Yesterday (6th May 2025), Edinburgh North and Leith Labour MP Tracy Gilbert, urged the UK government to officially recognise the state of Palestine, warning that any further delay could result in the loss of a viable Palestinian state, that includes Gaza.
The call followed announcements from the Israeli Security Cabinet over the weekend to expand and intensify Israel’s military operation across the entire Gaza Strip, potentially leading to a full military occupation.
In a statement made in the House of Commons by the Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, Gilbert said, “Now I fear that if we do not recognise a Palestinian state, there will be no Palestinian state that includes Gaza left to be recognised.”
Ms Gilbert’s position has been reinforced by her visits to Israel and Occupied Palestine, which have deepened her belief in the urgency of recognition as part of the process to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace through a two-state solution.
Palestine Red Crescent Society teams and volunteers provide first aid services and psychological first aid to families returning on foot to northern Gaza. PRCS volunteers are also distributing water and leaflets to raise awareness about unexploded objects.
Following the statement, Tracy Gilbert MP said, “I know that the actions of the Israeli government in this conflict have alarmed my constituents.
“I have seen first-hand the state of ruin that large parts of Gaza are now left in. And after two months of blockading vital aid, essential supplies of food and medicine are low, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
“Recognising the state of Palestine is an essential step in helping to bring about the conditions for a ceasefire and long-term security through a two-state solution. I will continue to urge the UK government to recognise Palestine immediately and to place further pressure on the Israeli government to bring them to the negotiating table.”
Two further arrests have been made as officers continue to investigate linked violent incidents in the East and West of Scotland.
On Friday, 2 May, 2025, a 41-year-old man was arrested by another police force and charged by Police Scotland in connection with two fire-raisings at a property on Hay Drive, Edinburgh on Sunday, 23 March and Friday, 4 April. He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 6 May.
A 24-year-old man was also arrested and charged in Edinburgh for a breach of bail on Friday, 2 May and appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 5 May.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “I want to make it clear that we will not stop until we bring those responsible for this criminality to justice.
“Local officers continue to reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols to disrupt the activities of criminals in our communities.
“The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. Your information really can make a difference.
“If you know anything about who is responsible for these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone who can assist our enquiries is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Poverty Alliance: ‘People in Scotland are demanding better’
The NHS will deliver 100,000 additional GP appointments and Scotland will have a ‘best in UK’ cost-of-living guarantee, including the permanent abolition of peak rail fares, First Minister John Swinney announced as he set out a Programme for Government against a backdrop of global economic challenges.
Speaking one year since he was elected First Minister and one year before the end of this Parliament, Mr Swinney committed to a package of cost-of-living initiatives for households and businesses and a new Six Point Export Plan to unlock target markets.
He set out plans to strengthen the NHS with the delivery of extra GP appointments for key health risks such as high blood pressure, and 150,000 more NHS appointments and procedures, including a 50% increase in surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements.
Key announcements include:
100,000 enhanced service GP appointments by March 2026 for key risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, obesity and smoking as well as more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests, and target cancer pathways to tackle backlogs against the 62-day referral to treatment standard
The cost-of-living guarantee which includes ongoing free prescriptions, eye exams, bus travel for 2.3 million people, free tuition for students and more than £6,000 in early learning and childcare support for each eligible child
ScotRail peak rail fares abolished and the general alcohol ban on ScotRail trains removed and replaced with time and location restrictions
Winter fuel payments for pensioners restored
A new Six Point Export Plan, with a focus on actions to unlock target markets, and showcase Scotland to global buyers
A national regeneration fund that will support at least 26 projects to renew and restore communities, with a focus on delivering more local jobs
More rights and stronger protections for tenants, helping deliver more than 8,000 affordable homes, including for social and mid-market rent, and removing barriers on stalled building sites with the potential to deliver up to 20,000 new homes
The First Minister said: “This Programme for Government is focused on providing the best cost-of-living support across the UK, as well as delivering a renewed and stronger NHS.
“When I became First Minister a year ago, I heard loud and clear people’s concerns about the NHS which is why I am taking serious action to ensure the NHS meets the needs of the public.
“This PfG also shows decisive action to protect Scotland’s economy and maximise our economic potential in the face of global challenges.
“It is being published earlier than usual, in part because it allows a clear year of delivery on the NHS and other public services, but also due to the scale of the looming economic challenge.
“It is a programme for a better Scotland, for a stronger NHS and a more resilient and wealthier Scotland. It is a Programme for Government that gets our nation on track for success.”
POVERTY ALLIANCE: Government programme misses need for fundamental change
Commenting on the Programme for Government, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Many of today’s announcements are welcome, but the package doesn’t go far enough towards creating a just and compassionate Scotland where people have what they need to build a life beyond poverty.
“More and more people in Scotland believe the system is rigged against them and their families. And they’re right.
“Scrapping peak rail fares for good will help many people on low incomes, but many, many more are still being left with unaffordable buses that don’t meet their needs.
“It’s welcome that this programme turns its back on previous cuts to affordable homes, but we urgently need more investment to create a social housing programme that will bring the scandal of child homelessness to an end.
“Reversing the effect of the unjust two-child limit for households in Scotland is the right thing to do, but there was no sign of a pledge to raise the Scottish Child Payment – never mind raising it to the £40 a week that we know is needed to meet our legal child poverty targets.
“And it was good to hear the First Minister talking about sharing Scotland’s growing wealth more fairly, but the Government simply can’t do that without using its powers over investment and taxation.
“People in Scotland are demanding better, and they want a Scottish Govt that will make the big, fundamental changes that will empower households to build a better life for themselves and a better future for all of us.”
STUC: Scrapping peak fares is a victory for workers in Scotland
Commenting on the scrapping of peak rail fares within the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, STUC Deputy General Secretary Dave Moxham said:“This is deeply welcome news that, whilst long overdue, shows the strength of campaigners and rail unions in demanding an affordable and accessible rail network that is fit for the future.
“This is a clear victory for workers in Scotland and it’s commendable the Scottish Government has listened to the voices of our movement – and listened to their own evidence – which showed the positive impact of scrapping peak fares.
“Peak fares were, simply put, a tax on workers that hit commuters directly in the pocket. We can now ensure we build an interconnected, cheaper and greener rail networks that puts people before profit and puts peak fares out of commission for good.”
Children First: First Minister missed another chance by not increasing Scottish child payment
Children First statement on Scottish Government Programme for Government
Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children first, said: “We hoped the First Minister would bring bold, ambitious plans to tackle the crippling levels of child poverty in Scotland. Instead, the Programme for Government, while well-intentioned, lacked real action. The First Minister missed another chance to help families by not increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40.
“While we recognise the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicating child poverty, supporting whole families and improving mental health support for young people, we are deeply concerned that it lacks urgency and the necessary financial resources and policy ambition.
“Scotland is facing a childhood emergency. The children and families we support cannot wait another 12 months for yet another fresh approach.
“They need action now.”
ALBA Party: Scotland “won’t accept” the Scottish Government’s decision to omit independence from its Programme for Government, says Ash Regan
For the second year in a row First Minister John Swinney has failed to mention independence in his Programme for Government with the document not setting out any plans to give Scots a choice on their future in the remainder of the current Parliament.
The SNP were re-elected in 2021 promising a referendum would be held during the life of the current Parliament but after the Supreme Court ruled against the Scottish Parliament’s ability to do so the Scottish Government have taken no action to find a path to giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future.
Alba’s Ash Regan wanted to see First Minister John Swinney set out the actions his Government will take to advance the case for Scottish independence in the run up to next year’s Scottish Parliament elections. But she has hit out as the Government has confirmed today that the only action it will take in the next year will be the publication of another independence paper.
The Alba MSP says that the Scottish Government’s plan for how it intends to progress the case for Scottish independence should have featured “front and centre” of John Swinney’s plans and the failure to do so is a “missed opportunity.”
Last year, in his first ever PfG as First Minister, John Swinney did not make reference to independence when he addressed parliament and in his speech today he again failed to reference any actions his Government would take to help deliver independence.
