Day: April 6, 2025

Letters: Versus Arthritis calls for clarity over waiting time targets

Dear Editor

While we welcome the publication of the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan (1st April 2025), we need greater clarity as to how the government is going to meet its target of no one waiting for over 52 weeks by this time next year.

Orthopaedics – mostly hip and knee surgery – accounts for a third of all NHS waits for treatment in Scotland. The latest figures show 12,000 waits of over a year for orthopaedic surgery. In each of the last two years, this figure has come down by an average of 4 per cent. The government is now promising to make that 100 per cent. This is welcome, but we are wary.

Surgeries such as joint replacements can be transformative, allowing people with arthritis to get back to regular life, while at the same time stopping a decline in their physical and mental health.

The public, including those with arthritis, has lost confidence in how waiting times are being tackled – multiple commitments simply haven’t been met – and unless this latest promise is delivered in full, the only 0 per cent we’ll be looking at is trust in the government.

We fully expect the Scottish Government to keep this promise to the millions of people living with arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in Scotland and will continue to hold them to account regarding this.

Alan McGinley

Policy & Engagement Manager

Versus Arthritis Scotland

199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 3EX

Telephone: 0141 401 0351

Hop along to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this Easter

Garden Centre invites families along to a series of brand-new Easter events

Dobbies Garden Centres is welcoming families and four-legged friends to hop along and get set for spring at its brand-new Easter-themed events, taking place at its Edinburgh store.

Families can book a brand-new Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea, taking place on Monday 21 April.

Children can tuck into a selection of freshly made bunny shaped sandwiches, filled with jam, cheddar cheese, ham, and tuna mayonnaise.

They can also enjoy Dobbies’ famous scones, served with Cornish clotted cream and a pot of jam, and a delicious selection of sweet treats, including a mini doughnut, gingerbread man and a waffle finger with dipping chocolate and sugar strands & chocolate chip toppings.

For £8.75, adults can select a hot drink of filter coffee or tea, plus a slice of triple chocolate cake, coffee and walnut cake or Persian lemon cake. And for £16, adults can enjoy Afternoon Tea – three tiers of delicious sweet and savoury treats.

After everyone has eaten, children will seek out the Easter Bunny, who will be hopping about the Edinburgh store, and get involved in spring inspired activities and games including the bunny hop relay.

They’ll then enjoy a hands-on planting experience, learning how to grow their very own lettuce. During the event, children will also be given a mini Malteser chocolate bunny.

Also new for this year, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store is hosting its Hopping Hounds event. Dogs will get the chance to sniff out an Easter egg trail around the store before receiving an Easter themed toy and money off vouchers for the garden centre and restaurant.

There will also be photograph opportunities with the Easter Bunny to have a keepsake of the experience.

Customers will be able to add a donation while booking the event, helping with Dogs Trust’s mission of caring for, rehabilitating, and rehoming thousands of dogs every year. The event is priced at £12.50 per dog.

Well behaved dogs on a lead are warmly welcomed in the Edinburgh store and in a dedicated area of the restaurant if paw-rents are hoping to make a day of it. Explore the fantastic range of pet products at Dobbies, with everything from healthy treats and dog attire to terrific toys.

Customers can also take part in Dobbies’ monthly social media competition, Dogs at Dobbies, by posting a picture and using the hashtag #dogsatdobbies to be in a chance of winning a gift voucher.

Back by popular demand this year is also the Easter Bunny Breakfast, taking place on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April, is a great opportunity to gather the whole family for a fun-filled morning.

Families at the Edinburgh store can get stuck into an egg-cellent breakfast, with children and adults having the choice of a traditional cooked breakfast, a vegetarian breakfast or a breakfast roll.

Children can also opt for a continental breakfast of croissant, jam, yoghurt and banana. Kids will have the choice of an apple juice, orange juice or water, and adults will be able to choose from a pot of tea or regular coffee.

After everyone has eaten, children will seek out the Easter Bunny, and take part in the same themed activities as for the Afternoon Tea.

Tickets are priced at £8.75 for adults and £11.99 for children.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is excited to welcome families along to the in-store activities this Easter. She said: “We’re looking forward to launching our new Afternoon Tea event in our Edinburgh store, bringing an alternative option to families, and a nice activity for grandparents to get involved in.

“Our Easter Bunny Breakfast is always popular with families across the country and is a great way to bring everyone together for a morning of seasonal fun, packed full of activities to keep the kids entertained.

“Dog events are becoming increasingly popular for dog owners to spoil their pooches, and we can’t wait to see welcome our four-legged friends for a fun event this Easter.”

For more information about the Easter events and participating stores, visit:

 www.dobbies.com/events.

