Month: April 2025

Covid Memorial art trail in Wardie Bay

Work is nearing completion on the creation of a Covid memorial art trail in the Wardie Bay area, designed to honour the experiences and resilience of the local community during the pandemic.

The art trail along McKelvie Parade is intended to arouse curiosity and invite those using the space ‘to pause and be present’.

The project, funded entirely by the Scottish Government and Greenspace Scotland through the Remembering Together initiative, is part of a national effort to reflect the diverse impacts of Covid across Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Across Scotland, local communities have engaged with commissioned artists and creative organisations to develop unique memorials that capture the collective and individual experiences of the pandemic.

For Edinburgh, Greenspace Scotland has been working in collaboration with artist Skye Loneragan, supported by Artlink and the City of Edinburgh Council. The project has explored experiences of the pandemic, with the goal of highlighting the challenges faced by disabled people, while also celebrating their resilience and potential.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: “Creating this Covid memorial pathway in Wardie Bay is an important step in acknowledging the shared experiences and challenges faced by our communities during the pandemic.

“This project provides a meaningful space for reflection for us all, and particularly for individuals with learning disabilities and their carers, who were disproportionately affected.

“Through collaboration with local artists and community groups, we are ensuring that these voices are not only heard but commemorated. This pathway will stand as a testament to the resilience, compassion, and strength shown by all during those difficult times.”

During Phase 1 of the project Skye, supported by artist Stewart Ennis collaborated with participants from the Maple Project and Lung Ha Theatre and reached out to the wider community through public interventions on the Granton Western Breakwater (Wardie Jetty).

Participants were invited to share their memories, thoughts, and feelings about the pandemic and to develop ideas around how we process loss and create spaces for people to come together and reflect.

The creative process focused on making sure the final art trail design was relevant, inclusive, and reflective of the varied experiences of the community. Concepts that emerged during the engagement phase include themes such as “getting away from it all but having somewhere to come back to,” “the tidal flow of the pandemic,” and “making hard things soft and rough things smooth.”

The art trail at McKelvie Parade is a combination of several interventions along the route that arouse curiosity and invite those using the space to pause and be present.

Art pieces have been created to reflect the tidal flow of the pandemic and include Leith West breakwater stones inscribed with words people told artists they would gift themselves if there were another pandemic (cash, giggles, music).

The trail is book-ended by halved stone boulders placed apart and includes a smoothed patch of stone seawall with the invitation ‘Lean on me’, poetry at the entrance to the Bay, a Someone Missing bench co-created with a wheelchair user who described feeling held if there were grooves in the pavement, and a Something Missing Half with 2m distanced Stone seed.

The trail includes twin milestone plaques that describe Time as a Feeling, and Distance as a relationship to friends and family.

Lead artist Skye Loneragan said: “Processing loss is so important. Covid often kept us (and still keeps many of us), at a distance with those we loved and might have been losing, or parts of ourselves we lost, or something and somewhere we love and might be unable to reach.

“This project deliberately seeks to work with people whose experiences are often excluded and I am always interested in how we can nurture our collective sanity, together, our interconnected well-being, through the huge diversity of life experiences that make up what is.”

Construction is expected to be completed today – Friday 4 April.

Special Relationship? UK responds to Trump’s Tariffs

The Business and Trade Secretary’s statement to Parliament on the imposition of US tariffs

With your permission Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the United Kingdom’s economic relationship with the United States.

The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This is second only to the EU where our trading relationship is worth £791 billion.

Yesterday evening, the United States announced a 10% reciprocal tariff on UK exports and have today imposed a 25% global tariff on cars. This follows the application of tariffs of 25% on US imports of steel, aluminium and derivative products that was announced on 12 March.

No country was able to secure an exemption from these announcements, but the UK did receive the lowest reciprocal tariff rate globally. And though this vindicates the pragmatic approach this Government has taken, we know that while these tariffs are still being levied, the job is far from done.

We are, of course, disappointed by the increase in tariffs on the UK, and on other countries around the world. The impact will be felt amongst all trading nations. But I would like to update the House on how the UK can navigate these turbulent times, acting in our national interest and for the benefit of all our industries.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my American counterparts, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Special Envoy Mark Burnett for their engagement over the last few months. While any imposition of tariffs is deeply regrettable, from the beginning, they promised to make themselves available and have been true to their word, and I look forward to our continued engagement over the days ahead.

