North Edinburgh News – Page 2070 – The NEN

UK travel testing system at risk of collapsing when mass travel restarts, Which? warns

Some passengers arriving in the UK are having to extend their quarantine or pay for additional Covid tests as private labs are failing to deliver results on time, Which? has found, raising concerns about the capacity of the UK’s travel testing system weeks before international travel is set to re-open.

Currently, anyone arriving in the UK (unless exempt) must quarantine for a mandatory 10 days and take a PCR test on day two and day eight of their quarantine. These tests typically cost between £160 and £200, but can cost over £500. Travellers must receive negative results for both tests to leave quarantine after day 10.

However, social media and review sites have been flooded with complaints about test result delays, with a Facebook group for people suffering problems with the system amassing around 1,500 members, and Which? has also heard from travellers who did not receive their test results within 10 days.

Without test results, travellers face having to pay hundreds of pounds for additional tests or stay in quarantine for longer than they need to, potentially causing problems for those who cannot work from home.

The consumer champion also understands that at present, only four private test providers out of more than 500 on the government’s list of providers have been accredited – Nationwide Pathology, Source Bioscience, Oncologica and Eurofins Forensic Services. Of those four, only Nationwide Pathology and Oncologica offer day two and day eight test kits, raising concerns about oversight of the test providers.

With mass travel set to resume next month, Which? is concerned that the travel test system – which is already struggling to handle demand when international travel is restricted – is at risk of being overwhelmed, and potentially collapsing when restrictions are lifted.

Erkal Taskin, who returned from Turkey after visiting his ill father in early April, told Which? that he didn’t receive his day two test kit from Anglia, a government-listed test provider, until he had been in the UK for a week.

Only after he contacted Anglia through Twitter and Which? responded to his tweets did it promise him a refund. It finally gave him his day two result 15 days after he had arrived in the country, and he still has not received his day eight result.

Anglia apologised for the problems, and described the case as “an extreme outlier even in terms of the small number of cases where our client has had some processing or fulfilment issues.”

Erkal added: “I wasn’t sure when I could leave my house and there was no one to ask. I ended up waiting for so long before I could go back to work, which was a huge problem.”

Another person complained on Trustpilot about a different provider, claiming that after they didn’t receive results for their day two test, they paid for a ‘Day Five Test to Release Kit’ – which would have allowed them to end their quarantine early on receipt of a negative result – but said “now on day nine, [we] still have no results, so [it was a] waste of £110 plus £175.”

While some providers have blamed delays with Royal Mail deliveries, Royal Mail told Which? there have been no reported delays in its network related to use of the company’s priority post boxes for managing travellers’ test results.

Oncologica, one of the largest laboratories that has partnered with many government-listed test providers, apologised on its website for delays and said there has been an “unprecedented increase in Covid testing enquiries and kit orders received since government travel rules were introduced”.

Nationwide Pathology also apologised on its site for “large scale disruption to the delivery of both kits and samples”.

Despite travellers failing to receive their Covid test results on time, many have not been offered refunds. Both Oncologia and Nationwide Pathology said they did not guarantee test results within 10 days, with the latter claiming guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care means that it doesn’t have to provide refunds “where there’s no issue with the testing service”.

Under the proposed traffic light system, arrivals from ‘green’ countries must take day two tests, and those from ‘amber’ and ‘red’ countries must take day two and day eight tests, which will mean hundreds of thousands more people rely on the testing system.

Which? is urging the government to urgently address the problems currently affecting the PCR testing market with regard to availability of information, accreditation, pricing and accessibility of tests, as well as the poor quality of service by some providers. It must also ensure there are effective consumer protections in place for travellers in the event of any problems with testing, ahead of reopening travel after 17 May.

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: “The UK’s travel testing system can’t cope with demand, even when relatively small numbers of people are travelling. It’s clear the system could buckle under the pressure when mass international travel restarts and hundreds of thousands more people are reliant on it.

“Travellers shouldn’t have to shop around for something as crucial as a test provider – they simply need a service that is accessible, reliable, and delivered on time. It is critical that the Government addresses issues with testing ahead of restarting international travel, and ensure that travellers are not left to the mercy of poor quality providers or unreliable services when trying to do the right thing in following government requirements to travel safely.”

Oncologica told Which? it can process up to 40,000 Covid-19 tests a day and that it hadn’t yet reached capacity. A spokesperson said: “Postal service quality is outside our control; however, we make customers aware of the possibility of shipment delays arising from postal deliveries.

“This can relate to sample returns indicating they have been returned “delivered” in the Royal Mail tracked postal system, whereas in fact samples may not yet have been delivered to Oncologica and only have arrived at a Royal Mail depot, which can take up to 24 hours to deliver onto us. In the vast majority of cases, our customers experience no delays and our kits and results are supplied in a timely manner.”

