An information campaign and increased recruitment of call handlers are among the initiatives NHS 24 has put in place to help protect vital front line health and care services over the festive period.
First Minister John Swinney visited the NHS 24 call centre in Dundee to observe preparations ahead of the Christmas and New Year period and to express his gratitude to staff.
NHS 24 has been working proactively to bolster resilience and alleviate pressure on both the 111 service and other primary care resources. Initiatives include:
Launching a winter campaign focused on digital information and encouraging people to prepare ahead of service closures.
Recruiting a record number of call handlers and additional clinical supervisors to strengthen capacity.
Prioritising frontline services, including suspending non-essential activities within call centres and managing staff annual leave to maximize availability.
The First Minister said: “The festive period is traditionally very challenging for the NHS. The resilience and determination shown by staff in the face of pressures; both at NHS 24 and across the wider health and care sector is truly inspiring.
“NHS 24 data shows that a quarter of calls to 111 can be resolved online, and the service is encouraging more people to take advantage of its digital self-help guides for faster, more convenient care.
“These online tools can help ensure our front line services can focus on those who need urgent care.”
NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Ron Cook, said: “Our digital services use the same clinical advice people get if they call NHS 24 and offer a great first option when people are unwell and are not sure if they need to seek further help.
“We are advising patients to save time and look after symptoms safely and effectively at home by using NHS inform or the NHS 24 Online app’s symptom checkers which will give clinically assured health advice on a wide range of conditions including coughs, rashes, stomach bugs, or back pain.
“By checking symptoms online this will give advice on how best to manage your condition or what to do next if further help is required.”
The Right Care, Right Place campaign reminds the public to use healthcare services appropriately:
For advice on minor illnesses and injuries, visit www.nhs24.scot.
Call 111 for urgent but non-life-threatening health concerns.
One week on from Police Scotland’s initial appeal, officers in Edinburgh are continuing their enquiries to trace Santra Saju, who is missing from the South Gyle area.
Santra, 22, was last known to be at the Asda store in Almondvale, Livingston, on Friday, 6 December, 2024, between 9.10pm and 9.45pm, after having been in the Burnvale area earlier that evening around 8.30pm.
She is described as being around 5ft 6 inches in height, of Indian ethnicity, of slim build, with short black hair. She was wearing a black jacket with a fur-lined hood, beige furry earmuffs and a black facemask.
Enquiries have also revealed she had a black rucksack in her possession.
Her family have released the following statement: “It has been more than two weeks since Santra was last seen and we are worried sick, this is very out of character. We are desperate to know where she is and that she is safe.
“Santra, if you see this please call us or reach out to someone to let them know that you are safe.
“We urge anyone who may have seen Santra, or who has any information at all that might help trace her to contact police as soon as possible.”
Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton said: “As time passes, concerns for Santra’s wellbeing continue to grow, and we are conducting extensive enquiries in the Burnvale and surrounding areas to trace her.
“We know that Santra frequently wears a black face mask and believe she was wearing beige fluffy earmuffs when last seen. We also know that she picked up a black and white shopper-style bag from an address in Burnvale on Friday evening, but this was no longer in her possession when she entered the supermarket.
“We are continuing to review CCTV footage and conducting searches of the area. We urge anyone who may have seen Santra or someone matching her description to contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3390 of Sunday, 15 December, 2024.
NORTH EDINBURGH’s‘LOCAL TREASURE’ TO OPEN EARLY 2025
£1.7 million Community Ownership Funding secures North Edinburgh Arts
Government funding will save at least 35 community centres, helping fix the foundations of our communities as part of the Plan for Change
Money will boost opportunities and help grow local economies, supporting the government’s drive for national renewal
This will help kickstart economic growth and rebuild Britain in a decade of renewal
Cherished community centres are among the 85 local venues across the UK that are set to receive government support to stay open, helping to fix the foundations of our communities.One of these is North Edinburgh Arts, which will receive £1.7 million.
An additional £36 million of funding has been provided to back local communities, including the rescue of at least 35 community centres, protecting vital local services, boosting opportunities for working families and supporting local economies.
As set out in its Plan for Change, the government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and raising living standards. Thriving communities lie at the heart of a thriving economy, and the support provided by the Community Ownership Fund will inject funding where it is most needed, making change happen and bringing people together in the process.
The projects will support the government on its path to national renewal, helping realise our regions’ huge potential while creating safer and happier streets by restoring community pride.
Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:“We are delivering on our Plan for Change by saving these vital community assets to provide important opportunities for working people and their families.
“These projects represent what is so special about communities across the UK – bringing people of all ages together, providing vital support and giving them a sense of purpose and belonging.
“Every project will support social causes in the community, keeping widely used services open and thriving to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
In Scotland, £5 million will be awarded to 11 projects including the £1.7 million to refurbish and expand the community arts centre in Muirhouse – North Edinburgh Arts’ MacMillan Hub.
In a statement, North Edinburgh Arts said: “North Edinburgh Arts is delighted to be one of 85 community owned venues across the UK receiving support from the Community Ownership Fund. Announced yesterday, £1.7m is earmarked for NEA to complete our build programme, kit out the venue and refurbish our much-loved community garden.
“Sitting at the heart of our community the expanded and refurbished venue will run to over 2000m2, housing a 96 seat theatre, 72 seat café, welcome area, 2 wood workshops, 5 multi-purpose studios, 6 artist studios, music room, 4 offices, greenhouse, and the half-acre community garden. It will be bustling again in 2025 with a creative and community programme; shaped by the people who own, use, and love it.
“Funders of all types, large and small, public and private, have supported the community’s vision and bought into NEA’s ambitious plans. Many individuals have supported our crowd funder over the past year too.
“The Board and NEA team are thankful to all our supporters, and thrilled that the Community Ownership Fund brings us to our capital target. We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of our local Councillors, MSPs, and our MP, Tracy Gilbert.
“But, mostly, we couldn’t have done this without the support of our neighbours, participants, and our community. Thank you all. We’ll see you in 2025 when we throw the doors open once again!”
Edinburgh North and Leith MP said: “I am delighted that the UK Government have announced the successful projects in the Community Ownership Fund including £1.7 million for @northedinarts in Edinburgh North and Leith.
Minister for Local Growth, Alex Norris said:“These are all multi-functional spaces that do so much for local people and most of us will have fond memories in treasured places like these.
“We’ve prioritised these grants to help preserve and upgrade what these vital places offer to their communities – whether that’s improving access to sport and education, tackling loneliness or boosting family services for parents and children.
“This is just the start of our work to support communities and give them greater control of their assets and we’ll be setting out our full strategy next year.”
Action4Youth, a youth charity in the South East, has been given £300,000 to refurbish the George Amey Centre in Milton Keynes, securing its future as a centre for outdoor education and supporting the charity’s work to tackle knife and gang crime.
Chief Executive of Action4Youth, Jenifer Cameron said:“We are so grateful to have funding which will enable us to complete our renovation project and to ensure the future of the outdoor centre which benefits 15,000 children and young people each year.
“We can now look forward with optimism and hope to support many more young people in future.”
Nineteen sports clubs and leisure facilities across the country will be saved, including four historic swimming pools. These include the 1960s Portishead Lido in North Somerset – where funding will also be used to renovate the café, supporting the local economy – and one of the last tidal pools left in the country, the Victorian Shoalstone Pool in Devon.
On the Isle of Wight, the Isorropia Foundation will receive more than £1m to purchase and renovate the Medina Valley Centre so it can provide a range of community services including mental health support, training and educational opportunities. And Elmfield Hall in Accrington will be renovated to secure its future as a location for counselling, mentoring and employment courses.
The MacMillan Hub in Edinburgh will be backed with £1.7m so it can continue to promote culture, learning and training opportunities, work and well-being in and around the town centre, and expand its café.
And more than £1m will be used to restore the Higher Woodhill Viaduct so the East Lancashire Railway can continue to deliver a heritage railway experience, boosting the local tourism industry in the process.
To tackle loneliness and support rural communities, £3.8 million will go to eight parks and eight pubs, including £300,000 to help buy back a popular village pub in North Yorkshire – The Punch Bowl Inn. £300,000 will also be used to renovate a 200-year-old countryside pub in Gwyned, Wales – Tafarn y Plu. This funding will back local businesses, create jobs and drive growth while restoring community pride.
The Westminster government is also developing proposals for delivering on its manifesto commitment to introduce a stronger ‘Right to Buy’ and take over important community assets so they can determine their future in a meaningful way.
This will be a genuine shift so local people feel far more control, power and agency in the places they live.
Please note, from Monday 6th January, the Pantry membership fee will increase to £5.00 as per Your Local Pantry guidelines and rising food/supply costs.
A major upgrade to the playing surfaces at Oriam is now complete ushering in a new era of sporting excellence at the Edinburgh venue.