As Members will know, since the new US administration took office, my colleagues and I have been engaged in intensive discussions on an economic deal between the US and the UK. One that would not just avoid the imposition of significant tariffs but that would deepen our economic relationship. On everything from defence, economic security, financial services, machinery, tech and regulation there are clear synergies between the US and UK markets. And this is reflected in the fair and balanced trading relationship that already exists between our two countries.

I can confirm to the House that those talks are ongoing and will remain so. It is this Government’s view that a deal is not just possible, it is favourable to both countries. And that this course of action serves Britain’s interests as an open-facing trading nation. I have been in contact with many businesses, across a broad range of sectors including those most affected, who have very much welcomed this approach. It is clear to me that industry themselves want to grasp the opportunity a deal can offer and they welcome this government’s cool-headed approach.

Madam Deputy Speaker, in increasingly insecure times – I have heard some Members cling to the security of simple answers and loud voices. I understand the compulsion, but I caution members of this House to keep calm and remain clear eyed on what is in our national interest not to simply proclaim that we follow the actions of other countries.

The British people rightly expect this Government to keep our country secure at home and strong abroad. An unnecessary, escalating trade war would serve neither purpose.

True strength comes in making the right choices at the right time. And thanks to the actions of our Prime Minister, who has restored Britain’s place on the world stage, the UK is in a unique position to do a deal where we can – and respond when we must.

It remains our belief that the best route to economic stability for working people is a negotiated deal with the US that builds on our shared strengths. However, we do reserve the right to take any action we deem necessary if a deal is not secured.

To enable the UK to have every option open to us in the future, I am today launching a request for input on the implications for British businesses of possible retaliatory action.

This is a formal step, necessary for us to keep all options on the table. We will seek the views of UK stakeholders over four weeks until 1st May 2025 on products that could potentially be included in any UK tariff response. This exercise will also give businesses the chance to have their say, and influence the design of any possible UK response.

If we are in a position to agree an economic deal with the US that lifts the tariffs that have been placed on our industries, this request for input will be paused, and any measures flowing from that, will be lifted.  

Further information on the request for input will be published on gov.uk later today, alongside an indicative list of potential products that the Government considers most appropriate for inclusion.

I know this will be an anxious time for all businesses, not just those with direct links to America. Let me say very clearly that we stand ready to support businesses through this. That starts by making sure they have reliable information. Any business which is concerned about what these changes mean for them can find clear guidance and support on great.gov.uk where there is now a bespoke webpage.

Madam Deputy Speaker, this Government was elected to bring security back to working people’s lives. At a time of volatility, businesses and workers alike are looking to the Government to keep our heads, to act in the national interest and navigate Britain through this period. And while some urge escalation, I simply will not play politics with people’s jobs.

This Government will strive for a deal that supports our industries and the well-paid jobs that come with them, while preparing our trade defences and keeping all options on the table.

It is the right approach to defend the UK’s domestic industries from the direct and indirect impacts of US tariffs in a way that is both measured and proportionate, while respecting the rules-based international trading system.

As the world continues to change around us, British workers and businesses can be assured of one constant: that this is a Government that will not be set off course in choppy waters. So the final part of our approach will be to turbo boost the work this government is doing to make our economy stronger and more secure including our new industrial strategy. We will strike trade deals with our partners, and work closely with our allies for our shared prosperity.

We have a clear destination to deliver that economic security for working people.

We are progressing a deal that can do that, we are laying the foundations to move quickly should it not, and we are ensuring British businesses have a clear voice in what happens next. And I commend this statement to the House.

Acas publishes new guidance on neonatal care leave

Acas publishes new guidance on neonatal care leave

Workplace experts Acas has published new guidance on neonatal care leave to coincide with a change in the law this weekend.

Working parents are now entitled to additional time off while their babies are sick in hospital.

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 comes into effect on 6 April 2025, providing a new leave and pay entitlement for parents with a baby in neonatal care.

Acas’s advice provides information on what neonatal care is, who is eligible and the rights of parents who take it.

Acas Interim Chief Executive Dan Ellis said: “Becoming new parents can be an incredibly stressful time, especially if their baby requires care in hospital for a while.

“Any employee that requires time off to help care for their child in these circumstances should be treated with compassion and understanding.

“Our advice provides employers and managers with guidance on how they can support staff members who need to take neonatal care leave.”

