davepickering

News from Heart of Newhaven

Welcome to your March newsletter

The Heart welcomes Lord Cameron of Lochiel

New Scotland Office minister Donald Cameron included the Heart in his first official visit on Thursday 22nd February.

Mr Cameron, now Lord Cameron of Lochiel, has sat in Holyrood since 2016 but quit the Scottish Parliament in February for the House of Lords and a position in the Scottish Office at Westminster.

As well as the Heart, he also visited Granton’s historic gas holder, which is being restored as the centrepiece of a new public space in the regeneration of the waterfront and Portobello Town Hall, recently rescued for the community by a local charity much like ourselves here at the Heart.

All three projects have recently received much-welcomed funding from Westminster’s Levelling Up Fund.

Lord Cameron met many of the Heart’s Partners and users, including the Ukranian Spiders, Mwamba, Vintage Vibes, Robert Furze and some of the History of Education volunteers who were coincidentally hosting a visit from Primary 7 pupils from Victoria Primary School.

He also spoke to Alex Bird from Tortoise in a Nutshell, Charlie Traylor from Men of Leith’s Shed, volunteer Judy Gray hard at work on our knitted Christmas Tree project, and artist Jill Boualaxai, so he got a good overview of the many skeins bound up within the Heart.

Building work at the Heart

The emergency conservation works including roof and window repairs are being undertaken by a team from our contractors, Ashwood, led by site foreman, Findlay and should be finished by the end of March.

Ashwood will then return in April to fit a couple of stones and install some new windows that are being cut or made off site. (Did you know that when you need to replace stone, a stone “library” is brought to site so that the stone can be matched?)

Most of those repairs won’t be visible, but were very necessary to get the building wind and water tight, before we embark on future works to bring the building into the 21st century in terms of repair and energy efficiency for the comfort and use of all.

In the meantime, people might see safety scaffolding going up in the atrium for a few weeks, and our apologies in advance to our Partners and user groups who may experience some disruption as windows are repaired.

We must give a huge shout out to our funders without whom we couldn’t have done all this; The Department of Levelling Up, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and The Pilgrim Trust and of course there’s also the Design Team who specialise in the conservation of listed buildings in community use, led by John Gilbert Associates.

Hear About… talks

Our Hear About… talks taking place in the Heritage Suite on Friday afternoons have been proving very popular, with up to three dozen people attending each of the various events.

They will continue to run until the first Friday in April and then we will pause them over the summer and restart them in the autumn.

Here are the next scheduled talks …

Friday 8th March – Bill Hall on the Newhaven fishing industry

Friday 15th March – Kenneth Williamson on the old Caledonian Railway between Leith and Granton

Friday 22nd March – Niall Campbell on birds of the Isle of May

Friday 5th April – Anna Inman on the Restoration Forth project

More details on the website.

Volunteer to help and get a guaranteed place in the action!

We are keen to recruit a team of volunteers to help with the logistics of the talks. We need to set up the chairs (and rearrange them again at the end) in the Heritage Suite as well as welcome attendees and then serve teas and coffees at the end.

Would you be willing to lend a hand? Contact christine.mcderment@heartofnewhaven.co.uk or admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you’d like to help.

It may be the end of the Spring talks in April, but we already have talks lined up for the autumn, including one on the Hill & Adamson photographs of Newhaven fishwives, from Louise Pearson of the National Portrait Gallery and another on Celtic folklore and the mythical sea creatures of Newhaven. Watch this space!

Death Cafés at the Heart of Newhaven

A death cafe is described as a safe place where people can feel free to talk about anything they wish, to do with death and dying.

On Saturday morning, 27th January we held our very first death café when fourteen people attended and the feedback was very positive. The discussions were enjoyed by all and there was delicious cake.

There will be more death cafés at the Heart on Saturday mornings of April 27th, July 27th and October 19th, all 10.00 am to 12.00 noon. Please arrive around 9.45 for welcome and coffee.

