Nuromol will become available without the need to visit a pharmacy
Following a public consultation, the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is making Nuromol, a medicine that contains 200mg of ibuprofen and 500mg of paracetamol per tablet available without the need to visit a pharmacy.
Dr Sarah Branch, Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA, said: “This reclassification to general sales list will help people to manage their pain where paracetamol or ibuprofen alone have not provided adequate pain relief.
“Wider availability of medicinal products and improved patient access and choice remain high on the health agenda. The MHRA is committed to improving access to medicinal products for self-care where it is safe to do so.”
Nuromol is used for the temporary relief of mild to moderate pain associated with migraine, headache, backache, period pain, dental pain, rheumatic and muscular pain, pain of non-serious arthritis, cold and flu symptoms, sore throat, and fever when paracetamol or ibuprofen alone have not provided adequate pain relief.
While most people can take paracetamol, ibuprofen is not suitable for everyone, and it is also important that people do not exceed the recommended dose of 1 or 2 tablets not more than 3 times a day.
Patients are also advised not to take more than one paracetamol-containing medicine at the same time.
The MHRA’s decision to reclassify this product follows a review by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and a public consultation. The CHM advises ministers on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal products.
Uswitch.com reveals the best family-friendly eco-attractions in the United Kingdom, ranking each attraction out of 100
The attraction ranking in first place, with 71 points, is GreenWood Family Park based in Gwynedd, Wales
The second-best eco-friendly attraction is Pensthorpe Natural Park in Norfolk, with a score of 64 out of 100
Wildwood Trust in Kent, ranks third with a total score of 53 points out of 100
A quarter (24%)[1] of all analysed reviews praised the attractions’ eco-conscious factors, such as educational information and sustainable ethos[2]
Find out how you and your family could be more eco-friendly by reducing your personal carbon footprint with the Uswitch Carbon Footprint Calculator
The summer holidays can often be overwhelming for parents who don’t know where to take their children for a fun-filled family day out, so Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service, have analysed the best eco-friendly attractions for parents and children to enjoy.
Uswitch.com experts scraped TripAdvisor reviews for eco-friendly attractions in the UK[3], monitoring keywords and phrases that reflect having a great family visit[4]. Over 34,000 four and five-star reviews were analysed, with six categories to determine a family-friendly eco-friendly attraction – Enjoyability, Family compatibility, Food availability, Affordability, Conservation and eco-friendly components and Cleanliness[5].
Table 1: The UK’s eco-friendly attractions, ranked
Rank
Attraction
Location
Percentage of reviews mentioning keywords and phrases in each category
FinalScore
Enjoyability
Family-friendly
Food availability
Affordability
Eco-friendly components
Cleanliness
1
GreenWood Family Park
Gwynedd
78%
73%
80%
5%
38%
14%
71
2
Pensthorpe Natural Park
Norfolk
64%
53%
79%
4%
56%
8%
64
3
Wildwood Trust
Kent
53%
47%
63%
4%
76%
5%
53
4
The Eden Project
Cornwall
43%
27%
63%
7%
23%
3%
40
5
The Living Rainforest
Berkshire
40%
38%
56%
4%
52%
4%
37
6
Centre for Alternative Technology
Powys
42%
32%
59%
2%
24%
6%
35
7
Markshall Estate
Braintree
42%
27%
64%
4%
20%
6%
35
8
National Botanic Garden of Wales
Carmarthenshire
48%
24%
70%
3%
20%
5%
35
9
The Royal Botanic Gardens
London
38%
18%
56%
4%
21%
3%
20
10
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Edinburgh
26%
11%
43%
1%
15%
2%
6
Source: Uswitch.com
GreenWood Family Park in Gwynedd scored the highest of all the attractions with 71 points out of 100. This is no surprise since the park is home to two spectacular attractions: the world’s first people-powered rollercoaster, and Wales’s longest sled run.
The park’s Enjoyability factor was notable, with three quarters of reviews mentioning how fun (78%) or family-friendly the park is (73%), and even more favoured the quality of food (80%).
Norfolk’s Pensthorpe Natural Park scored 64, awarding itself second place in the eco-attraction rankings.
Four-fifths of reviews (79%) praised the quality of food, while over half (53%) cited the family-friendly nature of the attraction. In line with this, over three-fifths (64%) applauded the park for its fun factor.
