North Edinburgh News – Page 1189 – The NEN

Scottish Ambulance Service receives 10 million calls

More than 10 million people have called the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) Ambulance Control Centre (ACC) in the past nine years.

The amazing milestone of 10 million was received on July 17 at 05:56 and was taken by East ACC call handler Melissa Hurst.

SAS uses a system to log calls called C3, which is a service operating system to record all incidents called into 999; this allows our clinical staff to review and offer support where appropriate and for our dispatchers to allocate resources when required.

It was introduced in 2006 and originally implemented into the three regional ACCs – Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh – which operated separately. In 2014, it was implemented nationally as the ACCs integrated into a national service; this is when the national incident count started.

Earlier this year, the Service launched its Integrated Clinical Hub. Using a multi-disciplinary network of skilled clinical staff, the Hub gives SAS the ability to provide a detailed consultation for patients whose initial 999 triage has ruled out time-critical illness. The hub operates 24 hours a day, to ensure patients receive the best possible response to their need when they dial 999.

Michael Dickson, SAS Chief Executive, said: “Our ACCs are an invaluable part of the Scottish Ambulance Service and this is truly a remarkable achievement. Thanks to all of our ACC staff who continue to provide such a crucial service.

“Whether these calls were for call handlers to deliver incredible care, for dispatchers to send the right resource to the scene as quickly as possible, or clinicians to assess and keep our patients safe, we are grateful and proud of all of our ACC staff for the outstanding service they provide to Scotland.

“Our Clinical Hub transformation is aimed at supporting more patients in communities to ensure patients get the right care, at the right time. The number of patients being cared for out with hospital Emergency Departments remains substantial and as we head into a challenging winter period, it’s vital we find ways of delivering the right care for individuals and easing pressure on Emergency Departments.”

Call handler Melissa said: “Taking the 10th million call puts it in perspective of just how many people have depended and relied on SAS to help and care for patients. It shows just how essential our service is for both the public and healthcare professionals and I’m thankful to be a part of it.”

The milestone comes as the SAS ACC team recently won Call Handling Team of the Year at the Control Room Awards, and our control room received Accredited Centre of Excellence (ACE) accreditation for the excellent standard of its 999-call handling and supporting processes.

Month long showcase for Scotland’s most talented musicians at The Rose Theatre

Edinburgh: Rose Theatre pop-up music venue set to be city’s hottest ticket

A pop up live music venue that will offer the sort of freewheeling feel of the original Fringe and features many of Scotland’s most talented performers, is set to open its doors in early August on Rose Street. Tickets are now on sale.

Over 25 days the venue will host 50 jazz, folk and other concerts featuring many of Scotland’s most talented performers. Some of those already confirmed are Fergus McCreadie, Aidan O’Rourke, Su-a Lee, Shooglenifty, Roddy Woomble, Mr McFall’s Chamber and Georgia Cécile.

Located at the west end of Rose Street (Charlotte Square end) and open from 4pm to midnight 7 days a week, The Rose Theatre (Venue 76) will feature two ticketed performances a day in the Cabaret Bar and main theatre alongside spontaneous, pop-up performances in the child and dog friendly Café Bar area, curated by Soundhouse.

Ticket prices are set at £15.00 and are available from the Fringe Society from Wednesday 26 July.

Joining forces to run the month-long pop up live music venue at The Rose Theatre, are two independent organisations – the Soundhouse live music charity and Edinburgh-based, Bellfield Brewery.

Douglas Robertson from Soundhouse said “We’ll present a showcase of the best of Scottish music at this year’s Fringe: we believe our series will be the best that the Fringe has seen in living memory.

“Events at the Rose Theatre will provide the excitement, spontaneity and creativity that has long been replaced by the crass commercialism of the London-owned mega-venues around Edinburgh University. Great music, great beer, great venue! What’s not to like?”

Speaking about the venture, Bellfield’s Alistair Brown said, “Together we will offer some of the Fringe Festival’s most exciting acts alongside award winning, locally-brewed craft beers.