It said that it couldn’t comment on claims by third party test providers that they’d received its results late.

Nationwide Pathology said: “We recognise the significant frustrations that UK International Arrivals are currently facing and we all are working extremely hard to make the process as user friendly as possible.

“We also recognise the significant costs involved for families which is why we have consistently, since the start of this process in March 2021, been one of the least expensive providers on the DHSC list.

“Nationwide Pathology is committed to providing the best service possible. We have performed over 80,000 Day 2 and Day 8 covid tests since the end of March 2021. The vast majority of our clients have no issue and are very happy with the service they receive. Our complaints KPI is 0.29%.

“Unfortunately, even though we use Royal Mail, who are a gold standard logistics provider, they have experienced some delays in getting samples to us. We understand how important results are to customers, but we are simply unable to test a sample that we do not have.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “There are no reported delays in our network related to people using Royal Mail’s priority post boxes to manage their test results. In fact we continue to receive praise for the high quality of the service we provide to the nation. Every day we service hundreds of thousands of test kits on behalf of the NHS both speedily and efficiently.

“For overseas travellers, the management of test kits, samples and results is carried out through several private companies. In some instances, some of these companies may use a Royal Mail tracked returns service to deliver test results.

“In such cases, we deliver mail items in line with the service specification agreed with the sending companies. Every item of mail is important to us. We are committed to delivering the highest levels of service for all our customers.

“We have lots of capacity in our network to continue to deliver these mail items to a high level of service even if there is an increase in demand.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are carefully monitoring issues raised by the public, raising every complaint with private test providers. We also monitor all providers’ performance, including their delivery and test turnaround times.

“We will take rapid action against any company that is providing an inadequate service. In the first instance, they will receive a warning and are given five days to demonstrate they have addressed concerns, and if not, they are removed from the gov.uk list.”

A spokesperson for Anglia DNA Services said: “We unreservedly apologise for any receipt, delivery, and/or processing issues in this case, one of a very small minority of such issues over the last weeks in which we have successfully fulfilled over 10,000 ‘2 and 8’ day tests for our customers.

“The individual you reference is being fully refunded as is our policy, with our apologies again.”

Chief Constable commends charity’s efforts to tackle teen porn use

UK Charity, the Naked Truth Project, have launched new dates for a series of workshops for parents and carers to better understand pornography in a digital age, enabling them to talk to their children and young people about the subject.

Constable Simon Bailey, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on child protection, has highlighted the need for resources such as ‘The PG Workshops’, following his recognition of porn consumption as a leading factor in the growing cases of sexual violence and abuse amongst teens.

The PG Workshops will be live-streamed online sessions and come following the launch of the ‘Everyone’s Invited’ website, which provides an anonymous forum for children and youth to share experiences of aggressive, or abusive sexual behaviours.

Chief Constable Bailey has previously warned of the links between young people’s access to and consumption of pornography and the kind of sexually aggressive/abusive behaviour highlighted in many of the 15,000+ accounts documented on the website.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey says, “There is a real issue in children’s perception of healthy relationships, healthy sexual relationships, what is permissible and what is acceptable. Unfortunately, I think the ready and easy access to pornography is a driver to that.”

The Chief Constable acknowledges that organisations like Naked Truth Project are doing important work to combat the damaging impacts of porn and urges parents and schools to engage with the issue.

Ch. Constable Bailey continued: “Parents have a responsibility to ensure that children, both sons and daughters, recognise and understand what good values are, what respect and trust and honesty are, and how to treat people.

“The difficult conversations around inevitably viewing pornography need to be had, explaining that it is not a relationship, and schools should be reinforcing this point as well. This is why the kind of schools work and parent workshops that Naked Truth offer can be such a useful resource to this end.”

The workshops delivered hope to provide insight on the pressures young people are facing, and practical tips for parents guiding them through those pressures.

Ian Henderson, Founder and CEO of the Naked Truth Project says: “We believe there is a growing need amongst parents, carers and teachers to talk about and tackle the issue of pornography, especially in light of recent revelations about the scale of sexual violence amongst young people, yet many feel overwhelmed and under-resourced to engage in this conversation.

“We hope our workshops will be an effective way of teaching parents and carers how to talk to their young people about the dangers of pornography, as well as offer some practical tips in setting up parental controls and safety features on devices.”

The swell of the stories shared on ‘Everyone’s Invited’, have highlighted recent government research, such as the Equalities Office Report, which acknowledges the links between teenage porn consumption and toxic relationships, harassment in schools and abusive behaviour.