Remember our regular Events

Monday lunch club

The Cyrenian Lunch Club takes place at the Heart every Monday from 12.30 until 2pm. The lunches are free and open to all (advise in advance if you have allergies)

They’ll be serving a nutritious two-course meal along with tea/coffee. Some weeks there will also be entertainment to enjoy!

Sharing the Past meetings at the Heart are now taking place on the last Thursday of every month and the next one will be on Thursday 28th March.

Come along and reminisce with our Reminiscence volunteers. The topic changes every time. All on a Thursday at 10.30 -1130 am.

Keep up to date with all the regular events and activities by checking our website or following us on social media.

Oyster Mural

Remember too to get involved in the Restoration Forth project to create a mural for one of the outside walls of the Anchor Building. There will be a get-together to discuss plans, with coffee and cake at the Heart on Saturday 23rd March at 10am.

You can find out more on our website or follow the link below:

The Friends of Western Harbour Ponds have asked us to help raise awareness of their fight to save the re-wilded space now home to numerous bird species and a precious haven for humans too.

A petition calling on The City of Edinburgh Council and The Scottish Government to “recognise the value of the self-willed wetland habitat for nature and for people, and to help save it from development” has so far gathered more than 3,000 signatures.

You can find out more about the campaign at Save Western Harbour Ponds

If you’re keen to help document the biodiversity of the Ponds and other spots in Edinburgh, pop 26 to 29 April in your diary!

The City Nature Challenge is an annual worldwide bioblitz to record wildlife and plant life in cities, with the Edinburgh project coordinated by RSPB Scotland.

Community Orchard planting at Lauriston Farm this weekend

After our lovely inaugural Orchard Wassail last month, and winter pruning the existing trees, we are ready to plant some additional trees in the orchard – apples, cherries, damsons, gages and the mulberry!

If you would like to join the Community Orchard Group and help with planting, come along this Saturday 9th March, from 11am.

Meet at the green portacabin, just inside the farm gate off the Toby Carvery car park.

Make It Happen: Creative Workshops at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Calling all local creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs.

Ready to elevate your brand and conquer social media? Join us for two special workshops this Saturday 9 March at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Rachel of Rachel Henderson Interiors will share her expertise on developing your brand and social media presence through two hands-on, creative workshops. Join us for one or both!

1:30pm – 3.30pm: Branding & Vision Board Workshop

4pm – 6pm: Social Media Workshop

Lunch and refreshments provided; and childcare is available.

Free but limited spaces available, so advance booking is essential. You can attend one workshop if that is of most interest, or book your space for both.

The workshops are aimed at local adults living in North Edinburgh (Muirhouse, Pilton, Drylaw, Granton). Part of the Make It Happen project, proudly supported by the Scottish Ecosystem Fund 2023-24.

Find out more and book your place at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/make-it-happen-x-rachel…

FetLor launches Living Library

Starting next Wednesday we will be launching our weekly living library event for the month of March.

At FetLor we think that everyone should have a chance to share their stories, in this spirit we have invited some guest speakers to come share their stories with our S1+ drop-in group as well as to hear theirs in return.

#fetlor100

Age Scotland uncovers more than £1.5 million of unclaimed benefits for older people

Age Scotland has identified £1,577,341.81 of unclaimed benefits for older people who called their helpline in 2023, more than double the figure for the previous year, and a record amount for the charity.

Scotland’s national charity for older people said the amount – a remarkable 136% increase on the 2022 figure – is still the ‘tip of the iceberg’, with millions of pounds unclaimed by older people who are entitled to more financial support.

Katherine Crawford, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “Many of the callers to our helpline are facing severe financial hardship, in part due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“For the tens of thousands of pensioners in Scotland on low and middle incomes, claiming the full range of benefits to which they are entitled can be the difference between heating their home or not and being able to eat well.

“Our helpline advisers, who carry out benefits checks, have also noticed an increase in the number of over 50s inquiring about working age benefits, such as Universal Credit, as the impact of the cost of living crisis continues to bite.