“Locals and visitors will receive the same friendly welcome from our team that they get in our Abbeyhill Taproom (voted the best Taproom in Scotland 2022).”

The Soundhouse Organisation draws on the success of Edinburgh Tradfest whose popularity grows year on year. Bellfield Brewery’s previous festival experience includes a collaboration with Pianodrome at the Old Royal High School in 2022 and the Hidden Door Festival earlier in 2023.

The partners hope to repeat their Festival successes this year at The Rose Theatre where they have secured a month-long lease, prior to the building being redeveloped.

Programme

A couple of dates/performers are still to be confirmed. The line up at present is:

4th @ 9.30pm Don Paterson and Graeme Stephen

6th @ 7pm Karen Marshalsay

7th @ 7pm Roo and Neil

8th @ 7pm Juliet Lemoine

8th @ 9.30 Nimbus Sextet

9th @ 7pm Adam Holmes

9th @ 9.30pm The Penalty – Live score – Graeme Stephen and Pete Harvey

10th @ 7pm The Firelight Trio

10th @9.30pm ballboy

11th @ 7pm Ross and Ali (with Jenn Butterworth)

11th @ 9.30pm “Motian & Me” – Tom Bancroft, Phil Bancroft & Norman Wilmore

12th @ 7pm Inge Thomson and Fraser Fifield

12th @ 9.30pm Helena Kay Trio

13th @ 7pm Brian Kellock

13th @ 9.30pm Nosferatu – Live score – Graeme Stephen and Aidan O’Rourke

14th @ 7pm Dancing Mice

14th @ 9.30pm Phil Bancroft’s Standards Trio

15th @ 7pm Viper Swing

15th @ 9.30pm Trio Mágico

16th @ 7pm Simon Bradley Trio

16th @ 9pm Matt Carmichael & Fergus McCreadie

17th @ 7pm Aidan O’Rourke & Brighde Chaimbeul

17th @ 9.30 ‘Motian and Me’ – Tom Bancroft Phil Bancroft and Adam Jackson

18th @ 7pm Chris Stout & Catriona Mackay

18th @ 9.30 Fat Suit

19th @ 7pm Jarlath Henderson and Innes Watson

19th @ 9.30pm Shooglenifty

20th @ 7pm Su-a Lee & Friends (D Chisholm, H Napier, D Shaw)

20th @ 9.30pm Shooglenifty

21st @ 7pm Tallulah Rose

21st @ 9.30pm Ciaran Ryan Band

22nd @ 7pm Konrad Wisniewski and Haftor Medboe

22nd @ 9.30 Georgia Cécile with Fraser Urquhart

23rd @ 7pm Georgia Cécile with Fraser Urquhart

23rd @ 9.30pm AKU!

24th @ 7pm The Brothers Gillespie

24th @ 9.30pm Matt Carmichael Quintet

25th @ 7pm Niki King

25th @ 9.30pm Roddy Woomble

26th @ 7pm Gnawa Trance Fusion

27th @ 7pm Mairearad Green and Mike Vass

27th @ 9.30pm Tommy Smith & Peter Johnstone

28th @ 7pm Mr McFall’s Chamber

28th @ 9.30pm Greg Lawson, Mario Caribé & Phil Alexander

Social Security Scotland: School Age Payment update

Parents or carers who get Housing Benefit but don’t receive Scottish Child Payment need to apply for the School Age Payment as they will not receive it automatically.

Additionally, some young parents, those under 18 or 18 to 19 year olds who are dependent on someone else but don’t receive qualifying benefits, also need to apply for the School Age Payment as they will not receive it automatically.

Anyone who has opted out from receiving automatic awards, or who has chosen not to apply for Scottish Child Payment, will also have to apply for School Age Payment

The School Age Payment of £294.70 is designed to help with the costs of preparing for school. Parents or carers of children born between March 1 2018 and 28 February 2019 can apply online at the Scottish Government website.