Commenting Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: “Last year the word ‘independence’ was not mentioned once in the Programme for Government statement to Parliament. Since then we have witnessed consistent polling showing that at least half the country favour independence.
“The failure to put independence front and centre of today’s Programme for Government is a wasted opportunity. The people of Scotland are now ahead of the SNP when it’s comes to independence and that is why we have seen a separation of support for independence and support for the SNP.
“Scots want to see a drive towards governing competently again and focus to be put back onto the people’s agenda of health, the economy, jobs and the protection of women and children.
“The case for independence has never been stronger, it is now vital we see support for Alba Party on the list to ensure the SNP don’t see out another term of Parliament without taking action on independence.”
RCEM: Scotland’s Programme for Government a ‘missed opportunity’ to tackle UEC crisis
After enduring another challenging winter, Scotland’s Programme for Government has failed to deliver a tangible plan to address the emergency care crisis. That’s the response from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine after the First Minister, John Swinney, delivered a speech today (6 May 2025) which laid out his government’s key pledges for the final year of the Scottish Parliament’s current term.
Reducing time patients wait for treatment by delivering more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests.
Ensuring more people can see their GP and get cared for in the community – reducing pressures in hospitals
Ensuring more people can be cared for at home, reducing pressures in hospitals by expanding the number of Hospital at Home beds to at least 2,000 by December 2026.
Mr Swinney’s speech coincided with the release of new data by Public Health Scotland which revealed in March, there was an average of 1,925 people waiting to be discharged from hospital, despite being deemed medically well enough to go home.
That’s the highest number of so called ‘delayed discharges’ for the month of March since guidelines changed in 2016.
This is often caused due to a lack of social care support. Therefore, the system grinds to a halt, with patients stuck in Emergency Departments, often on trolleys in corridors, facing extreme waits because there’s no in-patient beds available.
Today’s figures, which cover March 2025, also show:
120,143 people attended a major Emergency Department in Scotland – a 17.7% increase when compared to February.
One in three patients waited four hours or more in Emergency Departments, one in 9 waited eight hours or more, and one in 23 waited 12 hours or more.
While waits have slightly improved across the board when compared to February, they are significantly higher when compared to March 2018. The numbers waiting four hours or more has increased by 158%, the numbers waiting more than eight hours by 490%, and the numbers waiting more than 12 hours by 803%.
There was a total of 60,129 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed – a 2.5% increase compared to March 2024 (58,646).
Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland said, “Today’s Programme for Government is a missed opportunity. It was a moment to resuscitate emergency care but instead, we have been left without a tangible plan.
“You just have to simply look at today’s figures from Public Health Scotland to see the level of pressure our Emergency Departments our under – thousands of people waiting extreme and dangerous long stays, often on trolleys, in corridors, because there are no available beds on wards for them to move to.
“And let’s be clear – these aren’t just numbers, data, statistics. Each is a loved family member – mums, dads, grandparents, sons, daughters.
“While we welcome the government’s commitment to improving access to GPs, this can’t be done in isolation. Equal attention is needed at the ‘back door’ of hospitals – ensuring patients who are well enough to be discharged, can be, with the appropriate social care in place.
“Only then will our patients be able to move as they should throughout the hospital system, rather than experiencing significant delays.
“Our members and their colleagues will be deeply disappointed after enduring another challenging winter. It’s left us asking, when will Emergency Care become a political priority?”
Greens hail peak rail fares U-turn and call for cheaper buses
The Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to finally take forward the Green policy of scrapping peak rail fares for good, and have called for action to make public transport cheaper across the board.
The policy was initially secured by the Scottish Greens through budget negotiations in 2023 before being dropped by the SNP in 2024.
In the 2025 budget the Greens secured a £2 bus fare cap that the Government has committed to rolling out as a regional pilot project by January 2026.
Speaking in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2025-26 debate today at Holyrood, the party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “I am delighted that the Government has finally committed to the Scottish Green policy of ending peak rail fares for good.
