Lindsay & Gilmour’s popular pharmacy in Blackhall will unveil the completion of a major upgrade to its facilities this month, following a substantial refurbishment over the past nine months.
The new look community pharmacy, which has been operated by Lindsay & Gilmour since 2000, will offer patients and local residents an enhanced environment in which to access medical advice, support and prescriptions at a convenient location and time.
As a result of the refurbishment, which followed a flooding incident in the building last year, the pharmacy has benefited from brand new fittings throughout, increased public space, more IT stations and a larger consultation room allowing for more services in the future. The pharmacy shop area has also been made more customer friendly with wheelchair access and a new staff room area has been created.
Pharmacy Manager Stephen Deazley and his team of highly experienced and knowledgeable health care professionals are looking forward to welcoming customers back into the pharmacy soon.
The official re-opening, taking place at Lindsay & Gilmour, 22 Hillhouse Road, Blackhall, Edinburgh, EH4 2AG will take place between11am and 12pm tomorrow (Thursday 24th June).
Customers are encouraged to come and visit our new look pharmacy during our relaunch week and receive 10% off purchases, a goody bag and a free health check. This will include blood pressure testing, health advice, glucose testing, stop smoking, diet and lifestyle advice.
Lindsay & Gilmour Superintendent Pharmacist and Managing Director Philip Galt said: “I am so proud of the resilience of the whole pharmacy team at Blackhall who have remained dedicated to serving their local community throughout a challenging time in the last year.
“As well as rising to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team have had to work in a very limited space as the pharmacy underwent a considerable refurbishment following a bad flood. The pharmacy refit is now complete, and we are delighted with the results.
“Our patients can look forward to being welcomed and served in a state-of-the art environment by the same dedicated team of pharmacy professionals that make Lindsay & Gilmour so special.”
The TUC has called for long Covid to be urgently recognised as a disability and Covid-19 as an occupational disease, to give workers access to legal protections and compensation.
The call comes as the TUC publishes an in-depth report on workers’ experiences of long Covid during the pandemic.
More than 3,500 workers responded to a TUC survey on the impact of long Covid on people’s daily working lives.
The survey reveals that, of those surveyed:
Nearly 3 in 10 (29 per cent) have experienced symptoms lasting longer than a year.
More than 9 in 10 (95 per cent) have been left with ongoing symptoms.
A clear majority had experienced side effects including brain fog (72 per cent), shortness of breath (70 per cent), difficulty concentrating (62 per cent) and memory problems (54 per cent).
Over half (52 per cent) had experienced some form of discrimination or disadvantage due to their condition.
The report highlights how frontline workers have been disproportionately affected by long Covid.
Over three-quarters (79 per cent) of those who responded to the TUC’s survey identify themselves as key workers, with the majority working in either education or health and social care.
More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of respondents were women.
Long Covid in the workplace
The report reveals the extent of discrimination in the workplace towards those with long Covid.
Over half (52 per cent) of respondents said they had experienced some form of discrimination or disadvantage due to their condition.
Workers told the TUC how they were faced with disbelief and suspicion when they disclosed their symptoms:
Around a fifth (19 per cent) said their employer had questioned the impact of their symptoms.
One in eight (13 per cent) faced questions from their employer about whether they had long Covid at all.
One in 20 respondents (5 per cent) said they had been forced out of their jobs altogether because they had long Covid.
Respondents described the difficulties that they faced trying to work while experiencing a range of long Covid symptoms.
One person – who contracted Covid-19 at work – said that when their employer went ahead with an international event in the first wave of the pandemic: “I was still expected to work long hours, handle stressful situations in impossible timeframes, find and fill in forms (which I struggled to do because of cognitive issues), and spend hours on Zoom calls when I struggled to talk and breathe, resulting in extreme chest pain, shortness of breath, exhaustion and severe symptom relapses.”
Respondents were also concerned about what the future might hold for them at work given the amount of sick leave they had been forced to take due to their long Covid symptoms.
Around one in six respondents (18 per cent) said the amount of sick leave they had taken had triggered absence management or HR processes.
New rights and protections for those with long Covid
The TUC is calling for the government to urgently recognise long Covid as a disability under the Equality Act.
The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a “physical or mental impairment…[that] has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [their] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. Government guidance makes clear that ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more.
The TUC says that many who have long Covid already meet this criteria and should therefore be protected under the law rather than forced to go through the stress of employment tribunals.
Extending Equality Act 2010 protections so they cover workers with long Covid would ensure employers cannot legally discriminate against them. It would also put a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments that remove, reduce or prevent any disadvantages workers with long Covid face, as for any other enduring condition or disability.