Clients can contact a client advisor by calling 0800 182 2222 or by using our webchat.

People must apply before the closing date of 28 February 2024. Parents or carers who defer their child’s entry to school from August 2023 to August 2024 should still apply before the closing date.

More information is available on the Scottish Government website.

Picnic in D Mains Park on Sunday

Free this Sunday? Come along to a Picnic in the Park – open to everyone, fun and games and chance to chat. Bring your own picnic and let’s celebrate summer!

(If it rains bring your picnic along to the Sycamore Tree Cafe at Davidson’s Mains Parish Church instead.)

Equinor banks on £3.75 BILLION tax break while posting ‘outrageous’ profits

“The world is burning and the UK Government is helping the arsonists pay for the fuel”

Climate campaigners have reacted with outrage at the news that Norwegian oil giant Equinor has today announced pre-tax profits of £5.8 billion (US$7.5 billion) in JST THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

Campaigners said that with climate-induced fires sweeping Greece “the UK Government is helping the arsonists pay for the fuel” with a massive tax break for Equinor to develop a new oil field.

Equinor’s flagship project in the UK, the controversial Rosebank oil field, is in line to pocket a tax break of £3.75 billion from the UK Government to incentivise its development. This deliberate loophole in the Windfall Tax means that 91% of the cost of developing the 500 million barrel field will be covered by the public purse, despite Equinor’s massive profits and the fact that 80% of Rosebank’s oil will be exported.

Campaigners in Aberdeen yesterday delivered a giant ‘cheque’ to the Equinor offices to highlight the injustice of the tax break.

Last year, Equinor broke records with pre-tax yearly profits of £62 billion (US$74.9billion), benefiting from increased prices for oil and gas due to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, energy bills for consumers skyrocketed and millions were pushed into fuel poverty.

There has been widespread opposition to the Rosebank field, with public protests across the UK, politicians including SNP MPs Tommy Sheppard and Mhairi Black and the head of the UK Government’s own climate advisory committee, Lord Deben, speaking out against the project.

A decision on Rosebank is rumoured to be scheduled for after the summer recess, following delays due to concerns that the project would not meet net zero commitments under the North Sea Transition Deal.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s oil and gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “These outrageous profits every quarter serve as a stark reminder that companies like Equinor have no intention of changing their ways.

“Fossil fuel giants are simply making too much money from upholding the climate-destroying status quo. Adding insult to injury is the massive tax break Equinor will receive should they go ahead with Rosebank, showing how the UK Government would rather hand out public money than say no to big polluters.

“Grant Shapps and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are blatantly ignoring the devastating impacts of climate breakdown, exemplified most recently in the terrifying wildfires in Greece.

“By cheerfully inviting oil companies to drill for yet more polluting fossil fuels, they are effectively denying the reality of the climate crisis. The world is burning and the UK Government is helping the arsonists pay for the fuel.

“The Scottish Government can no longer sit on the fence on this climate denial and must speak out against Rosebank and all other new fossil fuel projects. We need a just transition to clean, affordable energy now.”

BREAKING NEWS: British Gas parent company Centrica has just posted it’s highest ever profits – £969 million in first six months of this year. Shell, too, has just posted eye-watering profits.

No cost of living crisis for these companies …

Stay safe when working from home!

In recent times working life has become much more flexible and hybrid working is offered as standard in many businesses across the country, so it’s vital that business owners fully equip their employees with the knowledge of how to upkeep good electrical practices when at home and on the move.

As an increasing number of homeworking homeowners seek to invest in renovating their home office space, NICEIC has stressed the importance of the safety of any electrical equipment being used in the work-from-home environment.

The standard office environment poses little obvious threat of danger if maintained correctly, but poor electrical management can result in damage to the property or physical injury.