The Park gained a mediocre score on affordability, with 4% of reviews showing negativity towards the cost of the attraction.
Table 2: The top-scoring attraction for each category analysed
Category analysed
Top scoring attraction
Location
Percentage of reviews relating to the category
Enjoyability
GreenWood Family Park
Gwynedd
78%
Family-friendly
GreenWood Family Park
Gwynedd
73%
Food availability
GreenWood Family Park
Gwynedd
80%
Affordability
The Eden Project
Cornwall
7%
Eco-friendly components
Wildwood
Kent
76%
Cleanliness
GreenWood Family Park
Gwynedd
14%
Source: Uswitch.com
Wildwood Trust, formerly known as Wildwood Discovery Park and located in south-east England, is ranked as the attraction with the most eco-friendly components, with over three-quarters (76%) of reviews mentioning this factor.
Overall, a quarter of reviews (24%) for all the attractions combined mentioned eco-friendly and conservation efforts made by the sites – and a further quarter (24%) noted the family-friendly elements of the attractions.
Uswitch encourages anyone interested in how eco-friendly their household is to find out their personal carbon footprint and read tips on how to lower it using the Uswitch Carbon Footprint Calculator.
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com comments: “The relatively high numbers of reviews regarding how eco-friendly the attractions are show that visitors are mindful of where they like to spend the day with their families.
“It is great to see that a majority of these eco-friendly attractions live up to their status and are excelling in customer satisfaction.
“It is unfortunate, however, that eco-friendliness seems to come at a cost; affordability is low-ranking for these attractions, which is not ideal for those with large families or low incomes.”
Find out how you could save nearly £1,000 a year with Uswitch here.
Scotland demonstrates strong growth in the wake of pandemic and despite supply shortages
Scotland leads post-COVID industry recovery, growing 124% on the value of project-starts compared to last year
UK value of underlying work (less than £100 million in value) up 35% on 2020 figures but down 16% on preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis
Nationwide, retail proves a stand-out sector with 150% growth on project-starts, and residential project starts rise by over a third on previous year
Glenigan, the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, has released the August edition of its Construction Index.
This report provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals unique insight into results from the second quarter of 2021 and the last twelve months.
Strong growth for Scotland
Scotland has been leading the Covid-recovery, achieving strong growth of 124% on the value of project starts against the previous year, this is despite a 15% dip compared with the previous three months of this year.
UK-wide signs of increase
Despite a slight setback for underlying work (less than £100 million in value) in Q.2 of this year dropping 16% on Q.1, the construction industry is regaining its feet. A rise of 35% on figures in the same time period in 2020 show a sector on the way up.
Residential work on the rise
The value of residential work being carried out on-site is also on the rise, climbing 36% against the previous year. However, this fell 28% compared with the preceding three months (seasonally adjusted) and is down 33% on 2019 figures.
Private housing has also shown growth as one of the best-performing sectors, with the value of project-starts rising by over half (54%). Again, these figures are off the back of an initial dip, down 29% on the preceding three months of this year and 32% on 2019 levels.
Retail and offices provide boost
Retail was the stand-out sector during the period, with project-starts having increased 150% against the previous year up 34% compared with the same period in 2019. Retail-starts also increased 83% compared with the preceding three-month period.
Non-residential sectors also performed above 2020 figures, climbing 43% and increasing by 7% in Q.2 on three months previous.
Health projects show vitality
Despite a slight dip in health project starts in Q.2 of this year falling 12% on Q.1, the sector has seen a 7% rise on the previous year and a 43% increase on the same period in 2019.
Similarly, hotel and leisure project-starts have performed poorly in recent months, however, sector growth has nearly doubled against the previous year (94%) and increased 52% on Q.1 of 2021.
Improvement needed for infrastructure and civil project-starts
An area in need of improvement is underlying civil engineering project-starts which increased just 1% on 2020 but fell 41% on the preceding three months. This was also down 40% compared with the same period in 2019.
Infrastructure starts were also down 16% on the previous year and 49% compared with Q.1 of this year. The sector was also declined by 43% on the same period in 2019.
However, utilities starts show much more promise, increasing by nearly a half on 2020 (47%) but down 18% on the preceding three months of Q.1 of this year.
Strong regional performance
Yorkshire and the Humber also achieved three-digit growth on 2020 (110%) and project-starts in London climbed by over 50% against the previous year but was down 9% on Q.1
Project-starts in the East of England also rose by 58% against last year and were the only region to experience growth against the preceding three months (6%).
Rhys Gadsby, Glenigan’s Economic Analyst, commented on the latest figures: “The positive figures we’ve seen in Scotland serves as a strong indicator the construction sector recovery is not limited to London and the South East.
“However, they should be note of caution. While the value of project-starts remains substantially higher than the lockdown-affected previous year, the value has continued to decline in recent months.
“Material supply problems may have contributed to the fall; however, a decline was expected following a surge in activity, due to pent-up demand, during the first quarter.
“More positively, the speed of decline slowed during July. Main contract awards and detailed planning approval were high compared with previous years, so it is only a matter of time before this has a positive impact on project-starts.
“Furthermore, the successful vaccination roll-out, as well as the ending of restrictions on daily life, should give investors – particularly in non-residential sectors such as hotel & leisure – the confidence to progress projects to site.”
To find out more about Glenigan’s expert insight and leading market analysis click here
Customers at Scotmid stores across Scotland are set to benefit from clearer product pricing and information thanks to investment by the convenience retailer into new electronic shelf labels (ESLs)
The integrated technology, which will display accurate pricing and promotion details – as well as extended information such as allergens and country of origin – allows customers to make easy and fully informed decisions on their product purchases.
Customers and staff at stores involved in the trialling of the ESLs, experienced increased efficiency, reduced paper wastage and an enhanced store team morale. Scotmid now plans to install the digital labels in further stores across its estate.
The investment comes at a time when Scotmid is looking to drive store change through technology and adopt sustainable practices that reduce the need for paper usage.
Allan Robertson Programme Manager, Innovation and Change at Scotmid said: “As a retailer based in the heart of communities we serve, we continually look for innovative solutions which will deliver genuine benefits for our customers as well as our colleagues.
“These electronic labels look tidy and modern and mean that we can present our price and product information more clearly for customers.”
Steven Cannon, Branch Supervisor of a trial store, said: “The feedback from our team and customers has been fantastic. Overnight updates mean the store is customer-ready as soon as we switch the system on each morning.
“Without manual price and promotion tasks to complete and check, we have more time to assist and serve customers.”
The technology is manufactured by SoluM, a Samsung invested company, with the supply and installation carried out by Cambridge based Technology Integrator Herbert Retail.
Scotmid and Herbert Retail are members of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
Gaming champion Kem Cetinay at St James Quarter Meet & Eat surprise drop TONIGHT
Gaming and doughnut fans around the world have been going wild for the new Krispy Kreme x Xbox collab drop and they want more – and Krispy Kreme with Xbox are SO here for it!
New research by Krispy Kreme revealed that re-connecting since lockdown restrictions ended has been a balm to Brits, as 75% admitted they’ve made more of an effort to do so in recent weeks. To support this, Krispy Kreme and Xbox continue their collaborate with a series of incredible drops hitting Krispy Kreme stores across the nation.
Within the research, the doughnut retailer found:
For a third of Brits, the warm, sweet smell of doughnuts is the ultimate smile-generator
For 25% of us, simply the look of a doughnut can create a smile
Almost half of Brits (44%) love to share food with loved ones
Gamer and doughnut fan Kem Cetinay, nominated as the ‘gamifying doughnuts master’ will be popping up at the Krispy Kreme store in St James Quarter, Edinburgh tonight to serve up doughnuts and Xbox Series S consoles, and will be on hand to share his cheeky smile for some Covid-safe customer selfies (for over 18’s or those with an adult).
It’ll be game on in stores! Fans aged over 18 or accompanied by an adult will get the chance to get on an Xbox Series S console and challenge Kem to his favourite games on Xbox Games Pass (socially distanced)… if they win, an Xbox Series S immediate win is promised to one lucky winner, as well as the glory!
Catch Kem Cetinay for the Meet & Eat surprise drop in Edinburgh between 5.30pm – 7.00pm this evening at the Krispy Kreme store in St James Quarter.
The Nexus Level Doughnuts – created specially to celebrate Xbox’s 20th anniversary will be on sale for a limited time only until 22nd August.
The campaign will see each dozen purchase of The Nexus Level Doughnuts rewarded with a complimentary 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Membership, plus the chance to win an Xbox Series S Console. Once they’re gone, they’re really gone so get them while you can!
The campaign will see each dozen purchase of The Nexus Level Doughnuts rewarded with a complimentary 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Membership, plus the chance to win an Xbox Series S Console.
Once they’re gone, they’re really gone so get them while you can!
Stay tuned to the following channels to find out when and where you can get your hands on prizes and to meet Kem:
As the current plan comes to an end, it’s time to explore opportunities, hopes and aspirations for the next 3 years.
Help make sure the community and voluntary sector has a voice in this process, by getting involved in this discussion.
You’re invited to have a say on Edinburgh’s Community Learning and Development Plan for 2021 – 2024.
About this event
You might ask yourself what is Community Learning & Development (CLD) and why is it important for my group or organisation to have a say in future planning?
The ambition for the Edinburgh CLD plan is to make a positive difference for the citizens and communities of the City and the organisations in the community / voluntary sector work with children, young people and adults to do just that.
That means it’s essential that our sector plays a part in strategic planning in areas like adult learning, youthwork, community centres, communities and citizens who are seldom heard and so much more.
THE EVENT
Paul McCloskey (CEC Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager – CLD and Libraries), Laurene Edgar (LAYC Director and Edinburgh Community Learning and Development Partnership Chair) will lead this event.
They’ll take you through the plan and the potential for this to be a key aspect of the development of citizens and communities in Edinburgh.
You will also have the chance to join in 2 of the following themed breakout groups:
Adult Learning
Community Centres
Youthwork
Seldom Heard Communities & Voices
EVENT LINK
Registration for this event closes TODAY – Wednesday 18 August at 6pm.
You will receive an email through Eventbrite by 9am on Thu 19 Aug that includes the Zoom link for this event.
If you don’t receive this email please get in touch, but we recommend checking your email junk folder: esther.currie@evoc.org.uk
We are delighted to announce that Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 1st September 2021.
Now in its fifteenth year, Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards reflect the exceptional range of organisations and individuals working in the city’s vibrant charity and non-profit sectors.
A wide age range was represented and awardees came from across the broad spectrum of cultures that make up our ever more diverse city.
This event is by invitation only, with numbers being limited of who can attend.
We have published all details of this event and announced winners in all special categories on our website.
Please visit our website by clicking on the link here.
If you would like to post about the awards on social media please use the hashtag #iva2021.
We also have another event on22nd September. This is our Volunteer Recruitment Fair and details can be found by clicking on the link here.
The Poverty Alliance have launched Weathering the Storm, a summary report from the Get Heard Scotland (GHS) programme in 2020/21.
GHS is a programme coordinated by the Poverty Alliance and funded by the Scottish Government as part of Every Child Every Chance, the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
GHS is designed to help people on low incomes get their voices heard on the policies and decisions that most impact their lives and their communities.
Get Heard Scotland gathers evidence on the experience of poverty, from people who are living on low incomes, as well as from organisations and groups working on the ground to help address poverty. Crucially, it focuses on the solutions needed to loosen the grip of poverty on people’s lives.
The report that has been published today covers GHS engagement in 2020/21, which focused primarily on the local authority areas of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Covering issues like mental health, employment, food insecurity, digital access, debt, and social security, it provides an overview of the experiences of people living on low incomes – as well as of organisations working with people on low incomes – during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance, said: “Over the last 18 months, the grip of poverty has tightened on the lives of people across Scotland. But it is important to remember that, even before the pandemic, over one million people in Scotland were living in that grip.
“We know that not just listening to – but acting on – the voices and experiences of people living in poverty is key to ending poverty in Scotland. So we are pleased to publish this report today, that focuses primarily on Inverclyde and Renfrewshire but which has relevance for every part of the country.
“In both local authorities, there has been a genuine desire to find more effective ways of meaningfully involving people with experience of poverty in shaping local anti-poverty policy. We hope that the work as part of Get Heard Scotland will have contributed towards making participatory policy making the norm in the future.”
Scotland is taking its first steps on the road to establishing a Scottish Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison will today co-chair the first meeting of a new steering group to drive forward the ambitious new policy with the aim of reducing poverty, inequality and insecurity.
Ms Robison has also launched a consultation to gather views on how establishing a Minimum Income Guarantee – which would provide an assurance that everyone would have enough money to live a dignified, healthy and financially secure life – could be designed and delivered in Scotland.