In addition, the union body is calling on ministers to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease – entitling employees and their dependents to protection and compensation if they contracted the virus while working.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Many of the workers who have carried us through the pandemic are now living with debilitating symptoms of long Covid. And we’re beginning to hear troubling stories of a massive wave of discrimination against people with long Covid.
“It’s time to recognise this condition properly – and make sure workers who are living with long Covid get the support they need to do their jobs.
“Long Covid must be recognised as a disability. That would mean workers are protected by the Equality Act, and would have a right to get reasonable adjustments at work.
“And Covid-19 should be designated as an occupational disease. That would allow workers who contracted Covid-19 at work and are living with the consequences to claim the compensation they are due.
“Employers must also act. They should make sure they make reasonable adjustments for workers with long Covid, and complete specific risk assessments to make sure workers with long Covid are safe at work.”
Lesley Macniven, Chair of the Long Covid Support Group, who worked with the TUC on its report, said: “Even those with ‘mild’ Covid can suffer daily with fluctuating symptoms, exhausted and alone. Promises we’ll ‘just get better’ have been proved otherwise.
“A year on we need legally enforceable guidance for employers and government – informed by unions, occupational health and patient groups with significant lived experience managing long Covid.
“Patients need time to convalesce, then recuperate through a very gradual, flexible phased return to work, over months, to achieve a sustainable return.
“Long Covid is disabling young, previously healthy workers. This key step is needed to take the effects of long Covid seriously, enable rehabilitation and protect dedicated workers from discrimination due to poor understanding of the condition.”
Leaders with ambition to help Scotland achieve net zero and address the climate and biodiversity emergencies have an important opportunity to shape the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency(SEPA).
The agency, which is changing to meet the challenges of tomorrow, is seeking applications for two new board members.
SEPA is Scotland’s principal environmental regulator. Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment, helping communities, and businesses thrive within the resources of one planet. The agency calls this One-Planet Prosperity.
As a member of SEPA’s Agency Board, applicants can help the organisation tackle local, national and international challenges, ensuring it continues to work with communities, NGOs, businesses and others to make a positive impact on Scotland’s stunning environment. The new members would join SEPA’s board in January 2022.
SEPA Chairman, Bob Downes, said: “With the eyes of the world turning to Scotland, to COP26 and global Net Zero ambitions in November, there has never been a better time to join a future focused and progressive environment protection agency addressing some of the biggest challenges and opportunities of our time.
“Our role is wide-ranging, including environmental regulation, flood forecasting and warning, helping Scotland mitigate and adapt to climate change, monitoring and reporting on the state of our environment and resolving environmental harms.
“Being a SEPA Board member is an exciting opportunity at a critical moment for the environment and through our Agency Board recruitment, we want to attract members who have a passion for making a difference for Scotland’s environment and its people.”
Candidates from diverse backgrounds with varying experiences and skills are being invited to apply for the board appointments, which have become available as two existing candidates come to the end of their time as members.
Downes continues, “we’re creating a board that reflects the diversity of Scotland and are working with Changing the Chemistry to encourage applications from under-represented communities by sharing information about the role and what to expect from the application process.”
SEPA currently has 10 Board members, who come from a variety of private, public and voluntary sector backgrounds and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as passion for environmental issues.
“Applicants don’t have to have an environmental or science background to join the SEPA Board,” Downes says. “We are looking for people with strategic analytical capabilities and experience, skills that could have been developed across a range of business and government sectors, within social enterprises or voluntary positions.”
SEPA’s board is responsible for the organisation’s overall direction and performance, including its efficiency and effectiveness as a public body. It also enables the agency to deliver its statutory purpose of delivering environmental protection and improvement, while contributing to health and well-being benefits, and sustainable economic growth.
SEPA’s One Planet Prosperity strategy involves working with businesses to help them meet – and go beyond – environmental compliance, for example by reducing their use of water, carbon-based energy and raw materials and by cutting or designing-out waste.
Appointments to SEPA’s Board are made by Scottish Ministers and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. Appointments are normally for a four-year term with the possibility of a further term, subject to evidence of effective performance and satisfying the skills, knowledge and personal qualities required on the Board at the time of re-appointment.
As an organisation, SEPA has adapted to operating in a completely new set of circumstances and will continue to make changes to deliver in the most powerful and effective way.
Following the global health pandemic and a significant and serious criminal cyber-attack, SEPA is focused on building back better.