Quarterly retail sales jump +10.5% at Edinburgh Waverley

Edinburgh Waverley station outstrips national Network Rail station performance

Network Rail Property has achieved its highest ever quarter of retail sales (Q3 covering October to December 2024) revealing a total sales* uplift of +7% and +7.7% like-for-like (LfL) sales boost across its portfolio of 19 managed stations in Great Britain.  

An increase in like-for-like (LfL) retail sales* of +10.5% at Edinburgh Waverley station, makes it Network Rail’s best performing station outside of London and also taking the top spot for the Scottish stations in terms of LfL retail sales growth.  

Set against the wider retail market, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) tracked a +0.3% increase of LfL sales for the same quarter. Sustained quarterly sales growth at Edingburgh Waverley station underlines the resilience of retail performance at the station and creating an exceptional station offer which is a key part of Network Rail’s strategy to improve the passenger experience. 

During Q3 2024, Edinburgh Waverley station saw the arrival of a new BrewDog offering, as well as a refreshed M&S and Burger King. The station now has a retail occupancy rate of 100%, meaning all 15 retail units are trading.  

During Q3 2024, Glasgow Central also saw significant investment by retailers into stations stores, with recently opened Greggs and Holland & Barrett.

Total retail sales in Q3 reached £240.5m, representing an increase of over £16m compared to the previous year. Additionally, retail sales overtook the previous quarter, jumping by over +£7m. Network Rail’s total retail sales for calendar year 2024 surpassed £900m and for the first three quarters of this financial year, reached £701m.   

For the third quarter in a row, London Waterloo was the best performing destination in terms of total sales growth for Q3. Total sales increased by +24.2% at London Waterloo over the last quarter, with Liverpool Lime Street also sitting in the top five stations after experiencing +11.7% growth.  

In Q3, all five Network Rail regions experienced positive LFL sales performance. Eastern and North West and Central saw the largest regional uptick, with sales increasing by 8% compared to same period last year. In terms of total sales, North West and Central saw the biggest increase at +11% on 2023 levels.  

Diversifying and transforming the retail experience for customers continues to be a priority for Network Rail Property. Carefully curating stations for brand success and continued sales growth demonstrates the strength of Network Rail’s retail strategy.  

Hamish Kiernan, Commercial Director, Property at Network Rail, comments: “Our retail offering at Edinburgh Waverley station continues to go from strength to strength and our Q3 sales figures are the highest ever, demonstrating the appeal of our offer. Attracting and retaining brands such as Brewdog and M&S who invest and see the value in our destinations are vital to our continued success in Scotland and giving our customers the best possible station experience.”   

*Retail sales covers retail, F&B and grocery brand sales. 

Fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees banned ‘once and for all’

Outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees are now banned once and for all in a major win for consumers right across the UK

  • Fake reviews and hidden fees that cost consumers £2.2bn every year now banned 
  • CMA takes on major new powers to directly enforce new consumer laws 
  • Changes will protect consumers and create a more level playing field for businesses, helping to deliver economic stability as part of the Plan for Change 

Outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees are now banned once and for all in a major win for consumers right across the UK. These laws will help deliver economic stability as part of the Plan for Change. 

The new measures coming into force today will give the public control over their cash and save them money in the long run.

All mandatory fees, such as admin fees or ticket booking fees, must now be included in the headline price and can’t be deceptively dripped in throughout the checkout process, to dupe customers into paying more than they originally bargained for.  

The ban aims to bring to an end the shock that online shoppers get when they reach the end of their shopping experience only to find a raft of extra fees lumped on top. 

So, for shoppers buying train tickets – they won’t be stung by a hidden booking fee at the end of the checkout. 

When buying a takeaway, the delivery and admin fees must be clear at the start of the process.

The same will apply to all online shopping experiences from concert tickets to trips to the cinema. 

Every year a whopping £2.2 billion is spent by consumers on unavoidable hidden fees, which is why these new rules are coming into force.  

Not only will it create greater transparency, but it will make it far easier for consumers to confidently compare products and services to make sure they are getting the best bang for their buck.  

Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets, said: “From today consumers can confidently make purchases knowing they are protected against fake reviews and dripped pricing.  

“These changes will give consumers more power and control over their hard-earned cash, as well as help to establish a level playing field by deterring bad actors that undercut compliant businesses, helping to deliver economic stability as part of our Plan for Change.”

Outlandish fake reviews will also be banned today – so customers know what they are buying when they shop online.

The legislation will prevent punters turning up to a restaurant with 5-star reviews only to be served 1-star quality food. Or ordering a product online from a top-rated seller only to find it never turns up, or that when it does, it doesn’t look anything like it did in the picture, despite what previous buyers said. 