“However we still believe that this is only the tip of the iceberg and that there are millions of pounds of benefits for older people which are not being claimed.

“Unfortunately there is a real lack of awareness around what support is available and a strong feeling that the application processes are too hard. Around a third of over 50s say they don’t claim what they are entitled to because they feel guilty doing so or that someone else would be more deserving. We must change this as far too many go without the help they have earned.

“We would encourage more older people in Scotland to call our helpline for a free benefits check. Our expert advisers can help callers navigate the complex benefits system – and the results could be life changing.”

Among the benefits available to older people in need are Pension Credit, available to people over State Pension age on low income or with modest savings, to help with the cost of living, and Attendance Allowance, a payment for people over State Pension age who have a physical or mental disability.

Anyone over the age of 50 can call the Age Scotland national helpline on 0800 12 44 222.

Case Study 1:

Mr A is a father of 5 school age children. He has health problems and also provides care for his 19 year old adult son. He was previously on Tax Credits but has now had to make a claim for Universal Credit and was unsure about how much he might be able to get.

We carried out several calculations to look at the full range of his potential entitlements, factoring in all of his financial and family circumstances, in particular being able to reassure him that restrictions like the benefit cap and two child limit would not apply in his case.

We were able to explain to him that he could be entitled to the equivalent of £38, 342 per year in benefits and gave him advice about some common problems he might encounter when claiming and what steps he could take if these happened.

Case Study 2:

Mrs M called from South Lanarkshire after being signposted to Age Scotland by DWP Pension Credit team.

She is in her late sixties and has been the main carer for her husband. He recently passed away and she has been struggling to manage rising costs on her state pension. She applied for Pension Credit and was informed she is £2 over the threshold to qualify for this.

During the call, she explained she has COPD and other health issues. Her caring role has taken a toll on her health, and she finds it more difficult to cope on a daily basis. We discussed Attendance Allowance, and she plans to apply for this. When awarded this will increase her income by £68 per week in addition to making her eligible for a Pension Credit award of approximately £70 per week.

A&E waiting times hit all time high in Scotland

‘UNDERFUNDED, OVERCROWDED and, at times, UNSAFE’

New data released yesterday (5 March 2024) for Scotland reveals January was the worst month on record for people waiting to be seen in A&E.

The figures published by Public Health Scotland show that, in January 2024:

41,161 (38%) patients waited over four hours in major Emergency Departments, a 21% increase compared to last January (33,962) 
17,077 (16%) of patients waited eight hours or more in Emergency Departments, almost 13 times higher than in January 2016 (1,338) 
8,402 (8%) of patients waited twelve hours or more in Emergency Departments, the largest amount for any January since records began and 36 times higher than in January 2016 (232).

There were 1,866 beds occupied due to delayed discharges, an increase of 53 compared to December 2023. 

Dr JP Loughrey, Royal College of Emergency Medicine Vice President for Scotland said: “This is beyond exasperating. Most people attend A&E in desperate need – to be seen by a medical professional quickly and with dignity.

“Already struggling, patients are having to endure overcrowded waiting rooms and corridors – for hours. If admission is required, they must wait for a bed – for hours.

“This latest data makes for grim reading, and it is incredibly demoralising for my colleagues to be working under such strenuous circumstances.

“They are working all out to put patients first whilst also having to carry the burden of working in an underfunded, overcrowded, and at times unsafe emergency care system. We need intervention from the Government and policy makers to ensure we never reach this nadir again.”

The data also reports:

In January 2024, there were 108,427 attendances at major Emergency Departments in Scotland. This is marginal decrease of 0.25% compared to the previous month. 