The £800,000 project, funded by Heriot-Watt University, has resulted in the renovation of three synthetic pitches. Each was uplifted and then replaced with cutting-edge materials using sustainable innovations.
Such is the quality of the new playing surfaces that they have achieved the prestigious FIFA 2 Star* MX Elite Professional Standard and IRB Compliant World Rugby certification.
This upgrade is expected to have a lasting impact on Oriam’s customers and professional athletes and teams who use the venue, including the Scottish Rugby Union, Scottish Football Association, Heart of Midlothian FC, and Heriot-Watt University Sports Union. It also reaffirms Oriam and Heriot-Watt University as a hub for sport and exercise in Scotland, catering to professional, university, and recreational athletes alike.
The project was led by Oriam’s Head of Operations, John Lowe, and took six months to complete. Reflecting on this achievement, John said: “It has been an honour to oversee the synthetic pitch replacement project.
“Heriot-Watt University’s £800,000 investment not only ensures Oriam remains a leader in world-class sports facilities but also demonstrates remarkable ambition. Completing the project from financial approvals to installation in under eight months is a testament to the dedication of my colleagues and the successful collaboration with Sportex and Sports Labs.”
The refurbishment was carried out by Sportex, a company who specialise in sports surfacing.
Luke McGeechan from Sportex highlighted their commitment to sustainability during the process: “At Sportex, we are proud to support sustainability through our Sportex Recycling programme. By carefully removing, separating, and repurposing the old turf from Oriam, we’ve minimised waste while promoting a more eco-friendly sports industry.”
The arrival of the new playing surfaces highlights the University’s commitment to deliver the best facilities for its students. This continued investment in sport has seen Heriot-Watt attract top sporting talent from across the world through the introduction of a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and the University’s innovative Sports Scholarship Programme, which allows student athletes to balance their studies whilst continuing to compete at the highest level.
Lynda Johnstone is Global Director of Estates and Facilities at Heriot-Watt University. She said: “This major upgrade to the playing surfaces at Oriam is an £800,000 investment by Heriot-Watt University and showcases our continued commitment to providing world-class facilities for athletes at all levels, from students to professionals.
“By embracing cutting-edge, sustainable innovations, we have reaffirmed Oriam’s position at the heart of sports and exercise in Scotland.”
Staff at Utilita’s Energy Hub, located at Leith’s Newkirkgate Shopping Centre, would like to thank all customers who entered into this year’s Christmas Raffle.
The team raises funds throughout the year and were able to kindly gift back to the local Leith Community, having bought items worth £250.00 to create a Christmas food hamper raffle.
In the spirit of festive giving, raffle tickets were gifted to the Hub’s regular customers in a free to enter draw and Natasha Baillie, Leith Energy Hub Supervisor, was delighted to present a beautiful hamper to the raffle winner, Mr. Potter, a regular customer who tops up and pays his bills at the Hub.
Natasha said: “Mr. Potter was so delighted with the news that he called us his angels! He popped down and was so happy and emotional at the win. Mr. Potter did tell us to choose what we wanted but we managed to convince him otherwise, so he’s going to share the hamper with his neighbours!
“It’s something we have very luckily been able to do each year – and our previous winners still visit our Leith Hub, which is lovely to see.”
Utilita’s high street hubs make it super simple to manage your energy – no phone lines or online dashboards, just a friendly face to speak to.
Whether you’re looking for account support, help to manage your spend or energy-saving advice, Utilita’s Energy Experts are on hand to help.
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a number of keyless car thefts in Wishaw, Uddingston, Stirling, Bathgate and Edinburgh.
The incidents happened between Friday, 1 November and Thursday, 28 November, when six cars were reported stolen in different locations.
Officers carried out enquiries and on Friday, 6 December, a 35-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with these thefts. He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Thursday, 19 December.
On Saturday, 21 December, 2024, a 36-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with two of the thefts and driving whilst disqualified. He is expected to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Monday, 23 December.
Sergeant Steven Brown said: “We urge all vehicle owners to be aware and take extra precautions to combat this type of criminal activity including not keeping keys or fobs near doors or windows.
“Buying a secure signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag or RFID signal blocker that can block the transmission of the signal from the key, can also help keep your vehicle secure.
“Steering locks can also be effective, while vehicle trackers and tracking devices are also a form of additional security and can assist police in recovering stolen vehicles quickly.
“Anyone with information about these thefts should contact officers via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Further information on keeping your vehicle safe can be found here:
