Month: December 2020

PDSA passes 500,000 remote appointment milestone

PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has carried out a remarkable 500,000 phone appointments since the start of lockdown, as demand for the charity’s services has surged due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the charity – which provides free and low cost vet care to the pets of owners who are suffering from financial hardship – introduced a new phone appointment system back in March during the first lockdown.

Since then, the scheme has meant over half a million remote appointments have been provided to poorly pets and their owners, ensuring they could still receive the vital veterinary advice they needed, despite lockdown restrictions. 

PDSA Vet, Paul Manktelow, said: “Sadly, even during a pandemic, our pets can still become sick or get injured and need urgent veterinary treatment.

“When the first lockdown started looming, it was clear that we needed to drastically adapt the way we worked across our 48 Pet Hospitals around the UK to help keep everyone safe and help stop the spread of Covid-19, while still providing support to desperate pet owners seeking our help.

“Providing remote consults has allowed pets to access the essential veterinary care they need, while freeing up the space and time needed in our pet hospitals to treat the sickest pets and emergencies in a socially distant manner..

“Thanks to kind support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we were able to quickly develop new ways of working, allowing many of our dedicated vets and nurses to work from home providing vital pet advice remotely.

“Leading into the first lockdown we started offering our first remote consultations. Within weeks we were delivering around 2,000 phone appointments daily, which has now risen to over 2,300 a day.”

Remote consultations have enabled PDSA staff to help all but the most serious cases over the phone, offering advice, and posting out or delivering essential medications. This ensured the charity could keep their vet teams, owners and pets safe while continuing to provide life-saving emergency treatments at its Pet Hospitals.

Hazel Johnstone, Longterm Partnerships Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Pets have been a lifeline for so many people during the lockdowns this year – providing companionship and helping improve mental wellbeing for owners during incredibly difficult times. 

“So for those who face financial hardship causing increased worry when a pet falls ill during the pandemic, it’s vital they’re able to continue to access veterinary care. By supporting the development of these remote consults for PDSA, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have ensured that hundreds of thousands of pet owners always have somewhere to turn, even during the darkest of times.”

But PDSA is now facing a double threat – the pandemic has resulted in PDSA’s income decreasing by £3m a month in 2020 due to all fundraising events being cancelled and its charity shops temporarily closing their doors.

This is coupled with an expected increase in unprecedented demand for its services as many more pet owners fall on hard times.

PDSA Vet Paul Manktelow continued: “Delivering half a million remote appointments in eight months just shows what vital assistance PDSA provides for a huge number of pet owners. For many, we are their only emergency service – a safety net when times are tough, but we rely entirely on generous public support to keep our charitable veterinary services running.

“As we enter what is likely to be a challenging winter, we know many people are facing extremely difficult times through no fault of their own, and their pets are a lifeline, providing unconditional love and comfort during these worrying times. We greatly appreciate every donation, to help us to continue to be there for much-loved pets in need.”

To find out more about PDSA, its Pet Care Crisis Emergency Appeal and how you can help, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/whywematter

Forth Ports add ‘sparkle’ to Cash for Kids campaign with 2k boost

Staff at Forth Ports have provided a vital cash boost to this year’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign in Edinburgh.

The company was scheduled to become a co-sponsor at this year’s Cash for Kids Sparkle ball, but the cancellation of the event due to COVID-19 restrictions, failed to stop team members from digging deep for young people in need of support.

The company has handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Charity Manager Victoria Hendry as a ‘pre-pledge’. Meanwhile, staff at Forth Ports bases in Leith, Rosyth and Grangemouth have already raised more than £400 through their own Just Giving page and are promising to raise even more and help as many children as possible throughout December. 

Cathy Ilett, Learning and Development Manager at Forth Ports, said: “We’re delighted that Forth Ports has the opportunity to continue to contribute to Cash for Kids and support children and young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limited illness and those who have additional needs. 

“We know that our pre-pledge will go directly into having a positive impact in their  lives and our community. We take pride in our role within the community and our people fully embrace the opportunity to participate in fundraising throughout the year, but especially at Christmas.”

In addition to fundraising, staff members from Forth Ports have volunteered to assist with the herculean effort of collecting and sorting the thousands of gifts that have started arriving at Mission Christmas HQ in Edinburgh’s Gyle Shopping Centre. 

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids, said: “Last year, through a combination of gift drop-offs and cash donations, more than £1.1 million worth of toys were handed out in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland, helping a staggering 25,386 children.

