such as golf.

And you can meet outdoors with people from one other household – but in groups of no more than eight.

You should stay at least two metres away from other people at all times, even if you live with the person you’re out with. Do not go inside someone else’s house, or allow someone from another household to go inside yours – even to use the toilet.

And when you go outdoors, see if you can choose times and areas that are quiet and that is all for your own safety but I hope these changes do help to make things better for you because this lockdown has been difficult for everyone we know it has been particular hard for those in the shielding category

The other set of changes I want to briefly highlight are those for people who either live alone, or live only with children, under the age of 18.

From today, people in those circumstances are able to form an ‘extended household group’ with one other household.

Within that extended household, people will be able to meet indoors, without physical distancing, and if you want to, you will be able to stay at each other’s houses overnight.

However, you must if you are in one of these household group, continue to see any other households outdoors only, and stay two metres apart from them.

There are also other conditions, which are necessary to make sure this change can work without significantly increasing the risk of the virus passing from one household to another.

An extended household must not include anyone who is shielding because the risk to the shielding population is still too high. No one in an extended household group should form a similar arrangement with any other household. And if one member of the extended household group gets the virus, all of the group will have to isolate – whether or not they are living in the same house.

So within these conditions, there is a positive change that I hope will help with some of the loneliness and isolation that has been a real cruel feature of the past few weeks.

It won’t benefit everyone this change right now but it will benefit a significant number.

For example, it will allow a grandparent who lives on their own to form a group with another household in their family and see grandchildren – and I’m sure many are taking advantage of this already. It will allow a single parent and their children to join with another household for support. And it will allow a non-cohabiting couple, where at least one of them lives alone, to be reunited indoors without the need for physical distancing.

I hope very much we might be able to expand this ‘extended household group’ idea in the not too distant future so it benefits more people and I will keep you updated on that.

All of these changes which I’ve outlined are now in effect. And if you need more information on them, because as we ease lockdown things get more complicated. So if you want more information and detail please go to the Scottish Government’s website where you will find the guidance and the explanation about what you can do safely.

As I said yesterday it is not possible will the best will in the world for us to provide specific guidance for every single individual circumstances so my advice to you to continue to err on the side of caution, and don’t do it.

One of the consequences of easing restrictions, as I’ve just said, is that the things we’re asking you to do will inevitably become more complex. So while we still – of course – want people to stay at home as much as possible, we know that the message we’re giving to you needs to adapt, to reflect the phase we’re now in.

That’s why – as I’ve just said – we are now asking you to ‘stay safe, protect others and save lives’.

And that means it is even more important now that people know – and remember – the different things we need you to do. And so we are launching a new public awareness campaign called FACTS.

Each letter of that word FACTS should serve to remind us all of the key measures we need to comply with. Let me quickly run through them. And those measures are:

Face coverings in enclosed spaces
Avoid crowded places
Clean hands and surfaces regularly
Two metre distancing; and
Self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms.

Remember these FACTS and that will help all of us to stay safe and protect each other as well.

Complying with all of that, will be critical in making sure we keep the virus under control as we start to move back to normal, and that will be important in laying the groundwork and the foundation for further changes that we are going to make in the weeks to come.

I’m going to end with this point.

I’m very aware that as we start to see this virus receding – and as we ease some restrictions – there’s a natural desire to go even faster.

But we cannot afford at this stage to be complacent. This virus is still out there, it has not gone away. And as we gradually remove the restrictions that have kept it under control, there’s a real risk is it could start to circulate again. That’s why we need to proceed with purpose – but also with caution. And we all need to continue to play our part, in suppressing this virus.

In these days and weeks to come, the things we do as an individual will have an impact on all of us and they will determine whether we keep this virus under control. So if we all keep doing the right thing I am more optimistic than I’ve been in a long time that we are now firmly on track to getting normality back into our lives and no doubt that is thanks to your sacrifices and your efforts.

So, thank you again very much indeed.