Members of the Board will work with the Chair and other board members and contribute effectively to the setting and monitoring of SEPA’s corporate strategy.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Board recruitment opportunities can visit the SEPA hub, sepa.org.uk/Board and join an information session hosted by Changing the Chemistry on Monday 28 June at 6pm.
Most everyone is aware of climate change and the great threat it poses for humankind as the changes sweep around the world. Livestock, all animals, birds, fish and sea creatures are all under threat.
The human race is threatened by water shortage, crop failures that are associated with drought and continued destruction of the world’s forests by financial interests acting solely in their own selfish interests of making money, despite knowing that the amount of oxygen needed by humans to live is dropping from 100% to 70%. Yet companies and financial interests continue to operate climate polluting industries.
These polluters, bug and small, must go. There is no alternative. These are polluters of air, water and the oceans which are not theirs to destroy to maximie money making.
Detectives have renewed an appeal for information as enquiries continue into the attempted murder of a man in north Edinburgh.
A 34-year-old man was found seriously injured in a common stairwell at West Pilton Grove around 5pm last Friday (18 June). He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
Officers investigating the incident are now appealing for sighting of a car believed to be linked to the incident.
A dark blue Volkswagen Golf GTI was seen driving at speed in the Drylaw area before the incident and a similar vehicle was then seen being driven erratically Sheriffhall Roundabout around 5.30pm on Friday.
A similar vehicle was later found set alight later that evening.
Detective Inspector Alison MacDonald said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle or who may have dashcam or private CCTV footage showing this vehicle.
“We would also be keen to hear from anyone with information about a similar car which was set alight near Shawfair railway station later during the evening on Friday, 18 June.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident and anyone with any information can call 101, quoting incident 2690 of 18 June or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Survey by NHS Providers reveals fears over waiting lists, COVID-19 and winter pressures
A survey by NHS Providers sets out in stark detail how NHS leaders are grappling with challenges on multiple fronts as they seek to meet rising demand for health services alongside a rapidly growing waiting list and a worrying surge of COVID-19.
The health service is coming under concerted pressure with recent figures revealing a record 5.1 million people on waiting lists, over 2 million A&E attendances in the last month and a steep increase in demand for mental health services.
Trusts and frontline staff are working at full pelt to clear the backlog of care that has built up during the pandemic, with 90% of pre-pandemic levels of operations now being carried out and a small, but welcome fall in the number of people now waiting over 52 weeks for treatment to begin.
But our survey reveals widespread concerns amongst trust leaders that winter pressures and further surges of COVID-19 will derail plans to deal with the backlog of care and undermine hard-won progress.
These findings come just days after the chief medical officer warned of a further wave of COVID-19 this winter and the prime minister was forced to delay plans to further ease restrictions following a sharp rise in infections and hospital admissions because of the Delta variant.
The survey responses reveal:
A large majority of leaders (88%) said it was likely that another surge in COVID-19 cases would place additional pressures on their services.
89% said they were worried these additional pressures would come during the challenging winter months.
Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents raised concerns that plans to clear the backlog of care over winter risked being disrupted because of the need to prioritise demand for urgent and emergency care.
Almost half (48%) of respondents said they have seen evidence of staff leaving their organisation due to early retirement, COVID-19 burnout, or other effects from working in the pandemic. Respondents are concerned that juggling winter, flu, COVID-19 and ambitious recovery plans will once again put pressure on the workforce.
Commenting on the survey results, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said: “Our survey reveals the sheer scale of the challenge facing trusts right now. They are battling on multiple fronts as they try to recover care backlogs, deal with increased demand for emergency care and treat patients with COVID-19.
“This is difficult at the best of times but as we saw last year, could become even more challenging during the hard winter months, particularly with the expectation that flu will return and there will be increased respiratory viruses among children.
“Trusts are committed to clearing the backlog of care that built up during the pandemic. We are confident vaccines are breaking the chain between infections and hospital admissions, but the reality on the frontline is that even a small increase in COVID-19 admissions or emergency care pressures could affect our ability to deliver non-COVID services.
“Trust leaders are doing all they can, but there are three steps the government can take immediately to ease the current pressure trusts are facing.
“First, the government must provide much needed short-term capital funding so trusts can direct it to the services that need it most. Trusts tell us they need capital quickly to expand intensive care units, to invest in digital to transform pathways to see patients more quickly, and to adapt estates to create more capacity.
“Second, trusts need to maintain patient flow and maximise their capacity. We’re urging the government to commit to permanent, dedicated funding for the discharge to assess programme, which ensures patients who are ready to leave hospital are placed in a more appropriate setting freeing up hospital beds.