“COVID-19 really hampered our fundraising drives throughout 2020 and we were worried Mission Christmas might not be able to go ahead. Thankfully, its all systems go, with a raft of additional safety measures in place.

“We wouldn’t be able to do any of this if it wasn’t for the support of volunteers and businesses like Forth Ports. In addition to offering an amazing initial donation, they’re helping us with the huge operational task of ensuring no child in  the region wakes up on Christmas Day without a gift. We’re eternally grateful to them.” 

TUC: Don’t repeat mistakes of Test and Trace by outsourcing Covid-19 vaccine programme

The TUC has warned the UK government against repeating the mistakes of Test and Trace by outsourcing the Covid-19 vaccine programme.

The union body says ministers must learn the lessons from the failures of Test and Trace and PPE provision by ensuring the design and delivery of the vaccination programme is led by public health professionals not private contractors.

The TUC has today published a five-step plan the government should take to ensure effective distribution and take-up of the vaccine:

1. Empower local public health teams to take the lead: Local directors of public health must be given a central role in co-ordinating the vaccination programme and not be “marginalised” like under Test and Trace, says the TUC.

Local public health teams have consistently proven more effective at outreach than the centralised Test and Trace system – with contact rates of over 90% compared to 60% for services run by Serco. But they have been forced to make do with small and piecemeal amounts of money in comparison to the billions handed to Serco.

With the vaccine likely to require significant outreach work at community level, local public health teams must be given the funding they need to run large-scale vaccination programmes.

2. Improve supply chains: The NHS’s fragmented and privatised supply chains massively slowed down the supply of PPE to frontline staff during the first wave of the crisis.

To avoid similar delays with the supply of the vaccine ministers should look at using public fleets as appropriate.

3. Trained healthcare staff should administer the vaccine: The effectiveness of Test and Trace has been hugely undermined by private companies drafting in non-healthcare staff with minimal training, says the TUC.

The union body says any expansion in staff able to administer vaccines should be overseen and organised by NHS organisations or local authorities.

Training non-health workers to give vaccines should be only a last resort, with options such as bringing health workers back from retirement considered first.

4. Persuade and support people to get the vaccine: Compliance with the vaccination programme should be achieved through persuasion not compulsion, says the TUC.

Getting vaccinated must not be made a condition of employment or access to public services.  

And staff should be given paid time-off to get vaccinated.

5. Build public trust: A high level of engagement and compliance will be essential for the vaccination programme to be successful.

Trust and confidence in the vaccination system is most likely to be maximised by a system designed and led by public health professionals.

Public health experts should lead on communications around vaccination roll out and the impact. This will help avoid the politicisation of announcements and ensure that public expectations are realistic. And there should be transparency and a public discussion about who is prioritised for the vaccine.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We all have a shared interest in getting the vaccine programme right. It’s our only shot at getting life back to normal.But that means learning the lessons from the failures of Test and Trace and PPE provision.


“The best way to deliver an effective rollout – and build public trust in the vaccine – is for local public health teams to run it. They know their communities best and are best placed to reach them.


“Outsourcing Test and Trace to private contractors has caused huge problems. We cannot afford the same mistake to be made with the delivery of the vaccine.”

On the need to provide persuasion and support, Frances O’Grady added: “The Test and Trace programme has not supported people to do the right thing. People are still not being given the level of sick pay they need to self-isolate and are then hit with large fines for not complying.

“We need a sea-change of approach when it comes to the vaccine.

“People need to be persuaded, not forced into taking it. Allowing workers paid-time off to get vaccinated will help make things easier.”

A Christmas Memory Tree at Inverleith St. Serf’s Church

Memory Tree:- December 14th -27th December

A Christmas Tree will be placed in the church garden offering individuals an opportunity to hang a wooden heart in memory of their loved one. The hearts can be hung upon the tree at any time during the above dates.

Collection of Wooden hearts:

These will be available for collection from the Church Centre on Friday 11th December, 1-30-3.30pm & on Saturday 12th December, 10am-12 noon.

Please take the heart home to write your message using a permanent marker. You may find it helpful to take a photo of the heart on the tree. This allows you to share the photo with members of your family.

Hanging & Removing the Wooden Hearts:

Please use hand sanitiser before and after hanging the wooden heart. This helps us to ensure good hand hygiene procedures.

The tree will be dismantled on 28th December and all wooden hearts will be disposed of, unless collected prior to this date.

Virtual Service: Wed. 16th December, 7pm

A recorded service will be uploaded to Inverleith St. Serf’s FB page. You are invited to join us in this collective worship opportunity as we give thanks and remember our loved ones.