The new law aims to give parents the right to have up to 12 weeks leave and pay depending on how much time their baby is in neonatal care. This is in addition to other time off and pay.

The right to take neonatal care leave applies from the first day of work. Eligible parents can take neonatal care leave once their child has been in neonatal care for at least 7 consecutive days.

Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss, a charity that supports families with neonatal babies, said: “The most supportive employers have always sought to help parents in these circumstances, but without a clear statutory framework, they’ve had to rely on measures like sick leave and compassionate leave or other improvised solutions, creating challenges for HR teams to navigate.

“This new entitlement creates a clear and defined statutory provision, recognising that the most important place for both parents to be when their baby is in neonatal care is at their cotside.”

Time off for neonatal care is available to anyone birth parent, father or partner, spouse, civil partner or adoptive parent.

When it comes to informing their employers, parents need to self-declare and provide some extra information. Employees should contact their workplace HR representatives to go through specifics relating to their personal situation.

Parents who have a baby admitted to neonatal care up to the age of 28 days might be eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave and it must be taken within 68 weeks of the baby’s birth.

For the full advice, please see: www.acas.org.uk/neonatal-care-leave-and-pay

NHS 24 Mental Health Hub

NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub is open to all ages. If you are in Scotland and have an urgent mental health need, there’s support available to get you the right care in the right place. 

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Find out more about NHS 24’s mental health services: 

https://nhs24.info/mental-health-services

Award-winning swim school launches in Edinburgh

Award-winning swim school Puddle Ducks is making a splash with the launch of its lessons in Edinburgh.

Launching at Nuffield Health New Mart Road and Nuffield Health Edinburgh Fountain Park, children from the local community will now be able access Puddle Ducks’ unique child-led programme on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays.

The launch comes as owner of Puddle Ducks Edinburgh Ellie Cawdell, saw an opportunity to expand her existing business into Scotland.

Ellie, who also runs successful Puddle Ducks franchises in York and Cambridge commented: “Edinburgh is such a beautiful, family friendly city, I wanted to be able to offer the Puddle Ducks programme to families across this amazing location.

“Our swimming lessons are well loved in York and Cambridge, and I wanted to bring this to Edinburgh. I’m excited to welcome lots of local families through our doors”.

With plans to expand into more pools in the area, Ellie is hoping her business will become part of the local community and has hired two swim teachers from the area. Libby and Isla, both from Edinburgh will be leading the classes and are excited to see the children develop and thrive in the water.

Libby commented: “Being from the local area myself, it’s really exciting to see such a recognised, well established and much-loved brand arriving in our community. I’m delighted to join the team and provide the life-saving skill of swimming to local children; it’s such an honour!”.

Founded in 2002, Puddle Ducks is a multi-award-winning baby and child swimming school; the only 100% child-led swim school in the UK, offering classes from bump through to 10 years of age and all teachers are STA qualified.

Puddle Ducks Edinburgh is looking for more pools across the area to run classes, as well as having upcoming opportunities for more teachers and assistants to join their growing team.

To find out more about Puddle Ducks Edinburgh’s swimming lessons, visit: 

https://www.puddleducks.com/local-teams/edinburgh 

Hourglass: Abuse of older people doubled during pandemic

“Older victims of abuse were locked in and left behind” – that’s the stark warning from Richard Robinson, Chief Executive of Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, as he spoke to the Domestic Abuse Support and Safeguarding roundtable today.
 
Attending the Inquiry’s final investigation into the societal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard Robinson is highlighting the often-overlooked impact of the pandemic and government restrictions on older victims of domestic abuse—many of whom were trapped with their abusers, cut off from support, left out of crisis planning, and their needs ignored in pandemic guidance and restrictions.

Calling for dramatic change, he is urging policymakers to ensure older people are no longer an afterthought at times of national emergency.
 
The roundtable session, part of the Inquiry’s final investigation (Module 10), took place today, bringing together leading voices from across the domestic abuse and safeguarding sectors to examine the societal consequences of the pandemic, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations.

Speaking ahead of his attendance, Mr Robinson said: “We must be clear: the pandemic intensified existing inequalities, isolating older people and placing many in harm’s way. At Hourglass, we saw a sharp rise in abuse cases as victims were locked in with perpetrators and cut off from help.
 
Older people in general were left behind – not just in policy, but in protection – and older victim-survivors of domestic abuse were almost entirely ignored. That must never happen again.”
 