“Earlier this year, they said they wouldn’t do it. They even voted against Green calls to do it. We’ve finally got there.
“More brave decisions are needed to make all public transport cheaper.
“The Scottish Government agreed to Green proposals for a £2 bus cap, only as a local pilot from January 2026, but people all across Scotland need cheaper buses now.
“Will the First Minister avoid the hesitation he showed over peak rail fares, get on with delivering another great Green idea: capping the price of bus fares in Scotland for good?”
Independent Age: No New Support for Older People in Poverty
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Agesaid: “Today’s Programme for Government announced no new support for older people in poverty.
“Making sure every pensioner in Scotland receives some winter heating support is very welcome, particularly for older people on lower incomes. However, there is more the Scottish Government should do to reduce the growing number of pensioners in poverty.
“With 156,000 older people across Scotland currently living in poverty – an increase of 30% the last decade – the need for a clear strategy to address this is more urgent that ever. Our polling shows that people of all ages in Scotland agree that a strategy to reduce pensioner poverty should be created – with 9 in 10 supporting the idea. Without one, people facing financial hardship in later life will continue to struggle to maintain even the most basic quality of life.
“Poverty at any age is extremely damaging to both mental and physical wellbeing. Our 2025 Index showed that nearly one in five (19%) older people in Scotland have a household income of under £15,000 a year and almost one in three (29%) older people in Scotland have skipped meals in the last 12 months.
“In a compassionate and wealthy society, this shouldn’t be the case. Both the UK and Scottish Governments need to take action. If the Scottish Government wants to make Scotland the best place to grow old and tackle the injustice of pensioner poverty it is essential they have a plan for doing so.”
Amazon’s Dunfermline team donates £2,000 of books to Fife schools
Three schools in the Fife area have received a donation of fiction books, worth over £2,000, from the team at Amazon in Dunfermline.
The donation of books was made to Cardenden Primary School, Masterton Primary School and Lochgelly South Primary School. Each school received 250 books from celebrated authors including David Walliams, Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll.
All three schools are located in the Fife area and play a key role in developing local children’s skills for life and work, raising their awareness of opportunities available to them in once they leave school.
Speaking on the donation, Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, said:
“We want to encourage the younger generation to read and use their imagination. We hope that these three excellent primary schools enjoy the donations and that the books bring lots of joy and inspiration to the pupils.”
Jade Burt, an employee at Amazon in Dunfermline whose son attends Lochgelly South Primary School, added:
“My son loves going to Lochgelly South Primary School and was thrilled to hear about the new books they had got from Amazon. Lochgelly South Primary School is an amazing school and I’m so glad they’re getting the recognition and support with this donation.”
Melinda Fleming, Principal Teacher from Cardenden Primary School, added:“We want to give a big thanks to the team at Amazon in Dunfermline for this donation of books. The pupils have been non-stop reading – they absolutely love their new books!”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 7 million surplus goods to over 600,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham.
Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
It’s Maternal Mental Health Week, a time to raise awareness of the importance of mental health during and after pregnancy.
We know that around 1 in 5 women experience mental health problems during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth, yet nearly half of these cases go undiagnosed or untreated.
These figures highlight the need for greater awareness and access to support for all mothers.
The theme this year is ‘Your voice, your strength’. It’s a reminder of the importance of listening to, and learning from, the experiences of mothers.
Through our programmes, we work with mothers to create safe, inclusive spaces where they can talk openly about what they’re going through and access the support they need.
We’re working to make sure every mother has the opportunity to thrive during this important time in their lives.
Whitbread submits a planning application for a new 195-bedroom hotel on Festival Square in the heart of Edinburgh city centre
Whitbread PLC, the owner of the Premier Inn hotel chain, has submitted plans to transform Capital House into a 195-bedroom Premier Inn, with a commitment to investing more than £21 million in the conversion of the existing building into a hotel.
After acquiring the 65,350 sq ft gross office block off Lothian Road last year, Whitbread has been preparing a planning application to change the use of the building to a hotel, which was submitted to Edinburgh City Council on 2nd May.