Citizens Assembly to hold final meeting today

The Citizens Assembly will meet for Weekend 8 today – Saturday 5 December. Convener Kate Wimpress has written a blog where she provides an overview of the weekend (see below). 

We will be livestreaming the plenary sessions on our website, 

www.citizensassembly.scot 

and materials for the Assembly that members will use, are also available to view online.

Convener Kate Wimpress (above) said: “I am very much looking forward to the last meeting of the Citizens’ Assembly.

“Members will be meeting online on Saturday, 5th December, to discuss support for the final recommendations to advance their vision for Scotland. This is the culmination of the remarkable journey we have taken, together, as Scotland’s first  Assembly. As usual, we will be livestreaming the plenary sessions on our website: www.citizensassembly.scot

“Members will be reading out their recommendations, and it will be a privilege to hear the recommendations, formed through careful deliberation, shared in their own voice. They will also be voting on the levels of support for each recommendations agreed during weekend 7. 

“The recommendations are varied and speak to a number of broad themes: 

How decisions are taken 

  • Recommendations about improving citizen participation, the provision of information, and accountability in our political institutions.

Constitutional issues 

  • Some recommendations explicitly call for further powers, for example, around taxation and negotiating  trade agreements. Others call for changes in areas that are currently reserved, including aspects of employment law, incomes and regulation of utilities to support environmental objectives. 

Building a sustainable country  

  • A range of recommendations about environmental sustainability.

Tax and economy  

  • Recommendations on changes to, and improving the understanding of, the tax system

Income and poverty

  • Recommendations covering a range of action to address poverty including to improve information on poverty and relating to income and employment.

Helping people to realise their potential 

  • A broad range of recommendations, including around education and training for young people, and action around health and wellbeing, the NHS, and wider health services 

“There is a great deal of detail within each of the  themes and members will be finalising their recommendations during Weekend 8.

“The final report will incorporate the Assembly vision and the recommendations, alongside a description of how the process worked, and reflections from Members on their journey. It is to be published early next month, presented to the Scottish Government and Parliament, and debated in the Scottish Parliament.  

“We are making plans for communicating the final reports and our subscribers will be kept up to date with all the latest developments.

“In the meantime, we will continue to promote the Assembly across our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram social media channels.”

The Right Care in the Right Place

A&E always there for those who need it

The way people access A&E services is changing to keep patients and NHS Scotland safe this winter – making sure everyone gets the right care in the right place.

Local A&E departments remain open for those who have a life-threatening emergency. 

However, to ensure patients have the fastest access to the treatment they need, anyone with a non-life threatening condition who would usually go to A&E should now call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night, to be directed to the right NHS service. 

If A&E is the most appropriate place to provide the right care, patients will either be directly referred to A&E by NHS 24 or a telephone or video consultation with a senior clinical decision maker. 

The remote consultation approach is designed to avoid unnecessary waits in crowded waiting areas and offer care much closer to home whenever possible. If senior clinical decision makers determine the patient needs to go to A&E, they may be offered an appointment to attend, and the team will know to expect them so they can be seen directly at that time.

NHS 24 on 111 is also there for those who need urgent medical attention but can’t wait for their GP practice or dentist to re-open.  

Those with life-threatening conditions including suspected heart attacks or strokes, severe breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, or severe injury should continue to go straight to A&E or call 999.

This new way of delivering urgent care –  which is being supported by a £20 million funding package – has been designed to help people get the right care in the right place this winter, at time when there is increased pressure on NHS services.

From December, the public are asked to:

  • use the NHS inform website to access advice on common symptoms, guidance for self-help and where to go if further medical care is needed
  • contact their local GP practice during the day for an appointment or over-the-phone advice
  • call 111 day or night when they think they need A&E but it is not life-threatening
  • call 111 and select the Mental Health Hub to access mental health advice and guidance or call the Breathing Space telephone helpline on 0800 83 85 87
  • call 111 or use NHS inform out of hours when they are too ill to wait for their GP practice to open, or for worsening symptoms of COVID-19
  • use NHSinform.scot to access the location of their local minor injuries unit for non-life threatening but painful injuries such as a deep cut, a broken or sprained ankle or a painful burn injury

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“The NHS is always there for you. However, for many of us, A&E is not the right place for the care we need. That is why we are making it easier to get the right care in the right place. From December, if you think you need to go to A&E for care that is not life-threatening, the NHS 24 telephone service on 111 will be available day and night to direct you to the care you need.