Other national leaders, such as Baroness Benjamin, are also calling for the education of both pupils and parents around the damaging impact of porn on healthy relationships.

Ian Henderson continues: “As an organisation, whilst we recognise that porn use won’t lead to sexual harassment or violence for all individuals, and is certainly not the only contributing factor, it’s vital that we begin to recognise the part that it does play and call it out.

“Given that porn often contains high levels of blatant verbal and physical abuse, as well as the sexualisation of coercion, harassment and outright lack of consent, we must consider the impact this is having on us, and the importance it places on educating our young people well.”

The Naked Truth Project have already delivered these workshops to over 4,000 parents and carers, as well as presenting specialised school lessons which have seen 20,000 students participate.

For more information, or to book a place on the workshops, please visit:

www.thepgworkshop.com

Concern over delays to Workplace Capability Assessments

The Work and Pensions Committee Chair Stephen Timms has written to Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson asking what action the Government is taking to address delays to Workplace Capability Assessments (WCA).

The letter raises concerns about the ‘exceptionally long waits for assessments’ some people applying for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit have been experiencing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the suspension of face-to-face assessments more than a year ago.

This affects people who DWP has decided cannot have their claims assessed on paper or by telephone.

Previous correspondence from the Minister failed to answer the Committee’s specific questions on the number of people affected, waiting times and the reasons behind the lack of progress on conducting remote assessments for these claimants.

Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “DWP has left some disabled people in an impossible situation: they can’t have a face-to-face assessment, while they are also told a decision on their claim can’t be made over the phone.

“Instead, they’ve simply been left in limbo, forced to get by on less money than they are entitled to, in some cases for more than a year—at a time when we know living costs have been higher than ever for disabled people. So far, the Minister hasn’t even told us how many people have been affected.

“We all know that DWP has been under enormous pressure this year. But there has been a disappointing lack of urgency in addressing this problem. It’s high time the Government fixed this.”

Edinburgh College appoints a new Board member

Edinburgh College’s Board of Management has appointed a new non-executive member to support it in leading the strategic direction of the College. As is required this appointment was confirmed following approval by Scottish Ministers (or the Scottish Government).

The new member, Janyce Holmes, has an extensive background as a director in the commercial sector and is a fellow of CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).

Janyce is a former Director of Marketing Operations at Diageo, and is experienced in matters of planning, strategy and commercial development. Between commercial director roles, Janyce has also worked as a visiting lecturer in tertiary education institutions.

The Interim Chair of Edinburgh College’s Board of Management Ann Landels said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome Janyce to Edinburgh College. Janyce has a strong financial management background and a broad range of experience in the commercial sector.

“Janyce’s recent experience as a non-executive director and her background in the tertiary education sector will serve the College and the Board well as we aim to continue maximising experiences and opportunities for all of our students.”

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “I am pleased to welcome Janyce to the Board of Management at a time when our College is learning from the experience of educating during a global pandemic and is working to provide opportunities for more students, for more people in our communities, for local businesses and their employees.

“Janyce’s wealth of experience in both the commercial and education sectors will be a welcome addition to the range of knowledge and expertise already at the Board’s disposal. I look forward to working with her.”

Find out more about the Edinburgh College Board of Management.

Tourist communities urge motorists to be considerate parkers over Bank Holiday weekend

Hopes are high that as lockdown eases over the next few months, popular tourist destinations will see the return of much needed visitors to boost local economies.

With the early May Bank Holiday approaching, local authorities across the UK are ready to offer a warm welcome to visitors. But warnings have been made about a repeat of scenes from last year that saw a minority of motorists parking irresponsibly, causing chaos and frustration for residents and businesses in and around these visitor destinations.

These communities are now preparing for another year of managing the increased demand placed on staycation hotspots, including providing additional parking facilities in anticipation of the higher number of motorists.

As holiday makers, day trippers and shoppers make a return during the summer season, the parking sector, both public and private, believe everyone needs to play their part, by only parking where it is legally permitted, helping ensure that streets and communities are kept safe, free from congestion, and can be enjoyed by all.

Government is also being urged to increase the options and sanctions available to local authorities to tackle the worst offenders. These measures could see an increase in the top level of penalties as evidence from last summer shows that the current rates are not an effective deterrent to antisocial and selfish parking.

Caron Fassetta, Director of Communications and Membership at the British Parking Association said: “‘What we saw last year was unprecedented. And there is good reason to anticipate that some people will once again ignore the rules, causing obstruction, and endangering the lives of other road users, especially pedestrians.

“Safety is our top priority. If we all do what’s right, residents as well as visitors can enjoy the holiday season. In short, we’re asking motorists to ‘Be Kind – Park with others in mind‘.”