The plans involve the conversion of the existing building and rear extension of the 1980s office into a latest format Premier Inn hotel with a ground floor restaurant and bar.
The Capital House Premier Inn is expected to generate an additional £8.1 million per year in visitor expenditure through the external spending of more than 56,000 guests which are predicted to stay at the hotel every year. Half of this external expenditure is anticipated to be spent supporting city centre businesses.
The proposals signal the latest commitment from Whitbread to invest in Edinburgh as the business continues to see strong long-term potential for its bedrooms across the capital city.
Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager for Scotland at Whitbread, said: ““The visitor economy in Edinburgh is thriving but there remains an unmet demand for additional budget hotel rooms in the city. Capital House represents an excellent opportunity for us to deliver new Premier Inn bedrooms at affordable prices for our customers in a fantastic city centre location.
“The location is ideal for both business and leisure customers. It is sustainable and highly accessible with direct bus, tram and rail networks within a short walk, it’s a stone’s throw from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and Exchange District and is close to tourist destinations like Edinburgh Castle, Usher Hall and other theatres.
“We’re thrilled to submit proposals to transform this underused office building and bring life back into this corner of Festival Square. We are investing £21 million into delivering the new hotel which will generate over £8 million of additional guest spend into the Edinburgh economy each year and create more than 30 new hospitality jobs. We look forward to working with Edinburgh City Council to progress the application towards determination.”
Whitbread currently welcomes close to a million visitors to its established network of 14 Premier Inn hotels within the City of Edinburgh Council area. The business calculates its guests staying at these hotels generate more than £32 million in visitor expenditure to the Edinburgh economy every year.
More widely, across the UK & Ireland Whitbread currently offers its customers a choice of more than 85,500 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn bedrooms and the company sees the long-term potential for 125,000 bedrooms in these two core markets.
Five-star housebuilder to deliver 99 new homes including affordable housing overlooking city park
Leading Scottish housebuilder Cruden Homes, in a joint venture with Evantyr Properties, has acquired a new site on Salamander Street in Leith, as part of the ongoing regeneration of the former industrial area.
The latest proposals from Cruden and Evantyr outline plans for a new residential development of 99 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, many of which include balconies. Of these, 35% will be allocated as affordable housing, surpassing the planning requirement of 25%.
Working alongside 7N Architects, the new scheme has been carefully planned to integrate with the existing urban landscape, incorporating a landscaped central courtyard and strong connections to sustainable transport options. Many of the new homes will also back onto the adjacent Leith Links, a large public park with an abundance of open green space and lots of mature trees.
The development will also be designed around and alongside the active travel initiative which will see the inclusion of a segregated cycle path as part of the wider Leith Connections project. This is a major infrastructure initiative designed to improve travel for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the area.
Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes,said: “Securing this prime site in the heart of Leith marks the latest phase in our commitment to creating vibrant, sustainable communities where they are needed most.
“Leith is a location that continues to thrive thanks to its strong community spirit and excellent local amenities. In partnership with Evantyr, our plans will deliver a high-quality, sustainable development that complements the surrounding area and provides much-needed new homes, including a significant proportion of affordable housing – creating a modern, connected place where people will love to live.”
Marc Teague, Director at Evantyr Properties, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Cruden Homes on this exciting project in one of Edinburgh’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
“Together, we’re bringing forward a development that not only delivers high-quality homes but also enhances the character of the local area through thoughtful design and strong sustainability credentials.
“This joint venture demonstrates our shared commitment to placemaking and long-term investment in Leith.”
The Leith site is adjacent to the Ropeworks masterplan for over 600 new homes.
This latest development on Salamander Street is expected to start later this year, subject to final planning conditions being met.
Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Tony Bloom has made a proposal to invest capital of £9.86m into the club for which he shall receive a 29% stake in the club via non-voting shares.
A consultation period with the club’s majority shareholders – the Foundation of Hearts – will now begin.
The consultation will explain the proposal to FOH members and ascertain their views before asking them to vote on this. A majority of FOH members’ acceptance is required (as determined by the FoH board) for the proposal to be successfully carried forward.