“Your GP Practice is also always there for you and can be contacted for urgent but non-life threatening conditions. However, in an emergency, you should continue to call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department.

“By doing so, we will continue to help our doctors and nurses through this pandemic, and ensure A&E provides the fastest and most appropriate care for people when they really need it. Help us keep you and our NHS safe by making the right call at the right time to access the right care in the right place for you and your family.”

More information on the Redesign of Urgent Care Programme is available online.

West Approach Road hit and run: man charged

Police in Edinburgh have confirmed that a 44-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a hit and run on the West Approach Road.

The incident happened around 4.40pm on Friday, 6th November, 2020, when a car struck a six-year-old pedestrian. The boy was taken to hospital for treatment of facial injuries.

The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Scottish disability programme honoured at UK Coaching Awards

A programme designed to keep disabled people physically active during the coronavirus pandemic has been recognised for its positive impact, taking home the Coaching for an Active Life Award at this year’s UK Coaching Awards.

The prestigious annual celebration of Great Coaching, which showcases the diverse work of coaches, projects and organisations making a huge difference to the health and happiness of the nation, was held virtually on Thursday, 3 December.

Scottish Disability Sport’s ‘Be Active, Be Well’ programme was created to ensure participants with a disability were able to stay active, to encourage the physically inactive to become active and to combat social isolation during the pandemic.

Working in partnership with the Scottish Association of Mental Health, individuals were encouraged to take part in daily activity sessions, including yoga, wheelchair-based activity, stretching and HIIT, as well as weekly mental well-being sessions.


Reacting to the news, Scottish Disability Sport CEO Gavin Macleod, said: “We’re really honoured to be the recipient. It’s a prestigious UK-wide award and is a testament to the work undertaken by staff at SDS.

“The Be Active, Be Well programme really encapsulates how we’ve tried to reach out, connect and support participants that are shielding or were struggling during the lockdown period. We have good working relationships with the governing bodies, coaches and the volunteers, so encouraging them to get involved [in the programme] was relatively easy.

“The satisfaction for me is that a programme we’ve put in place in Scotland has been recognised on a UK level.”



Reflecting on this year’s awards, UK Coaching’s Director of Coaching Emma Atkins, said: “Our heartfelt congratulations to Scottish Disability Sport and all of our winners and finalists. What you’ve all achieved in this extremely difficult year is superb. 

“You and the rest of the 3 million coaches in the UK have gone beyond the call of duty to make sure your participants didn’t lose momentum with their sport and physical activity goals and ambitions or weren’t isolated from the social-side of activity.

“You realised that for your participants, and indeed yourselves, coaching and staying active isn’t just a hobby or a past-time, it’s a way of life that deeply affects mental and physical well-being. 

“We applaud you for your efforts, your inspirational resilience and the way you conducted yourself without fuss or fanfare.

“As we move towards Christmas and the new year, our message to the British public is don’t forget to thank your coach for the positive impact they’re having on yours and other people’s lives. Be kind, support one another and stay connected – we’re here for the coach.”

Winners on the night were:

Awards for Coaches:

Children and Young People’s Coach of the Year 

Tom Bowen-Hall (rugby union) (Wiltshire, Melksham)

Community Coach of the Year 

Prina Karia (badminton) (East Midlands, Leicester)

Changing Lives Award 

Scott Burns (rugby league) (Greater Manchester, Wigan)

Talent Development Coach of the Year

Emma Collings-Barnes (swimming) (Devon, Tavistock)

High Performance Coach of the Year – supported by UK Sport

Peter Rome (wheelchair fencing) (West Midlands, Coventry)

Young Coach of the Year – supported by Sport Wales

Amy Moulton (gymnastics) (Somerset, Yeovil)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Donald Park (football) (Scotland, Lochaber)

The Coaching Chain

Marcus Rashford (football) – Colin Little, Dave Bushell, David Horrocks, Eamon Mulvey, Louis van Gaal, Maria Kelly, Neil Harris, Paul McGuinness, Stuart Leicester, Tarun Kapur and Tony Whelan. 

Awards in Support of Coaches:

Coach Developer of the Year

Sarah Green (netball) (East Midlands, Nottingham)

Transforming Coaching Award 

ECB – Cities Programme Team

Coaching for an Active Life Award

Scottish Disability Sport – Be Active, Be Well

Edinburgh children urged to sign up for free online STEM resources

Amazon’s development centre in Edinburgh is encouraging children in Edinburgh to get involved in free STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) resources the company has launched to help students improve their maths skills, learn how to code, and develop their career aspirations over the winter school holidays.  