62% of patients were seen within four hours at major (Type 1) Emergency Departments. This is the worst four-hour performance for any January since records began.
This is a decrease of 0.5 percentage points compared to December last year and a decrease of 3.2 percentage points compared to January 2023. 
41,161 (38%) patients waited over four hours in major Emergency Departments. This is a 1% increase compared to December last year (40,763) and a 21% increase compared to January 2023 (33,962). 
The number of patients waiting more than four hours has increased by more than three times compared to January 2016 (9,808). 
17,077 (16%) patients waited eight hours or more in Emergency Departments. 
The proportion waiting this long has increased by 2% compared to the previous month, December 2023 and has increased by 2.3% compared to the previous year, January 2023. 
The numbers waiting more than eight hours is almost 13 times those in January 2016 (1,338). 
8,402 (8%) of patients waited twelve hours or more in Emergency Departments  
This is the largest amount for any January since records began. 
The proportion waiting this long has increased by almost 1% compared to December last year and has increased by more than 1% compared to January 2023. 
The numbers waiting more than 12 hours is 36 times those in January 2016 (232). 
There were 1,866 beds occupied due to delayed discharges, an increase of 53 compared to December 2023.

Chancellor to set out ‘Budget for Long Term Growth’

TUC: Long-term growth promise “farcical”

Chancellor expected to unveil a Spring Budget that will deliver long term growth
Jeremy Hunt will set out a plan to build a high wage, high skill economy
Sets out path to more investment, more jobs, more productive public services and lower taxes

The Chancellor will today deliver a Spring Budget that will deliver a long-term plan for growth in the United Kingdom.

Since the Prime Minister set out his five priorities for the government last year, inflation has more than halved from 11% to 4%, the economy has recovered more quickly from the pandemic than first thought, and debt is on track to fall.

Thanks to the stability their economic plan has brought, the country is now at a turning point but there is more work to do to bring inflation down further.

Jeremy Hunt will highlight the government’s focus on the long-term decisions needed to strengthen the British economy and give people the opportunity to build a wealthier, more secure life for themselves and their family.

The Chancellor is expected to say: “In recent times the UK economy has dealt with a financial crisis, a pandemic and an energy shock caused by a war on the European continent.

“Yet despite the most challenging economic headwinds in modern history, under Conservative governments since 2010 growth has been higher than every large European economy – unemployment has halved, absolute poverty has gone down, and there are 800 more people in jobs for every single day we’ve been in office.

“Of course, interest rates remain high as we bring down inflation. But because of the progress we’ve made because we are delivering on the Prime Minister’s economic priorities we can now help families with permanent cuts in taxation.

“We do this not just to give help where it is needed in challenging times. But because Conservatives know lower tax means higher growth. And higher growth means more opportunity and more prosperity.

“But if we want that growth to lead to higher wages and higher living standards for every family in every corner of the country, it cannot come from unlimited migration. It can only come by building a high wage, high skill economy. Not just higher GDP, but higher GDP per head.

“And that’s the difference with the Labour Party. They will destroy jobs with 70 new burdens on employers, reduce opportunities by halving new apprenticeships and risk family finances with new spending that pushes up tax.

“Instead of going back to square one, our plans mean more investment, more jobs, more productive public services and lower taxes – sticking to our plan in a Budget for Long Term Growth.”

Mr Hunt will go on to warn: “An economy based on sound money does not pass on its bills to the next generation.

“When it comes to borrowing, some believe there is a choice between responsibility and compassion. They are wrong.

“It is only because we responsibly reduced the deficit by 80% between 2010 and 2019 that we could generously provide £400 billion to help families and businesses in the pandemic.

“The Labour Party opposed our plans to reduce the deficit every step of the way. But at least they were consistent.

“The Liberal Democrats supported controlling spending in office, but now want to prop up a party after the election that will turn on the spending taps. It’s the difference between Labour with no plan and the Liberal Democrats with no principles.

“But we say something different.

“With the pandemic behind us, we must once again be responsible and increase our resilience to future shocks. That means bringing down borrowing so we can start to reduce our debt.”

Chancellor’s promise of “long-term growth” is “farcical”

Responding to the Chancellor’s promise of a “Budget for Long Term Growth” TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Chancellor’s promises are farcical.

“The Conservatives have been in power for 14 years. It’s a bit late for them to come up with a plan for long-term growth – especially when our economy is in recession.