Paul Collins, NICEIC’s Technical Director has compiled a list of top things to consider when working from home:

Make sure you don’t overload sockets – it can be tempting to have all your chargers working within reaching distance, but this can create a fire hazard
If more sockets are required, or if you are adapting any of the electrics in your home always use a certified electrical business, such as those certified by NICEIC. They can ensure that the job is carried out safely and in accordance with the relevant regulations and standards
Ensure you unplug any chargers or leads that are not in use and double-check before you log off for the evening that you’ve turned everything off.
Despite us moving towards a more digital world, you may still rely on a lot of paper for your day-to-day operations. If this is the case, make sure they’re kept well away from any electricals or any potential sources of heat
Regularly check any cables for signs of damage or scorching
Only ever purchase electrical goods from reputable retailers

For many, home working setups can be somewhat haphazard, especially when it comes to electrical safety.

Recent research conducted by Electrical Safety First found that two-thirds of those working from home are using extension leads, and 38% of them admitted that homeworking means that they have more plugged into them than they normally would^[1].

Not only should you avoid overloading extension leads, but you must also not daisy chain them. This is the process whereby several extension leads are connected to reach further or cater for more appliances / electrical equipment. This is highly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

Advising those to stay safe when working from home, Paul Collins, said: “It is crucial that safe electrical practice is maintained in people’s home working space. Many people are unaware of the importance of the surface on which charging appliances are kept. Electrical items such as phones and tablets should only be charged on non-flammable, hard surfaces, so leaving charging computers on top of a bed for example is a potential recipe for disaster.

“Electrical Safety First found that 28% of UK adults have bought and used a cheap, unbranded charger and this rises to 45% of 18-24-year-olds^[2]. Workers, whether at home or in the office need to make sure they are using legitimate chargers to ensure they are certified as safe. Counterfeit chargers not only can damage your device but can also result in electrical fire or overheating.”

If the home office set up requires any type of electrical work or new installation, it’s important to assess your workspace and determine if you need any further sockets. If you do, it is advisable to speak to your nearest NICEIC certified business.

Not only can they make the alterations safely and in line with the required standards and regulations, thanks to their certification they can also sign the work off and notify building control (where applicable) on your behalf, saving you time and money.

To find your nearest NICEIC certified business, visit NICEIC.com.

Edinburgh organisations urged to take part in Scotland Loves Local Week

Events showcasing great work in communities – and need to back local businesses – to take place from August 28th

Businesses and organisations across Edinburgh are being urged to take part in the first Scotland Loves Local Week.

The seven days of events – taking place from Monday, August 28th – will showcase great local people and enterprises, highlighting the critical need for residents to show them their support.

People in the region are being urged to take part by organising a celebration event, inviting a local politician to see all that they do and shining a spotlight on their work on social media using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal.

The week is being championed by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local.

Ideas for how people can take part and assets to promote local events are available to download at www.lovelocal.scot.

STV weatherman Sean Batty (below) is a campaign ambassador and is encouraging people to take part. He said: “This is your chance to shout about how great your area is.

“The team at STP will be working with people across the country to highlight some of the incredible work ongoing to create communities fit for the future.

“There are some great things happening and we are keen to showcase them.”

Scotland Loves Local is the drive for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area, potentially injecting millions of pounds into regional economies.

It is spearheaded by STP with support from the Scottish Government.

Council condemns dangerous vandalism in Corstorphine

ANGER AND CONFUSION OVER MANSE ROAD SAFETY MEASURES

Council officers have responded to an incident at the weekend involving vandalism and graffiti to a controversial trial bus gate on Manse Road, which left a pylon in a precarious and dangerous position.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “There’s no excuse for dangerous criminal behaviour like this. We are lucky a member of the public reported it to us early on Sunday morning so that our crews could quickly attend and make the column safe, and I’d like to thank them for this.

“The trial road safety measures in Corstorphine aim to address the fact the majority of local residents (67%) feel there is an issue with vehicles in area. Ultimately, however, improving safety in the street does have some impact on vehicle use – primarily for traffic cutting through the area on the way to somewhere else.