Reviews were found to be used by 90% of consumers and contributed to the £217 billion spent in online retail markets in 2023, underscoring the importance of these new consumer protection laws. 

New laws will also help prevent well-intentioned and compliant businesses from being under-cut by those seeking to catch out consumers with stealthy additional prices and fake reviews.  

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “We will use these new provisions to safeguard people from harmful and unfair treatment, and to foster the level-playing field for the vast majority of businesses who want to do the right thing for their customers.

“We will be tackling the more egregious practices first and working hard to support businesses with compliance, conscious that – especially for small businesses – the burden of following the rules must be proportionate.”

This new consumer protection regime will be implemented by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in a way that is as simple as possible for smaller businesses to comply with.

This government is committed to taking action to reduce unnecessary burdens on business, meaning that should any new rules be required, these will be as clear as possible and only used where necessary and proportionate.

Frontline Melrose staff to appear on new series of Paramedics on Scene

Frontline Melrose staff members from the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) will appear on a new series of Paramedics on Scene, which airs on Tuesday.

Lee Myers, Paramedic, and Mark Kerr, Technician will feature alongside SAS’s West Ambulance Control Centre (ACC), West SORT (Special Operations Response Team) and Melrose frontline staff.

Lee and Mark said: “It’s been a great experience working with the film crews and being given the opportunity to demonstrate the work we do within our local community, the highs, the lows, and the effect that has on us and how we cope. It’s not all blue lights and sirens.

“The border towns are close knit communities, and I think the residents take great comfort at difficult times from knowing that they and the crew are likely to be connected either through family, work, or friends.”

Season Six of Paramedics on Scene is on BBC Scotland at 9am on Tuesday and repeated at 10pm on Thursday. It is also available on BBC iPlayer.

The next episode features a woman thrown off a horse, a crew called to a man who has taken some illegal drugs and close to death, and the air ambulance team bring a sick eight-year-old from Campbeltown to the Children’s hospital in Glasgow.

Lee Myers and Mark Kerr, here pictured with Fraser McArthur of Firecrest

PYCP Easter Holiday Activities

🩷🧡💛 Our Easter Programme is here!! 💛🧡🩷

🐰From Next Week we will be running our Easter Programme, please read carefully as some groups and times are different from their usual!

🐥To attend, all children and young people must have a completed consent form – if you have done this from September 2024 you will be covered.

🌸Parents/Guardians will be contacted by staff to confirm spaces on trips, please do not send your child to a trip if you have not been spoken to as they will be unable to attend.

🍫PY Lunches will be on Mon-Fri during the two week holiday, NOT including Friday 18th and Monday 21st – These lunches are for children and young people only.

Spotlight on Scotland’s new generation of theatre-makers

Scottish Youth Theatre is delighted to announce the return of the Trajectories showcase, celebrating new work by early-career theatre-makers at the end of April

Scottish Youth Theatre specialises in connecting young artists with mentors, networks and each other to inspire their practice as they take the creative lead and develop their own distinct artistic voice.

Over 7 weeks, Hannah McGregor, Harry Walker, Margot Conde Arenas, Molly McGrath, Robbie Hail and Taya Sian are working with multi award-winning director Cora Bissett alongside a range of practitioners to experiment, collaborate with one another and develop brand-new work for the showcase event at Assembly Roxy on Friday 25 April 2025.

Cora Bissett, Lead Artist on the programme, is excited to be collaborating with the cohort: “Young artists at the early stages of their career are the very people we need to be bold, intrepid, resourceful, political, inventive and fearless – to keep culture thriving in Scotland.

“I am loving sharing the experience I have but also listening to and facilitating their ideas. I have been extremely fortunate in my journey at various stages to have had elders like the late great.

“Dave MacLennan and the legendary Andy Arnold support me and my ideas when I was starting out. Those elders gave me space and encouragement to try stuff out and grow in confidence. It’s a privilege now to do that for this new generation.”

Trajectories is designed to fully support these 6 young artists through dedicated development and rehearsal time, financial support and a tailored line-up of leading industry professionals.

Harry Walker, one of the young artists on this year’s programme, reflects: “I relish collaborating with other creatives to devise new theatre and often find that I work best as part of a diverse group of artists.

“I value taking inspiration from other people’s ideas and how I can incorporate their feedback into my own work, a process I love reciprocating for other artists too. Trajectories creates the perfect conditions for this – it enables us to share our practices and learn from each other, in a truly safe and supported environment.”

The programme is informed by Scottish Youth Theatre’s consultation with young people around Scotland. The organisation’s 2024 survey found that, alongside high motivation to pursue their creative aspirations, young artists have a shared concern for their future place in the industry and the gaps forming as funded opportunities have receded.