“This is desperate spin from a government that has manifestly failed on growth, living standards and public services.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils new 2025/26 programme from Rosyth with chance to win £1,000 cruise voucher

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled its brand new cruise programme for 2025/26, featuring a host of specially-timed sailings where guests can embrace the local way of life, seek out native wildlife and witness spectacular natural wonders.

The new programme from Rosyth has been carefully curated to ensure guests are visiting destinations at the very best time of year with opportunities to witness spectacular waterfalls and geysers in Iceland, visit Europe’s biggest sea shanty festival and explore the enchanting islands of Arctic Norway.

To celebrate the launch, guests who book a cruise from the new 2025/26 Worldwide programme between 5^th and 12^th March 2024, have the chance to win up to £1,000 off a cruise of their choice. Five runners up will also win a £200 voucher to use towards a future cruise booking. *

Destinations include the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Baltic, Arctic Norway, Iceland and Greenland, the British Isles and far-flung gems in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Australia.

Martin Lister, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experiences at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “This has been a phenomenal programme for our team of Journey Planners to curate, as it will see our fleet of smaller-sized ships visit all seven continents of the world.

“Guests who join us on board in 2025 and 2026 can expect to see some breathtaking scenery including eye-catching fjord mountains, dramatic coastlines, icebergs, remote islands and beautiful bays.

“They can visit captivating cities, fairytale castles and charming old towns packed with ornate and striking architecture and experience natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, stunning sunsets and flowers in bloom at the very best time to see them.

“Some of the highlights include chances to visit the beautiful Norwegian Fjords in the spring, when the waterfalls are at their strongest; to see fields of lavender and sunflowers in bloom in the French Riviera and enjoy a world cruise discovering idyllic islands and cities rich in culture.”

Guests can also look forward to a host of specially-curated activities on board, from chances to join an astronomer for stargazing on deck; to spot marine wildlife with conservation charity ORCA, or sample authentic flavours from the destinations they will visit.

Those making a booking can also take advantage of dedicated launch offers, with up to £20 per person per night to spend on board on selected five to 13-night cruises; the choice of up to £20 credit per person per night or free door-to-door transfers within up to 200 mainland miles from the port on sailings of 14 to 28 nights. There are also a series of dedicated offers for solo travellers.

Rob Mason, Head of Cruise at Capital Cruising, said: “Congratulations to the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines team as they launch an exciting new cruise programme.

“The Port of Rosyth offers the perfect regional location for people who can depart from here and cruise directly to many brilliant destinations with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

“This year will be our busiest cruise season on the River Forth and we are seeing cruise holidays increase in popularity in Scotland each year.

“We look forward to welcoming passengers to our ports and we would of course encourage anyone new to cruise, to book one of the many amazing itineraries to Europe or farther afield.”

Highlights of the 2025/26 cruise programme include:

Balmoral’s 10-night L2512 ‘Scenic Scottish Isles and the West Country’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 7^th June 2025. Prices start from £1,649 per person.

Enjoy scenic cruising of Scottish islands such as Fingal’s Cave
Experience the foot-tapping Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival
Visit the Gardens of Heligan or Eden Project

Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Cruising by Duncansby Stacks, Scotland – Cruising by The Needle, Scotland – Cruising by Old Man of Hoy, Scotland – Lerwick, Scotland – Cruising by the Small Isles, Scotland – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap (Bac Mor), Scotland – Cruising by Fingal’s Cave, Scotland – St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly – Falmouth, England – Dartmouth, England – Portsmouth, England – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2512 ‘Scenic Scottish Isles and the West Country’

Balmoral’s 10-night L2513 ‘Norway’s Arctic Islands and Mountainous Vistas’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 17^th June 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.