Hourglass data, which Mr Robinson presented to the Inquiry, includes: 

  • A 33% rise in calls to its helpline in 2020/21, with a further 22% increase the following year.
  • A surge in psychological and sexual abuse cases, and a doubling of reports involving abuse by neighbours.
  • Widespread concern about neglect and loneliness, with nearly half of the public believing older people became more vulnerable to abuse during lockdown.
  • Evidence that 43% of adult family homicide victims during the pandemic were aged 65 or over.

Mr Robinson is calling for urgent and lasting change, including a Violence Against Older People Strategy to sit alongside the existing VAWG framework; a comprehensive Safer Ageing Strategy to tackle abuse, ageism, and structural neglect; and ring-fenced, multi-year funding to expand the UK’s critically under-resourced support services for older victims.

He added: “The Covid-19 Inquiry as a whole is a vital opportunity to shine a light on what went wrong and why. But it’s also the moment to commit to doing better.

“Today’s roundtable should highlight that older people must no longer be an afterthought in crisis planning. Their safety, rights and dignity must be central to how we prepare for the future.”
 
The roundtable is chaired by Kate Eisenstein, Director of Policy, Research and Legal at the Inquiry, and includes representatives from national and specialist organisations across the domestic abuse, justice, and safeguarding sectors.
 
The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

Great Granton Beach Clean

TUESDAY 15th APRIL from 1pm

We are very excited about our next BEACH CLEANING event at Granton Goes Greener.

This time, we will be working on the Brick Beach (marked as Granton Beach), which is just across the road from Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden and next to the pitt.

Thanks to our friends from R2, we will have enough rubbish picking equipment for everyone. if you have any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk💚💚💚

HMRC: Join 34,000 families in Scotland & save on childcare costs for Easter holidays

HMRC is encouraging working parents to open a Tax-Free Childcare account to save on their childcare costs for the Easter holidays.

Tax-Free Childcare is a UK Government funded top-up scheme for working parents and can be used to pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 years old if the child has a disability. Parents can save up to £2,000 per year per child or £4,000 if their child is disabled. The funds can be used to pay for a before- or after-school clubs, a childminder or an activity club during the holidays. 

For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to help pay their childcare costs. 

Latest figures show 34,440 families in Scotland saved thousands on their childcare in December 2024, an increase of nearly 5,000 compared to the previous year. 

In December, parents across the UK received a total of £49.7 million in government cash to save on their childcare bills. 

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:

  • they have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday    
  • the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average    
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum    
  • do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers     

   Families can check their eligibility and apply on GOV.UK.  

 Tax-Free Childcare can be used with the free hours offer (15 or 30 hours) as long as eligibility is met.  

Startling collapse in NHS satisfaction since pandemic, with just 1 in 5 satisfied

RCEM: ‘The public has recognised tackling A&E waiting times is a priority – it’s time the government did the same’

The British public are deeply unhappy with the National Health Service – just 1 in 5 people (21%) in 2024 said they were satisfied with the way the NHS runs. That’s according to analysis of the latest British Social Attitudes survey (BSA) published today by the Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund. Satisfaction has plummeted by 39 percentage points since the months before the pandemic.

6 in 10 people (59%) said they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ dissatisfied with the NHS in 2024, a sharp rise from 52% in 2023. This is the highest level of dissatisfaction with the health service since the survey began in 1983. The survey, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) in September and October 2024, is seen as a gold-standard measure of public attitudes in Britain.[3]

The Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund say that just 12% of people were satisfied with A&E waiting times and 23% with GP waiting times. People are unhappy about waiting times even if they are satisfied with the NHS overall, regardless of age, political affiliation or nation.

NHS staffing and spending are also worrying the public. Only 11% agreed that “there are enough staff in the NHS these days”. While a strong majority (69%) said the government spends too little or far too little on the NHS, only 14% agreed that “The NHS spends the money it has efficiently”. 

If forced to choose, the public would narrowly opt for increasing taxes and raising NHS spending (46%) over keeping them the same (41%). Only 8% would prefer tax reductions and lower NHS spending.

Despite low satisfaction with services, there remains strong majority support for the founding principles of the NHS: that it should “definitely or probably” be free at the point of use (90%), available to everyone (77%), and funded from general taxation (80%). However, the percentage of people saying that the NHS should “definitely” be available to everyone has decreased from 67% in 2023 to 56% in 2024. 
 