Healthy Heart Tip: cut down on alcohol

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Cut back on alcohol

There has been a 21% increase in the frequency of alcohol consumption in the UK since the COVID-19 lockdown. It has been suggested that stress and anxiety, as well as changes to our daily routine, are the reasons why some people are drinking more. Too much alcohol can be harmful to your heart as well as contributing to weight gain and mental health problems.

We have some tips to help keep your alcohol consumption within the recommended limits.

How much is too much?

It is recommended that men and women do not consume more than 14 units of alcohol each week, spread out over three or more days. The number of units of alcohol in a drink depends on the size of your drink and the alcohol strength. A pint of strong beer contains around three units of alcohol and a bottle of wine contains around 10 units. More information about alcohol units can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/drink-less/know-your-alcohol-units/

Keep a record of how much you are drinking

Many people don’t really know how much they are drinking or whether their drinking is putting their health at risk. By keeping a record of your weekly alcohol consumption, you will be able to work out whether you need to cut down. You can complete the Drinkaware self-assessment to find out if you are drinking too much HERE.

Pour smaller measures

When you drink alcohol at home, you are in control of the amount you pour into the glass. Try to control the amount of alcohol in your drinks by measuring it out using a measuring jug. A small glass of wine is 125ml (1.6 units), a medium glass of wine is 175ml (2.3 units) and a large glass of wine is 250ml (3.3 units). A 25ml shot of a spirit is 1 unit.

Include more alcohol-free days

If you are drinking every day, or most days, you could include more alcohol-free days each week. Make a plan at the start of the week and decide which days will be alcohol-free. Try to find some low-sugar alcohol-free drinks to enjoy on the days when you do not drink alcohol.

Plan ahead

Before you pour your first drink of the day, set yourself a limit and make sure you stick to it. You could put a post-it note on the bottle to remind yourself when to stop. Try reducing the amount you drink by having a soft drink in between alcoholic drinks and/or dilute your alcoholic drinks with a mixer to slow down your alcohol consumption.

Get help

If you are worried about your own drinking, or if you are concerned about the amount someone else is drinking, you can get advice and support from the NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/

You can find plenty more healthy tips and recipes at heartresearch.org.uk.

Pre-virus Walk to School rates plummet in Scotland

Living Streets Scotland, part of the UK charity for everyday walking, is calling for street improvements around schools ahead of them reopening to avoid gridlock and promote a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes after new data reveals record lows in the number of children walking to school pre-lockdown.

The Hands Up survey – published today but conducted in September 2019 – shows that just 41 per cent of primary school aged children were walking to school before the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak – the LOWEST recorded level – whilst pupils being driven to school was at its HIGHEST recorded level since the survey began at 23.8 per cent.

Living Streets, the UK walking charity behind the biggest walk to school campaign, wants more local authorities to use available funding to implement measures to make walking to school more attractive, including 20mph limits, safer crossings and School Streets – which see cars banned from outside school gates at peak drop off and pick up times.

Stuart Hay, Director of Living Streets Scotland, said: “These results are incredibly disappointing and shows that there is a lot of work to be done to make walking to school a viable option for families across Scotland.

“We know from our work with schools across Scotland that families are put off walking to school by traffic, road danger and air pollution. By removing cars, we remove these barriers.

“When pupils start to return, it’s crucial that our roads aren’t gridlocked and our schools surrounded by dirty air. And by giving space to people – not cars – we can ensure families can physically distance at pick up and drop off.

“School Streets have been successfully implemented by many Scottish local authorities and we want to see others using the funding made available during the pandemic to follow their lead. We need to come out of this crisis stronger than before and we won’t do that by replacing it with crises around inactivity, air pollution and road danger.”

Living Streets Scotland runs WOW – the year-round walk to school challenge in 22 Scottish local authorities. On average, schools which take part in WOW see a 23 per cent increase in the number of children walking to school and a 30 per cent decrease in the number of cars driving up to the school gates.

hands-up-scotland-survey-2019_national-summary-report

LOVE Gorgie Farm ready to reopen

LOVE Gorgie Farm, formerly Gorgie City Farm, is set to reopen its doors on Monday 29^th June as Scotland moves into phase 2 of easing lockdown measures.