Explore Arctic Norway in the summertime
Witness the Midnight Sun and see Torghatten
Travel along the iconic Atlantic Ocean Road

Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Crossing the Arctic Circle, Norway – Cruising by Reine, Lofoten, Norway – Leknes, Norway – Svolvær, Norway – Cruising Tjeldsundet Strait, Norway – Tromsø, Norway – Sortland, Vesteralen, Norway – Cruising by Seven Sisters Mountain Range, Norway – Cruising by Torghatten, Norway – Kristiansund, Norway – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2513 ‘Norway’s Arctic Islands and Mountainous Vistas’

Balmoral’s 14-night L2514 ‘Fairytale Castles and Old Towns of the Baltic’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 27^th June 2025. Prices start from £2,099 per person.

Discover the enchanting cities of Riga, Tallinn and Copenhagen
Immerse yourself in Estonian life at the Song and Dance Festival
Uncover the Hanseatic history of the Baltic region

Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – Cruising Kiel Canal, Germany – Copenhagen, Denmark – Warnemünde, Germany – Riga, Latvia – Tallinn, Estonia (overnight stay) – Klaipėda, Lithuania – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2514 ‘Fairytale Castles and Old Towns of the Baltic’

Balmoral’s 13-night L2516 ‘French Rivers with Normandy and Bordeaux’ cruise, departing from Rosyth on 20^th July 2025. Prices start from £1,899 per person.

Sail along the picturesque River Seine, only possible on smaller ships
Join a tour to France’s capital and experience Parisian life
Discover the enigmatic Mont Saint-Michel from St Malo

Itinerary: Rosyth, Scotland – La Pallice (for La Rochelle), France – Bordeaux, France (overnight stay) – Getxo, Spain – St Malo, France – Cruising River Seine, France – Rouen, France (overnight stay) – Honfleur, France – Rosyth, Scotland
For more details: Visit L2516 ‘French Rivers with Normandy and Bordeaux’

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 2025/26 sailings, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/new-cruise-programme

Book online or call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.

Over 95% of UK women with endometriosis face disruptive heavy periods, impacting lives and careers

Over 1.5 million UK women are affected by endometriosis – now a new survey has uncovered the significant toll lesser-known symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) and fatigue take on their social, emotional, and professional lives.

Nine out of 10 (96%) UK women with endometriosis experience a decline in their quality of life due to debilitating heavy periods and fatigue, yet many never seek medical help, according to a new study from leading iron supplement specialist Active Iron.

A survey of 1,500 women and girls for Endometriosis Awareness Month found that problem periods are often dismissed as merely “part of being a woman”. This is despite many individuals experiencing severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and fatigue.

Nearly three-quarters of women diagnosed with endometriosis in the UK reported having heavy periods, leading to menstrual fatigue.

This fatigue affected 74% of surveyed women aged 16 to 55 who have the condition, with 59% describing the fatigue as ‘extreme’. As a result, 84% reported a noticeable difference in their ability to function normally during their period.

Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue resembling the lining of the womb develops around organs within the abdomen. It is characterised by pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, as well as chronic pelvic pain. Many women also experience secondary symptoms including heavy bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, and fatigue.

Despite this, on average, women wait 7.5 years for a diagnosis, and many with heavy menstrual bleeding avoid seeking medical help, thinking it’s normal.

Concerningly, the study revealed that symptoms like heavy periods and fatigue are not limited to women diagnosed with endometriosis.

Notably, 77% of those without endometriosis reported experiencing menstrual fatigue that impacted their daily lives, with 74% lacking the energy or motivation to do everyday tasks as a result.

This leaves many women facing serious physical, social, and emotional challenges due to debilitating symptoms. These issues not only harm their health but also disrupt important parts of their lives, such as work, relationships, and social activities.

More than a quarter of women (27%), irrespective of endometriosis diagnosis, reported being unable to work due to heavy menstrual bleeding and the accompanying fatigue. Approximately one in five (16%) had taken a sick day, while 34% had worked but experienced a decline in their performance.

Home life was similarly impacted, with 23% of all women surveyed saying that problem periods had negatively affected their relationship with their spouse or partner, almost a quarter (24%) avoiding staying overnight at a partner’s house, and 20% struggling to keep up with their children during their menstrual cycle.