Other findings from Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2024 include:

  • There is a divide between generations, with satisfaction lower and falling in younger age groups. While the proportion of people who were satisfied rose slightly between 2023 and 2024 for those aged 65+ from 25% to 27%, among those under 65 it fell significantly from 24% to 19%.
  • A significantly higher proportion of people in Wales (72%) were dissatisfied with the NHS compared to 59% in England and 60% in Scotland (the difference between England and Scotland is not statistically significant).
  • Public views of A&E services have worsened dramatically, with satisfaction falling from 31% to just 19%, and dissatisfaction rising from 37% to 52%. These are the worst figures on record by a large margin and make A&E the service with the lowest satisfaction levels for the first time.
  • Satisfaction with GP services continued to fall, mirroring the trend over the last few years, with 31% of members of the British public satisfied with GP services, compared with 34% in 2023.
  • Satisfaction with NHS dentistry has continued to collapse. As recently as 2019 this was at 60%, but it has now fallen to a record low of 20%. Dissatisfaction levels (55%) are the highest for any NHS service asked about.
  • Inpatient and outpatient hospital care remains the part of the NHS with the highest levels of satisfaction, with 32% satisfied and only 28% dissatisfied.
  • Satisfaction with social care remains worryingly low. In 2024, only 13% of respondents said they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with social care. 53% of respondents were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ dissatisfied.   

For the first time, people who support the Reform party have been included as a separate category in the analysis instead of being part of the ‘other parties’ group, to reflect the party’s increased share of the election vote. Supporters of the Reform party were less likely to be satisfied with the NHS (13%) than supporters of the other main parties. They are also less likely to believe in the founding principles of the NHS.  
 
Report author Bea Taylor, Fellow at The Nuffield Trust said: “Just five years after the British public were called on to “Protect the NHS” at the start of the pandemic, these findings reveal just how dismayed they are about the state of the NHS today. We found that every group in Britain is dissatisfied with access to vital services such as A&E and GP appointments.

“The government says the NHS is broken, and the public agree. But support for the core principles of the NHS – free at the point of use, available to all and funded by taxation – endures despite the collapse in satisfaction. Harnessing this support and fixing the foundations of the NHS must be central to the government’s forthcoming reform programme.” 

Dan Wellings, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund said: “The latest results lay bare the extent of the problems faced by the NHS and the size of the challenge for the government. While the results are sobering, they should not be surprising. For too many people the NHS has become difficult to access: how can you be satisfied with a service you can’t get into? 

“In 2010, seven out of ten people were satisfied with the NHS – it is now down to only one in five. The scale of the decline over the last few years has been dramatic. The results show that people do not want a different funding model, but they do want the NHS to start working for them again and they want it to have the staff and the money it needs to ensure that happens. The public are also clear that the NHS needs to get better at spending the money it does get more efficiently.

“The government’s focus on bringing down hospital waiting lists may address one area of the public’s concerns, but this year’s BSA shows that all areas are flashing red, particularly A&E. Voters are impatient for change, and Ministers will need to demonstrate rapid improvement, but that should not come at the cost  of the bigger, whole-system reforms that are needed to create a truly sustainable health service. These results will form the baseline from which the new Labour government’s reform plans to ‘fix’ the NHS will be judged.” 

In an accompanying foreword to the report, Nuffield Trust and King’s Fund Chief Executives Thea Stein and Sarah Woolnough say: “The government now finds itself walking a fine line between meeting public demands for rapid improvements on waiting times and avoiding the pitfall of throwing more money – of which there is virtually none – at a system in need of deeper reform.” 

The Chief Executives argue that ministers will need to meet public demand for improving A&E, GP appointments and dental care, but they should not lose sight of the much bigger prize of longer-term, sustainable reform focused around shifting care from hospital and moving the NHS from a sickness to a health service.

Politicians must make addressing the Emergency Care crisis a political priority as new research reveals that public satisfaction in A&E services has reached an all-time low.

That’s the call from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and comes as the findings of the latest British Social Attitudes survey (BSA) Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2024 have been published today (2 April 2025) showing satisfaction with A&E services has plummeted.

The survey, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) from 16 September to 27 October 2024 for The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust, asked 2,945 people across England, Scotland and Wales, for their thoughts on the NHS and adult social care services.

It also questioned 933 people about their satisfaction with specific NHS services, as well as their views on NHS priorities, principles and funding. 