Social distancing strategies have been adopted to create a safe environment for visitors and staff. These are temporary and include a one-way system and an open picnic area and other measures to ensure groups of visitors don’t gather too closely. Staff will be using PPE and hand sanitizer will be supplied.

The café will also offer take-away services.

During lockdown the farm has been acting as a focal point for the community, operating as a food bank and delivering free breakfast for children amid school closures. It also provides free pet boarding to those who were unwell or had to be temporarily admitted into hospital.

The farm will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm seven-days a week and visitors will have the opportunity to see pigs, cows, sheep and goats, as well as its fantastic alpacas.

While entry is free a donation is welcomed.

Visitors will also get to see the abundance of food growing and can find some quiets spaces to sit amid nature and learn more about the farm’s future plans.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, the education and social care charity which operates LOVE Gorgie Farm said: “We look forward to welcoming back visitors to LOVE Gorgie Farm at the end of the month. The safety of our staff and visitors is paramount and we have introduced a range of measures to build trust and confidence.

“Lockdown has been a difficult time for everyone and while closed the farm has been a crucial local resource, acting as a food bank and providing free pet boarding. Travel restrictions remain in place and, for the immediate future, the farm will be restricted to welcoming local communities.

“The connection with the environment that we can provide is vital for the well-being of all. This is a first hugely important step in a return to normality and we ask for everyone’s patience and understanding as we resume operations in a way that works for everyone.

“While free, any donation that can be provided will be much appreciated.”

More services to move to New Sick Kids

NHS Lothian has announced that from July 20, a number of children’s outpatient services will move to the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) at the same time as remaining services from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN) complete their move.

A phased move will see some Children’s outpatient services, including Neurology and Orthopaedics migrate, along with a number of administrative support staff.

The plan, which has been agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams, will not only help to free up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but will enable NHS Lothian to continue to deliver paediatric clinics in a way which fully adheres to and supports social distancing.

Susan Goldsmith, Director of Finance and Executive Lead for the project, NHS Lothian, said: “Delays to the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People have been well publicised, but today we celebrate this important milestone for children’s services in Lothian.

“We are delighted to make this announcement, and look forward to welcoming our first outpatients in July, who will be able to benefit from the fantastic facilities and surroundings on offer. It goes without saying that this move would not be possible without the continued hard work and support from our project team, as well as the contractors on site.

“Whilst we celebrate this moment, I know many people will be wondering when the rest of our children’s services will open at the new site. It very much remains our aim to complete the full migration of children’s services to the RHCYP in the Autumn. We are mindful, however, of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, which may yet impact supply chains and the pace of work, as contractors on site observe safe social distancing, but at present the work is progressing on track.”

The final phase of the move of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN) will also take place in mid-July. This will see inpatient Neurosurgery and Neurology wards, along with Neurosurgery Theatres and Interventional Neuro-Radiology relocated to their new home from July 13. The very few remaining DCN outpatient services will also make the transition from the Western General Hospital to the Edinburgh Bio Quarter site at Little France.

Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer, Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “This will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the provision of these highly specialised services for our patients.

“It will also represent a huge moment for those DCN staff who have remained at the Western General Hospital to support our Covid-19 response. They are really looking forward to providing world class treatment and care in superb facilities at the new Department of Clinical Neurosciences.”

FAQs on Children’s Services Outpatients Move

How do I know where my child’s appointment will be?

Your appointment letter will tell you where your child’s appointment is being held. If it is to be held at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, you will also receive a phone call to make sure you know where you are going.

Is there parking available?

Parking is available on site. Parking stewards will direct you to the most appropriate car park. A small number of spaces are also bookable in advance, but these are reserved for patients with the greatest need based on clinical priority.

With COVID ongoing, is it safe to bring my child to hospital?

Yes. We have separate areas for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and for those who have not. There are also a range of enhanced infection control measures in place, such as staggered appointment times to limit the number of people in any one area of the building, physical distancing within waiting areas and enhanced cleaning in consulting rooms between each patient.

My child has an appointment in August, does this automatically mean it will be in the new building?

No. Although most outpatient services will be moving in July, some will remain at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, until the new building is ready to be opened to all services, including inpatients. This is because some services need access to other clinical support, which will not be moving until the whole building is open. Departments that will not be moving in July include, but are not limited to: Pain, Respiratory (asthma, allergy, CF), Cardiology, Haematology Oncology, Plastics and Plastics dressings clinic.

Does the move mean that the reported problems in the building have been fixed?

Our project team, as well as the contractors on site, are continuing to work on the final stages of the remedial and enhancement work. Once this has been completed, and following final commissioning, the second phase of the move will take place. At this point, those Children’s services still situated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site will migrate to the new building.

Why has everything not moved across to the new building?

Remedial and enhancement work is still taking place at the new building, which means that some services cannot move at this time.

If my child has an emergency, where do I go?

Children’s Emergency Services remain at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes. If you need to access this service, you should continue to do so at the old site. There are no Emergency Services at the new building within the Little France site at this time.

Does this move set in motion a timeline for the full building to be open and can you tell us when that will be?

This is the first phase in the move of our Children’s Services to the Little France site. We have made significant progress on the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN). It is possible that changes may have to be made to the work programme and the delivery of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

It has been reported that the RHCYP building will be opening in Autumn 2020, are things on track for then?

Possible changes may have to be made to the programme and the delivery of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

Given the current climate, this may not come as a surprise, but because of the complexities involved and the impact of COVID-19, which could never have been predicted, the timeline for a full handover is under review.

A revised works programme is being established, which will be as close to the Autumn timeline as possible.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The moving of services to the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children is long overdue, but I am glad that this could finally present the beginning of the end of what has been a national scandal surrounding the SNP Governments mismanagement of the new Sick Kids Hospital.

“It is vital assurances are provided surrounding the remedial works and inspection regime at the hospital so that it adheres to the highest health and safety standards. I will be seeking assurances from SNP Ministers before patients and staff move to the hospital.

“Above all families across the East of Scotland will welcome the fact that we hopefully will soon see the full opening of a state of the art hospital to help our NHS professionals provide the care and treatment for our loved ones that we all want to see.

“I look forward to visiting the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children once lockdown measures have been eased and it is safe to do so.”

Generations must work together to tackle loneliness, says Esther Rantzen

Almost a third of Scots feel lonely at least once a week, with just under half never telling anyone about it, according to research commissioned by People’s Postcode Lottery
Nine out of ten Scots are unaware of services operating in their area that can provide support for those affected by loneliness
Charities Childline and The Silver Line share their tips, and encourage Scots to get in touch if they are suffering in silence

Campaigner and broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen has urged Scots of every generation to work together to fight loneliness, as the nation slowly begins to emerge from lockdown.

She suffered from loneliness herself after the death of her husband, and says “It was very difficult for me to admit, because there is a real stigma which prevents people from talking about it. Since the pandemic loneliness has affected more and more people, so now we all need to reach out to each other to make sure everyone knows they are cared about and valued.”

As founder of Childline and The Silver Line, Dame Esther’s call comes as newly published research shows how loneliness affects different generations. It also reveals that many of those who regularly suffer from loneliness are reluctant to talk about it.

The data from People’s Postcode Lottery, which was compiled pre lockdown, found that loneliness is a cross-generational issue.

Almost a third of Scots (32%) feel lonely at least once a week and almost half (47%) at least once a month. Just under half (43%) of the those that experienced loneliness in the past year hadn’t told anyone about it because they didn’t want to burden others, while almost a quarter (24%) didn’t think it was a serious problem.

More than a quarter (28%) of Scots admit they have not met a new person in the last six to twelve months, with over two fifths (41%) saying this was down to lack of confidence or being too shy.

Worryingly, more than nine out of 10 Scots (91%) say they are not aware of support services in their area aimed at helping those who experience loneliness. This is slightly above the UK’s average of 87%.

The data also reveals a similar picture of loneliness across the UK. More than a third (39%) of 16-24-year-olds in the UK who had experienced loneliness have not told anyone about it because they didn’t want to burden others. A similar number (38%) said they were too embarrassed to speak about it.