“Given that context, this type of reckless criminal behaviour is shameful, and I know that local people both for and against the scheme are concerned about what’s happened. The damage to council property and the graffiti is completely unacceptable and all it achieves is disruption, expense and a damaging effect on the reputation of a great local community.

“We’ll be reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to Police this week, and I’d urge anyone who knows who may be responsible for this senseless criminal act to reach out to Police too.

“Given the risk the damage posed to the people in the adjacent retirement housing, I hope those responsible are promptly brought to justice.”

The design for Corstorphine Connections was approved by the Transport and Environment Committee in August 2021.

As part of the development of the designs for the project the Council carried out a significant amount of engagement with the local community, many of whom highlighted concerns about the volume and speed of traffic in the area.

Independent market research carried out showed that 67% of people living in the area thought vehicle traffic was a problem, and those with disabilities were more likely to be concerned about the situation.

By limiting through traffic and providing spaces to sit, relax and interact, Corstorphine Connections aims to create a much safer and more welcoming environment for people living there.

Cllr Arthur added: “I know already that many parents have enjoyed being able to walk and cycle more easily with their children in the area since the Council started implementing the scheme, particularly during the recent warmer weather.

“The Council retained access for all residents travelling by car too, alongside these changes, so that those who choose to drive can still do so. It is now much harder, however, for delivery drivers etc to cut through the residential area on the way to somewhere else.

“There are plenty safe and sensible ways to share your views on this trial which we are keen to listen to. I have now attended the local Community Council twice to listen to residents, and I’ve made sure a Council Officer attended every time it met over the past year to answer questions and collect feedback.

“I have also said I will return whenever they want. Additionally, I have done the school run with a local parent, met with a second resident and have a further meeting with a local resident in the pipeline.”

Letters: Childline Support

Dear Editor,

Eating disorders and body image issues were the sixth most common concern brought up by children and young people in Scotland contacting Childline last year (April 2022 – March 2023), with 273 counselling sessions carried out on the issue.

Childline, the counselling service run by the NSPCC, has also revealed that 40 per cent of counselling sessions with children across the UK about these issues took place in the summer months (June to September).

There are number of factors that make the summer holiday a particularly tricky time for young people struggling with their body image or relationship with food.

For some, the prospect of wearing clothing which shows more of their body can make them feel under pressure to look a certain way, lose weight or change their appearance.

This pressure can be reinforced by content they are exposed to online that makes them feel negatively about the way they way look.

At Childline, there is always someone to talk to. Our counsellors are there to listen and offer support and advice every day of the year on 0800 11111 or at www.childline.org.uk

Kind regards,

Lauren Burke

Childline Team Manager, Glasgow

Record medical trainee recruitment levels in Scotland

New starts will begin training this August

More medical training posts have been accepted at this stage of the recruitment year than ever before – exceeding last year’s record by 100 posts.

NHS Education for Scotland data as of 25 July 2023 shows that 1,061 posts have been filled so far this year from 1,137 advertised.

This includes 100% fill rates at entry level in General Practice, Psychiatry, Anaesthetics, Radiology and Emergency Medicine.

These trainee doctors will take up post in August 2023. Another recruitment round will be held before the end of the year for those taking up post in February 2024.

Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto said: “I am delighted to see that Scotland continues to be recognised as a highly desirable place both to live and pursue a career in medicine.

“This is testament to our world-class medical education and training system as well as those working hard to prepare the next generation of doctors who will look after us in the future.

“These results show that NHS Scotland continues to grow accordingly to meet the needs of its patients and I look forward to welcoming these new doctors into the health service.”

NHS Education for Scotland Medical Director Dr Emma Watson said: “As of today, 93% of posts advertised for August 2023 start dates in Scotland are filled.

“Many programmes have filled at 100% and in programmes which have not filled, we are working to understand why. There has also been a significant expansion of training posts across Scotland, particularly in General Practice which has a current fill rate of 100%.”