In many circumstances, children’s education has been impacted by COVID-19, with schools and families trying to catch up following lockdown and related closures and absences. One report from Ofsted highlighted the worst-case scenarios, reporting that some school children had lost basic skills and learning as a result of school closures caused by the pandemic. 

Speaking on the donation, Graeme Smith, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, said: “At Amazon, we are passionate about education and learning, so we have brought charities and educational institutions together with our Maths4All and Amazon Future Engineer programmes to provide a fun way for children to learn and get a head start with maths, computer science and coding.

“On behalf of the team at Edinburgh, we want to encourage the young learners and families in Edinburgh to make the most of these free and easily-accessible resources to keep learning while having fun over the school holidays” 

What is Amazon offering?

·       Amazon has expanded Amazon Maths4All beyond the free resources for primary school children and now also offers secondary school students free educational materials. Amazon Maths4All offers hundreds of worksheets on Kindle and Fire Tablets, new maths challenges on Alexa, apps and games for school pupils, and given the restrictions in place and uncertainty around the holidays, these resources aim to supplement student’s learning and development. The initiative is run in partnership with several organisations including Open University, Conquer Maths, White Rose Maths, Dr Frost and Cazoom Maths.

·      Amazon has also launched the Cyber Robotics Challenge to provide students with a free, three-hour virtual challenge to learn the basics of programming as part of Amazon Future Engineer. Recommended for anyone aged eight and above, young learners are asked to code an Amazon Hercules robot to deliver a friend’s birthday present on time. This challenge is the first of its kind and teaches students coding and computer science in a real-world setting.

·       With Alexa, you can also open the skill ‘Maths Coach’, which helps your mathematical brain stay active with five levels of difficulty. To get started, use a phrase like “Alexa, ask the Maths Coach to start a test” or “Alexa, ask the Maths Coach for a hard addition test”. For some light-hearted learning you can also ask “Alexa, tell me a fact about maths?”, “Alexa, tell me a joke about maths” or “Alexa, rap about pi”.

·       Amazon has also just launched The Amazon Longitude Explorer Prize, delivered by Nesta Challenges, which calls on young bright minds to put their passion for STEM subjects to the test by creating and developing technological innovations to help solve some of the world’s biggest issues from climate change to aging populations.

The programme aims to reach students aged 11-16 across the UK and hopes to provide young people from all backgrounds with an introduction to the possibilities of entrepreneurship in STEM and children can form team and enter the virtual competition until 12 February. 

Special Drop-in Children’s Flu Clinic for Missed Appointments

Parents of children aged 2-5 living in Edinburgh, who missed a child flu vaccine appointment, are being invited to attend a new drop-in vaccination clinic this weekend (Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December).

NHS Lothian is organising the session at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People to offer parents another opportunity to make sure their child is protected against flu this winter.

The clinic is specifically for children who are registered with an Edinburgh GP but were unable to attend a previously scheduled appointment time.

Pat Wynne, Nurse Director, Primary and Community Care, said: “Flu is very infectious and can be serious. Even healthy children can become ill, which can be very unpleasant for them, and they can spread it to family.

“This winter it’s more important than ever to prevent people getting the flu, particularly because of coronavirus.  The best way to protect your child and others who are vulnerable is to get vaccinated.”

“We understand that parents are really busy and might not have been able to make an appointment. To help make sure they don’t miss out we’re putting on this extra flu vaccination clinic.”

The children’s flu vaccine is safe and effective. It is offered free every year as a simple, painless, nasal spray to children to help protect them from getting and spreading the flu.

In Edinburgh, parents of children aged between and 2 and 5 years old, who are not yet in school, will have received a letter to attend a scheduled appointment at a children’s flu clinic in the city.

Anyone who has received a letter to attend a child flu vaccine appointment at a clinic after 6th December should continue to attend that as normal.  Children who require a flu vaccine by injection for medical or religious reasons, should approach their GP practice.

Pat Wynne, Nurse Director, Primary and Community Care, added: “As this is a drop-in clinic there might be short wait for parents, but we strongly encourage anyone who has missed their appointment to take up this opportunity and to attend over the weekend.”

The drop-in children’s flu vaccination clinic is being held between 9am and 4pm at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA.  

The drop-in is only for children aged 2-5yrs (and not yet at school) registered with an Edinburgh GP Practice who have missed a flu vaccination appointment.