When it comes to older generations in the UK, the research found that a fifth (20%) of 65-74-year-olds, and one in eight (15%) of over 75-year-olds, experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week.

Since lockdown began in mid-March more people are expected to be experiencing feelings of isolation, a result of the safety measures in place that limit contact with friends, family and work colleagues.

The charity The Silver Line, which operates a 24/7 helpline and telephone friendship services for lonely older people, has seen demand for its helpline increase by up to 31% since the pandemic began.

Similarly, The NSPCC’s Childline service has also counselled nearly 7,000 young people and children struggling during the pandemic, as many report how lonely they feel despite everyone being at home and households feeling chaotic.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of The Silver Line and Childline, said: “Loneliness doesn’t discriminate and can happen to anyone, at any age. We want to end social isolation and provide the emotional support and social opportunities that can help lift the spirits during what is a hugely challenging time for many.

“For older people loneliness can be a downside of living for a long time, as you might outlive many of the people who have mattered most to you, and it is almost impossible to replace such special relationships.

“Illness and disability might also make it harder to get out and about to see family and friends, meaning older people might feel they are on their own more than they used to be.

“Thanks to the support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, both The Silver Line and Childline can continue to support those that need advice or support when they’re feeling lonely, whether it’s during this crisis or in their daily lives.

“From one-on-one phone calls, to tips on how to stay active during lockdown, we want to help people of all ages feel better. We’re also encouraging young people looking after their elders, and vice versa. The Silver Line and Childline will provide the tools needed to identify the signs of loneliness as we work within our communities to provide cross-generational support and beat loneliness together.”

The players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £5.5million over the past year for 32 charities working to tackle loneliness – including the national galleries of Scotland, national museums Scotland, V&A Dundee (above), Sistema Scotland, Children 1st and Edinburgh International Book Festival – and is working with The Silver Line and Childline to support everyone experiencing isolating feelings during this challenging time.

Clara Govier, managing director and chair of People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Feelings of loneliness can impact anyone, no matter your age. The surge in demand reported by charities over the past three months highlights how vital it is that we address this cross-generational problem.

“Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we are able to provide the essential funding required to support charities as we all continue working together to eradicate loneliness.”

If you are experiencing loneliness, or are concerned for someone else, please contact The Silver Line’s helpline on 0800 470 80 90 to access support. Young people can contact Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit childline.org.uk.

For more information on People’s Postcode Lottery, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk or Facebook and Twitter.

Tips to help people with loneliness

Childline: Ways to help a child or a young person who’s struggling include:

Letting them know you’re there for them and are on their side by talking to them over text or on the phone if they don’t feel able to talk in person
Being patient and staying calm and approachable, even if their behaviour upsets you. Do this by recognising that their feelings are valid and letting them know it’s okay for them to be honest about what it’s like for them to feel this way
Thinking of healthy ways to cope you could do together, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness
Encouraging them to talk to their GP, someone at their school or Childline, especially if they’re finding it hard to talk at home
Take care of yourself and get support if you need to. Try not to blame yourself for what’s happening and stay hopeful about your child’s recovery

The Silver Line – Ways to help an older people who’s struggling include:

Keep in touch: phone your older relatives and friends to ask how they are – set up a rota with family and friends to make sure someone is regularly checking on them. Talking to others is a great way to relive old memories and remind everyone of the positive things in life.

Show you care: by writing letters, sending postcards, or checking if someone needs any shopping or errands run. Simply being there for someone can be a great comfort and reassurance.

Help family and friends get online: if older friends and family aren’t connected to the internet you may want to speak to them about getting an internet-enabled device so you can chat more easily and they might enjoy online classes or groups. It’s important to think about what your friend or relative might want to use their device for and how confident they feel with technology. Be aware of the signs of loneliness: the lockdown has brought changes to everyone’s normal activities and routines but there are some clues that could indicate a person is feeling lonely, such as someone neglecting their appearance or personal hygiene, not eating properly or putting themselves down.

Share The Silver Line Helpline number: For a cheerful chat, day or night, older people can call The Silver Line: 0800 470 80 90. The Charity also offers telephone friendship with weekly chats with a friendly and supportive volunteer.