The research – which has been carried out every year since 1983 – found:

  • More than half (52%) of respondents were dissatisfied with NHS A&E services – the highest on record – up 15% from 37% in 2023. Those who were satisfied stood at 19% – a fall from 31% the previous year.
  • 69% of people were very or quite dissatisfied with the length of time it took to be seen in A&E
  • The most important priorities cited by respondents for the NHS included ‘improving waiting times in A&E (49%), which was considered the second most important – behind access to GPs but ahead of elective care waiting lists.

RCEM President, Dr Adrian Boyle, said: “This annual survey is a barometer of public feeling and people – voters – have given their verdict loudly and clearly.

“The public aren’t daft and can see what is happening in our Emergency Departments. I worry that this situation stops people attending when they should.

“But it is hardly surprising when the message from the Westminster government is that the health service is broken. If that is their assessment, they must get on with the job of fixing it. And it is fixable.

“The public has stated that, behind GPs, the service they most want prioritised is A&E, but we only ever hear about what has been done to improve elective waiting times.

“The public has identified A&E as a priority. It is time the government did the same.”

The survey also revealed:

  • In 2024, just one in five British adults (21%) were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with the way in which the NHS runs. This is the lowest level of satisfaction recorded since the survey began.
  • Only 13% of respondents said they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ satisfied with social care (the same figure as 2023). 53% of respondents were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ dissatisfied
  • Satisfaction with GP services continued to fall, mirroring the trend over the last few years. 31% of respondents said they were satisfied with GP services, compared with 34% in 2023
  • 62% were very or quite dissatisfied with the length of time it takes to get a GP appointment, and 65% for the length of time it takes to get hospital care.
  • Most (44%) believe the government is spending too little money on the NHS
  • More than 75% continue to support the founding principles of the NHS, with little sign of change compared to the previous year. However, the proportion ‘definitely’ agreeing that it should be available to everyone fell significantly from 67% to 56%.

The BSA follows a survey by Ipsos Mori conducted in February 2025 which revealed that almost 80% of people polled would avoid attending an A&E because they were worried about ending up waiting for hours on a trolley in a corridor.  

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2024_WEB (4)Download

Change to earnings limit for carers

More unpaid carers set to benefit from Carer Support Payment

More unpaid carers in Scotland could benefit from financial support as a key change in eligibility rules comes into effect from 6 April 2025.

The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will increase from £151 to £196 a week. This means that a carer can earn £45 more a week, after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses, and be eligible for the payment.

The change could mean carers already receiving Carer Support Payment will be able to undertake more paid work and still receive the payment. In addition, many carers earning a take home pay of £10,192 or less a year, who were previously unable to access the additional support could now be eligible.

To receive Carer Support Payment of £83.30 a week, carers also need to be providing 35 hours or more of care a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.

Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland, delivered by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government proposed back in 2022 to raise the earnings limit for Carer Support Payment once fully launched. This was on the back of strong feedback from carers and support organisations that the previous limit was set too low.

“The increase puts the earnings limit at a level which equates to 16 hours at the national living wage. Alongside other improvements we have made, this should help more carers to balance paid work with caring and provide more stable financial support.

“The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring everyone gets the financial support they’re entitled to, despite the UK Government’s recent announcement on changes to welfare.”

Fiona Collie, Head of Public Affairs and Communication at Carers Scotland said: “Carers Scotland welcomes the increase in the earnings threshold to £196 which will support more unpaid carers to earn more from paid employment alongside their Carer Support Payment. This change will also enable more carers to claim Carer Support Payment.

The new threshold amount applies once a carer has taken away deductions for tax, national insurance and half of any pension contribution. Carers may also be able to deduct some of the costs to provide care whilst you are working.

We would encourage all carers in employment or who are thinking about returning to employment to find out more about Carer Support Payment and the earnings threshold from Social Security Scotland or their local carers centre or advice agency.”

state-of-caring-health-and-social-care-2024Download

Carer Support Payment is a payment of £83.30 a week from 6 April 2025 and is available to carers who are aged 16 or over and who provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.

Carers need to earn £151 a week (increasing to £196 a week from 6 April 2025) or less after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses. The earnings limit for carers in Scotland who are getting Carer’s Allowance will also increase to £196.

Carers getting Carer’s Allowance in Scotland will have their benefits transferred automatically to Carer Support Payment. This process is due to complete this spring.