As a result of heavy menstrual bleeding and fatigue, 50% of women felt antisocial and didn’t want to spend time with friends or family, leaving 55% feeling isolated and alone when dealing with tiredness from heavy periods. Emotionally, 50% described themselves as feeling unhappy, sad or depressed.

Dr Ria Clarke, registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, and expert clinician for Active Iron, said: “It’s so important that we can dispel the misconceptions around heavy periods, fatigue and endometriosis, reduce unnecessary delays in diagnosis, and improve the quality of life for millions of women worldwide whose lives are being negatively impacted.

“This is particularly important when you consider that these conditions aren’t exclusive to diagnosed individuals, and 47% of UK women find their current methods for alleviating period-related fatigue ineffective.”

Claire Lynch, head of marketing for Active Iron, added: “With this survey and our campaign, we want to spark meaningful conversations and change the way we talk about endometriosis and heavy periods.

“As we enter Endometriosis Awareness Month, our aim is to shed light on the lesser-known impacts of the condition, like heavy periods and menstrual fatigue, breaking down the stigma around menstrual health and aiding women in better managing their symptoms.”

More than half of women surveyed had been given pain medication to treat endometriosis, while 45% were recommended contraception, and 32% have been prescribed other hormone therapies.

Active Iron’s survey found, however, that women find their current methods to relieve menstrual fatigue ineffective. Many had resorted to consuming more coffee or energy drinks (42%), sleeping more (52%), and doing less activities (48%) to manage tiredness caused by their menstrual cycle.

“Given that menstruation is the leading cause of iron loss worldwide, it’s important to understand the link between heavy periods, low iron levels and fatigue. Rather than covering up tiredness and fatigue with quick fixes, a daily iron supplement can help women address the energy loss associated with diminished iron levels, in turn achieving symptomatic relief and improving their quality of life,” added Dr Clarke.

Many iron supplements are poorly tolerated, leading to debilitating side effects like nausea, constipation and changed bowel habits. This causes women to discontinue them, reducing the chance of improving their iron stores and resulting energy levels.

In contrast, Active Iron is clinically proven to improve iron levels by 94%, whilst avoiding troublesome side effects, resulting in increased energy levels, and longer-term improvements in overall health.

Don’t accept menstrual fatigue, visit activeiron.com/uk to learn more.

Edinburgh audiologist highlights hearing health in local community for World Hearing Day

FOLLOWING this year’s World Hearing Day (3^rd March 2024), an audiology director from the Specsavers Home Visits team in Edinburgh has discussed the importance of regular hearing tests, sharing top audiology health tips to help the local community ensure their hearing is in great shape.

Lynne Philips, audiology partner at the Specsavers Home Visits team that covers Edinburgh, aims to raise awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care.

One of the most reoccurring issues with hearing is earwax build-up which can cause hearing difficulties and discomfort. Lynne highlights the challenges this can cause: ‘Everyone has earwax. It’s produced by our ears to help protect them from infections and to stop them feeling dry and irritated.

“However, too much wax can cause problems, particularly when it becomes hardened and impacted, potentially leading to hearing loss, discomfort, pain and in some cases infections.’

Lynne continues: ‘Because of this, it’s always hugely important to get expert help if you experience difficulty with your hearing, especially if you’re not directly able to access a local Specsavers store.

“The accredited hearing care professionals on our Home Visits team are able to pay you a visit and can safety check if this is a problem you have.

‘Hearing loss is experienced by millions of people in the UK and affects people of all ages. Everyone’s hearing is unique. That’s why we carry out comprehensive hearing tests to better understand each person’s individual hearing profile. It also means Specsavers’ hearing experts can help people find the right hearing aids to rediscover the sounds they may be missing.’

The Specsavers Home Visits audiology team can provide adult hearing tests, as well as numerous audiology services such as hearing aid fittings and replacements, assisting customers with any hearing concerns they may have.

For more information about the Specsavers Home Visits team, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/home-eye-tests/request-a-free-home-visit.