Scottish Youth Theatre’s renewed model of delivery continues to evolve in direct response to the needs and aspirations of the next generation of Scotland’s theatre-makers, with a commitment to working in more places across the country, at no cost to each young artist that participates.

Jacky Hardacre, Chief Executive of Scottish Youth Theatre, says: “We first delivered the Trajectories programme successfully in 2022 in Glasgow and we’re delighted to offer the opportunity again, this time in Edinburgh.

“Forging a path into a theatre career is fraught with challenges and the scaffolding Scottish Youth Theatre provides is needed more than ever. The young artists and the performances they create inspire us to keep showcasing the sector’s newest voices.”

The public showcase event takes the form of a mini festival of performances around the venue. Tickets start at an accessible £6 for the full event and go on sale on the Assembly Roxy website on Friday 4 April. You can find out more about the project, the young artists and Scottish Youth Theatre via their website and social media channels.

Trajectories is produced by Scottish Youth Theatre, supported by Creative Scotland’s National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations and Thriplow Charitable Trust.

Fraser of Allander Institute downgrades growth forecasts

‘the picture is still one of subdued growth‘

Economic and business conditions in early 2025 showed limited improvement, as firms across Scotland brace for upcoming cost pressures.

This is according to the latest Economic Commentary from the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, which covers the latest data on the UK and Scottish economies.

The Institute’s economists have downgraded their growth forecast for 2025 and 2026 to reflect economic conditions in both the UK and the world economy. The Fraser of Allander now expects growth in 2025 to be similar to growth in 2024 at 0.9%, before increasing to 1.1% in 2026.

While GDP in Scotland and the UK grew over 2024, and inflation has continued to ease, the outlook among businesses remains pessimistic.

Inflation fell unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in February, offering some relief to households and policymakers. However, services inflation remains high at 5%, meaning the Bank of England is likely to remain cautious in cutting interest rates over 2025.

The easing of inflation comes just ahead of changes to the UK’s employers National Insurance system, which came into effect as of April. These increases are expected to raise costs for employers and are already weighing on business sentiment.

New data from the Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Business Monitor shows that 94% of firms expect cost pressures to increase in the first half of 2025, with three in four businesses highlighting National Insurance changes as a significant concern.

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Institute, said: “Economic conditions in 2025 are turbulent and uncertain, and are likely to remain so throughout the year. Therefore, the picture is still one of subdued growth. Many of the challenges businesses faced in 2024 – from rising costs to policy uncertainty – have not gone away.

“Added pressures from National Insurance changes and geopolitical instability risk dampening confidence and growth further. These tax changes will start to hit businesses next week, with many scaling back plans for workforce expansion and recruitment as a result.”

Alongside its regular economic analysis, this quarter’s commentary also includes a detailed look at Scotland’s disability and carer benefits system, exploring how many people are receiving support and how much this is expected to cost over time. Spending on these benefits is projected to nearly double between 2020-21 and 2029-30, adding further pressure to Scotland’s fiscal outlook.

The commentary also reflects on the UK Chancellor’s Spring Statement, which contained significant fiscal policy announcements despite efforts to downplay its importance. Cuts to departmental budgets and reforms to disability benefits signal tougher times ahead for devolved budgets.

João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Institute, said: “The Spring Statement had clear implications for Scotland. Although there is a modest short-term funding increase, the medium-term outlook is significantly more challenging, with Holyrood’s budget for day-to-day spending expected to be nearly £900 million worse off by 2029-30.

“We’ll learn more about what this means for Scotland when the Scottish Fiscal Commission publishes its next forecast in May, but it’s certain to be another significant pressure on the Scottish Government’s desk.

“The Chancellor has staked all her credibility on meeting her fiscal rules, but the buffer remains very small against the many risks encircling the UK economy, including those from global trade shocks. If any of those materialise, then we might be back in a similar position in the Autumn.”

You can see the full commentary here.  

MYDG Easter Activities

🐣⭐️MYDG EASTER⭐️🐣

Please see our poster highlighting groups we have on over Easter!

We have different trips happening and these are allocated as best as possible to young people attending MYDG. If your child has been selected they will have a form handed out from a staff member at MYDG.

Any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Looking forward to 2 weeks of fun!

Woman arrested following fatal crash in Corstorphine

A 22-year-old woman has been arrested following a fatal crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 5.45pm on Monday, 30 December, 2024, on St John’s Road, between the Drumbrae roundabout and Corstorphine Bank Drive.

The pedestrian, an 87-year-old woman was taken to hospital, where she died on Friday, 3 January, 2025.

The 22-year-old woman was released pending further enquiries.