Following the FOH consultation process, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club’s shareholders will be called in order to formally approve the transaction.
In the meantime, the transaction remains subject to entry into legally binding documentation, SFA approval and other normal course regulatory requirements.
Details on the proposal and the consultation, including a video explainer and FAQs, can be found on the FOH website by clicking here.
The festival has teamed up with R2 and Lauriston Farm to bring you food demonstrations and free HOT tatties n toppings and Leek & Tattie Soup.
Many organisations in North Edinburgh have planted potatoes at Lauriston Farm over the last month or two. These tatties wont be ready for our festival but we have been extremely lucky to have received a very kind donation of tatties from Potato House/Skea Organics and Denhead Farm.
At the festival we will have 5-6 food demonstrations from cooks in our local community showcasing diverse cultural recipes using the humble potato as the main ingredient.
MasterChef Sarah Rankin Cooks, will be putting our cooks through their paces pre festival so that they are ready to take on the day at the festival.
Scran Academy will be providing hot baked potatoes from Denhead Farm with toppings courtesy of Asda and Empty Kitchens Full Hearts SCIO will be handing out free Leek and Potato soup using the potatoes from The Potato House.
Potato House is the baby potato of Skea Organics, and grew out of a need to service smaller orders for gardeners, allotment growers, market gardeners and independent gardening and hardware stores.
They also supply eating potatoes to shops, box schemes and restaurants as well as to the general public. The Potato House website is dedicated to the gardeners and small passionate growers who are looking for high-quality seed potatoes with unique taste and specific characteristics.
So many thanks to Potato House, Denhead Farm, Sarah Rankin for the potatoes.
Recipes from the cooks will also be available to view on The Love of Potatoes website too. The Love Potatoes website is dedicated to chefs and passionate home cooks looking for fantastic potato recipes using high-quality potatoes.
Post festival, the cooks will host lunch clubs showcasing their recipes again in the lead up to the Harvest Festival at Lauriston Farm in September.
On the day, we are looking to hand out over 1500 tattie dishes!
A team of nurses from NHS Lothian has been praised for the exceptional care and support provided to Scottish Rugby international, Emma Wassell, during her health challenges earlier this season.
In recognition of the high-class care Emma received, five nurses from the cardiothoracic ward at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh were invited to deliver the match ball at Scotland’s victorious Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday.
Speaking of their experience, Eilidh Wynne, Senior Charge Nurse said: “It was such an honour for us to be asked to present the match ball – we got a big cheer from the crowd and felt like superstars. We were pitch side for the national anthem and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. It really was such a special moment and it’s one we’ll remember forever.
“The whole team in ward 102 works incredibly hard and this is a reminder that we should all feel immensely proud of the work we’re doing day in day out.
“It’s always nice to see patients getting back to their norm and it was fantastic to see Emma looking so well – that’s really what makes the job worthwhile.”
The team presented the match ball and were treated to hospitality at the event at Hive Stadium Edinburgh, which drew over 6000 spectators (the second largest crowd in the team’s history).
Emma Wassell, who is on the road to recovery after emergency surgery to remove a chest tumour, said:“It was really special to have some of the nurses that looked after me at our last home game of the Guinness Six Nations. A real full circle moment where they could get recognised for what they do when they are a big part of the reason that I can get back to what I do.
“I have nothing but gratitude for the care I received by all NHS staff while going through some personally tough circumstances – they really are there for you morning, noon and night. Whether it’s providing your medication, taking your blood samples, bringing you a coffee or simply allowing a constant stream of rugby players in to sit by my bedside!
“They made my time in hospital a whole lot easier and I am so glad we could give them some recognition, in what turned out to be a very special game!
“I have spoken a lot about my rugby family and one of the first nurses to introduce themselves to me was Kirsty Stewart – who was none other than one of my teammates, Alex’s mum.
“This was a huge level of comfort for me, and even though rugby wasn’t my main priority when I was in hospital, it was so nice to have someone that could truly understand how I was feeling around missing it.”