The announcement meets another commitment for the first 100 days of this government, which was elected on 6 May.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Robison said: “We are committed to progressing the delivery of a Minimum Income Guarantee, which could be revolutionary in our fight against poverty. It is a clear demonstration of our ambition and aspiration for Scotland.
“The policy is innovative, bold and radical. It reflects our clear desire to do everything with our limited powers to deliver the change needed, using every lever at our disposal.
“Eradicating child poverty and building a fairer, more equal country must be a national mission, not just for the government, but our parliament and broader society.
“We recognise this is a cross-government responsibility and we are focused on working together to push forward poverty reduction in Scotland.
“We must look at ways of maximising household incomes from work and social security, as well as reducing costs on essentials including services such as childcare.
“Introducing a Minimum Income Guarantee will not be easy and it will not happen overnight, but there is a willingness to deliver on our ambition.”
The steering group will be co-chaired by Russell Gunson, Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research in Scotland, which published a report earlier this year on how a future Minimum Income Guarantee could look.
Mr Gunson said: “A Minimum Income Guarantee could transform the lives of people across Scotland, setting an income floor in Scotland beneath which no one would fall.
“To build a fairer and stronger Scotland following Covid-19 we will need to think big ideas in Scotland and think just as big on how to implement them.
“The MIG Steering Group is a great step, bringing cross-party representatives and experts from across Scotland together to shape a Minimum Income Guarantee and make progress on delivering it.
“I’m delighted to be co-chair and look forward to working hard together to see tangible progress towards delivering a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland over the coming years.”
Council’s Capital Coalition to outline next steps for Spaces for People Travelling Safely programme
The city council’s Transport and Environment Committee will hear an update on the future of measures introduced to help people walk, cycle and wheel safely during the COVID pandemic on Thursday (19 August).
Under the Travelling Safely programme (formerly Spaces for People) steps are being taken to retain some schemes on an experimental basis, to remove others post-pandemic and to engage further with communities on options for a handful of measures – and those proposals have come in for plenty of stick, too.
Following approval by full Council to extend the lifespan of many interventions, officers are carrying out a ‘technical review’ of the changes. This involves detailed scheme reviews and considering comments received during public consultation and, where appropriate, improving designs. Engagement and design sessions will then be carried out with key stakeholders including the emergency services, public transport operators and access groups.
As agreed by Council, a number of schemes – Lanark Road, Comiston Road, Braid Road and Drum Brae North – will be subject to more detailed consideration and engagement with local communities to develop options for their retention or modification. A report on these will be brought to committee in October.
In line with a motion to Council in June, future plans for George IV Bridge have been considered.
Three options have been put forward – retaining the current scheme; revisions to the design, including moving segregation closer to the kerb and adding kerbside loading areas; or removing the scheme entirely.
Removing the scheme and reinstating the original road layout has been recommended to improve access for public transport and local businesses’ deliveries.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Over the last year and a half the Spaces for People programme has helped people to travel safely by bike while restrictions were in place on public transport, given room for parents to drop their children at school while physically distancing and provided much-needed space for exercise during the depths of lockdown, amongst other benefits.
“Now, as restrictions are lifted, we’re looking to the future of these changes, and how they can support people to make journeys by foot, bike or wheel. Right now, officers are working hard to review and improve those schemes being retained longer term, to engage with community members on those where further development is needed and carefully plan for the removal of measures that we agreed to wind down.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “Thanks to feedback to the major consultation carried out earlier this year we’ve been able to carefully assess the schemes we’re planning to keep on an experimental basis for any changes that could be made.
“We’re also continuing to listen to residents, businesses and public transport operators. As a result we’re planning to make some immediate amendments to schemes to make sure they work for everyone, particularly as traffic levels return to normal.”
It is proposed that measures approved for removal, primarily in town centres, should be taken out after the festival, in line with Scottish Government guidance.
This will involve careful planning and communication with stakeholders, in particular organisations like the RNIB and Guide Dogs Scotland. Some immediate changes are recommended, such as the removal of the widened footpath on St John’s Road, due to the likely impact on bus services.
While schemes introduced around schools, such as motor traffic restrictions, have been largely set aside over the summer, the majority will be reinstated around term start dates in August. Over the coming months the Road Safety team will undertake a review of measures around schools to consider retaining them by appropriate traffic orders.