“Third, we need national bodies to work with NHS leaders to get the planning for winter pressures right to help manage the risk ahead. We know the NHS faces a perfect storm of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses as well as a growing backlog of care. We must act now.”
‘The threat of winter is tangible’
RCEM supports NHS Providers call for action
Responding to the latest survey from NHS Providers about the challenges facing Trusts, Dr Adrian Boyle, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:
“The health service is facing serious pressures: with the backlog of elective care reaching 5.1 million patients; and the urgent and emergency care system facing record breaking attendances.
“It is an incredibly challenging time, but we support our Trust Leaders and recognise that they are doing what they can to manage the current situation.
“We support NHS Providers and their three steps the government can take to ease pressures currently facing Trusts. We particularly welcome NHS Providers call for action ahead of winter and the likely increase of pressures that covid, flu and respiratory illnesses will bring, in tandem with the urgent tackling of elective care.
“Since April 2021, the College has warned of the threat of winter and the need to prepare the health service and ready Emergency Departments. It is absolutely essential that we ensure there is adequate capacity, adequate access to alternative care, departments have the right resources, and that staff are prepared.
“We welcome the recognition from NHS Providers of this threat ahead, now we wait for the urgent action and leadership from government that is desperately needed.”
The whole of Scotland will move to Level 0 on 19 July if all necessary vaccination and harm reduction measures are met.
Current levels will remain in place for the next three weeks with a review taking place on 13 July although some changes, such as minor relaxations to rules on events such as weddings and funerals will come into place on 28 June.
During a statement to Parliament, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed that from 19 July physical distancing outdoors will be removed and physical distancing for indoor public areas will reduce to one metre if the data allows. Limits on outdoor gatherings will also be removed on this date given the reduced risk of outdoor transmission at this stage in the vaccination programme.
If the necessary conditions on vaccination and harm reduction continue to be met, all major remaining COVID restrictions will be lifted on 9 August.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “From 19 July, and then, more substantially, from 9 August – assuming we are meeting our revised strategic aim of alleviating the harm of the virus – life should feel much less restricted for all of us.
“A very significant degree of normality will be restored – for individuals and for businesses. As I said earlier, these are indicative dates, but they allow us to plan ahead with more clarity. As always, we all have a part to play in keeping us on track.
“Up until now, the Scottish Government’s strategic intention has been to ‘suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there’. From now, our aim will be to ‘suppress the virus to a level consistent with alleviating its harms while we recover and rebuild for a better future’.
“This change reflects the fact that vaccination is reducing – we hope significantly – the harm that the virus causes.
“Physical distancing has been an important mitigation against the virus but it is also burdensome for individuals and costly for businesses. So as vaccinations bear more of the load of controlling the virus, we need to consider when and to what extent we can reduce the legal requirement for it.
“Ultimately we hope to remove the legal requirement for physical distancing – even though we may continue to advise people to think about safe distancing when interacting with people outside their close contact groups.”
Timeline:
From 28 June
suppliers and others employed at a wedding will no longer count towards the cap on attendance
A bride, groom and other designated persons accompanying them no longer require to wear face-coverings when walking down the aisle
live entertainment will be permitted at weddings
more than one household will be permitted to carry the coffin and/or take a cord at a funeral crematoriums and churches can relay funeral services to outside areas
From 19 July:
celebrations of life events such as christenings, bar mitzvahs and anniversaries will be permitted to take place under similar guidelines as weddings and funerals
different households will be able to share a bedroom in tourist accommodation
Some measures are expected to continue beyond Level 0 including:
good hand hygiene and surface cleaning
continued promotion of good ventilation
a requirement for face coverings in certain settings (e.g. public transport and retail)
continued compliance with Test and Protect, including self-isolation when necessary
an ongoing need for outbreak management capability, including active surveillance
a greater degree of working from home than pre COVID-19 where this is possible and appropriate based on business and employee choice
The next review of restrictions will be on 13 July ahead of proposed changes commencing on 19 July.
Learner drivers passed their practical tests at the highest rate ever recorded during the pandemic, according to new figures released by the Department for Transport.
The data, which spans April 2020 to March 2021, shows that 49.8% of learners passed the test, up by 3.9% on 2019-20 figures.
There was more good news for learners taking theory tests, with 55.7% passing, the highest rate since 2013-14 and 8.6% higher than the previous year.
While many learners celebrated receiving their full driving licences, others were unable to take their practical car tests due to the pandemic, with 72.7% fewer practical tests taking place in 2020-21 compared to the previous year. Car theory tests were down by more than 50%.
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk comments: “Congratulations to all those who passed, just goes to show, practice really does make perfect as shown by the outstanding results.
“Many learners took advantage of less traffic on the roads to get out there and clock up more miles behind the wheel during the pandemic, plus increased time at home was the ideal opportunity to hit the books and study for the theory test.”
However, Wilson points out that after all their hard work there is now another challenge: “Newly qualified drivers often have trouble finding competitively priced insurance because they represent a higher insurance risk than seasoned motorists, and this is particularly true if the new driver also happens to be a young driver.
“That’s why we recommend newly qualified drivers use Quotezone.co.uk’s car insurance comparison service to shop around for better deals, by comparing quotes from a wide range of different providers side-by-side these motorists stand a better chance of finding a cheaper quote.
“Of course, there are additional steps newly qualified drivers can take to increase their odds of finding cheaper insurance too. For instance, it might be worth considering telematics insurance, which is often cheaper than a standard car insurance policy and opting for a car with a smaller engine and parking the vehicle in a safer location like a driveway or garage can also bring premiums down.”
Family-run jewellers Laings has unveiled its vision for the future, with ambitious new plans to strengthen its presence across the United Kingdom.
After celebrating 180 years of trading in 2020, Laings is now looking ahead to build on its legacy as a leading destination for luxury jewellery and watches with extensive expansion plans set to be unveiled, aimed at enhancing the client experience across its key locations.
Through six generations of family ownership, Laings has grown to become a leading independent luxury jeweller, with six showrooms across four locations – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton and Cardiff.
Laings offers a curated selection of fine jewellery and watches from some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Rolex and Patek Philippe, as well as bespoke design and repair services by the in-house team of master watchmakers, goldsmiths and jewellery designers.
Now, expanding its retail strategy while staying true to the heritage of the business, the jewellers has announced it will be investing £10 million into the company over the next two years. The investment will see Laings transform its showrooms and workshops, reimagining the customer experience while ensuring traditional jewellers’ crafts are kept alive for generations to come.
The first in a series of transformations will be unveiled this Autumn with work already underway to treble the size of Laings’ St David’s Centre Cardiff showroom, allowing the company to introduce Swiss watch brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe to its Welsh clientele.
An investment which demonstrates the trust Laings holds with luxury horology’s most prominent brands, who have existing relationships with Laings having worked together for years in other cities.
Stuart McDowell, Retail Director at Laings, says: “The expansion in Cardiff is in response to our client’s enquiries – catering to the watch collectors of Wales who might not have Laings at the forefront of their minds now, but hopefully they soon will.
“The showroom is right in the heart of the capital city and our expanded presence means we can give the brands we represent the stage to shine. No longer will Cardiff clients need to travel outside their home city to access these brands, they can enjoy having them on their doorstep – with Laings.”
Laings is also revolutionising the way its Welsh customers experience diamonds and jewellery with the introduction of private viewings.
The expanded showroom is set to include dedicated diamond and jewellery areas so that clients can view the carefully curated collections in private, with a glass of champagne served by Laings’ refreshments partner Lanson. Despite the changes, clients can expect the same warmth, expertise and attention that they have become accustomed to at Laings.
Laings’ workshops in Scotland will also see significant investment, marking the beginning of a new client experience. For the first time in the company’s history, clients will be invited to join the watchmakers and goldsmiths behind the benches to see their skills in action when completing services, drawing back the curtain on the artisan crafts and allowing the team to take centre stage.
Upon opening, the workshops will play host to client immersion sessions, luxury events and meet the makers demonstrations to showcase expertise, allowing clients to see the intricacies of every service first-hand.
Laings also hopes that breathing new life into the workshops will attract visibility to the industry and inspire a new generation of talent to train in the field. With a recruitment plan spanning all areas of the business, Laings aims to grow its team by up to 25 per cent, providing opportunities for both apprentices and existing watchmakers and goldsmiths in locations where there have traditionally been less positions available, safeguarding these artisan skills for the future.
Laings CEO, Joe Walsh, says: “The workshops create a special experience for our customers. Not only will they be able to talk to the watchmakers and see them working, they’ll also be able to attend events where they can gain a deeper insight into the craft – taking watches apart, seeing how the mechanics work and putting them back together. People are looking for experiences now and that’s what we want – to deliver a new form of retail that captures the imagination of our clients.”
These developments signal the start of a longer-term growth plan for Laings. Over the next 24 months, the company will embark on a journey of evolution to challenge jewellery and watchmaking retail experiences – bringing innovation to every area of the business, while never forgetting the deep-rooted heritage that anchors the Laings story.