Richard Walker, Parking Partnership Group Manager at North Essex Parking Partnership expressed concern the situation could worsen if stronger action is not taken: “The real impact of so many people thinking antisocial behaviour and poor parking is acceptable is that it increases congestion, contributing to additional pollution and rising frustration from people living in these areas.

“Simply put – lives are at risk, as journey times for emergency vehicles get longer, disabled and visually impaired people, and parents with pushchairs are forced into the path of moving vehicles, and overcrowded destinations make it impossible for everyone to socially distance.”

The BPA’s Selfish Parker campaign encourages people to respect others and think before they park. Parking restrictions exist for a reason and ‘It’s not ok to park, where it’s not ok to park’.

The BPA has some top tips for those planning to visit tourist hot spots:

Plan your visit – search the location for parking facilities and if possible, book parking in advance.
Find alternatives – to the most popular parking locations by parking further away from your final destination, this could save you time too.
Park responsibly – only park where it is permitted, respect the people living in the community you are visiting and be kind.
Don’t obstruct – pavements, private driveways, or impede access for emergency vehicles.
Don’t litter – take it home with you or find a rubbish bin.
Don’t be idle – turn your engine off when in stationary traffic or when you are parked.

Once more onto the beach!

Which? reveals Britain’s favourite seaside destinations

Bamburgh in Northumberland has been named as Britain’s best seaside destination, as Which? reveals the nation’s favourite resorts and the top towns and villages for avoiding the crowds on holiday.

With more people expected to book a holiday in Britain this summer than ever before as a result of the pandemic, the consumer champion sought out views on Britain’s coastal towns and villages to find the nation’s favourite seaside destinations.

The survey of more than 4,000 people ranked nearly 100 towns and villages, with Bamburgh rated the best seaside town.

It slipped from its first place ranking last year, but reclaimed the top spot after receiving a customer score of 85 per cent, and five stars for its beaches, tourist attractions and scenery. It received an additional five stars for value for money, with prices for accommodation being half those of some popular spots in Cornwall.

Visitors were particularly fond of the castle, and despite the small size of Bamburgh village, the vastness of its beach meant it received four stars for peace and quiet, allowing visitors to easily distance themselves and avoid busy crowds.

Other responses suggest word has spread about Bamburgh’s appeal, with some encouraging visitors to reserve tables in the restaurants in advance as places are often booked up, and arrive at the castle early to secure a parking space.

The good news is that this year’s reader survey of the best seaside towns and villages shows there is room on our coast for us all to find a quiet corner. Visitors rated nearly 60 British seaside destinations at 70 per cent or above, while 30 were awarded four or five stars for peace and quiet.

Tynemouth, in Tyne & Wear, took joint second place alongside Dartmouth in Devon. Both received a visitor score of 84 per cent, and five stars for their seafronts, while Tynemouth was given five stars for its beach and seafront, and four stars for scenery.

Visitors to Tynemouth praised the selection and quality of restaurants and food options on offer, as well as the market at the Metro station at weekends, while those who had been to Dartmouth recommended taking a boat trip along the River Dart or the steam train from Paignton to get there.

In third place – and taking the title of Scotland’s best beach town – was St Andrews. Busier than some of the other destinations at the top of the table, the “home of golf” earned its high ranking perhaps thanks to its five-star rated tourist attractions as well as its shopping options, which received four stars. It also received four stars for beaches and value for money. Those looking to beat the crowds were advised by respondents to visit outside of term time, when fewer students of its famous university are around.

Aberaeron was ranked fourth and named the best seaside town in Wales, with a customer score of 82 per cent. The quiet harbour town was given five stars for its scenery, with visitors commenting fondly on the painted houses in pastel colours. It also received four stars for peace and quiet – likely due to it being a little harder to reach than more popular tourist locations further down the coast in Pembrokeshire.

At the other end of the table, with a customer score of 48 per cent, was Skegness. The seaside town was also rated bottom by visitors last year, but its score has improved slightly as a result of investment and refurbishment in the town centre and higher footfall, with more people holidaying in Great Britain than abroad last summer. And while it only received one star for its tourist attractions and scenery, its beach was still given three stars.

Respondents recognised the family-friendly appeal of Skegness and its amusements, while one commenter described it as “unpretentious and a very pleasant place to visit”, and encouraged visitors to “enjoy the old fashioned 1950s atmosphere of a traditional English seaside town”.

Other destinations at the bottom end of the table included Weston-Super-Mare (55%) and Ilfracombe (56%).

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “Many of us discovered the joy of a British summer holiday last year and the trend looks set to continue well into this summer. The results of our survey show that bigger is rarely better, with smaller and less crowded resorts taking the top spots over better-known destinations.

“Given the crowds and prices at some of Britain’s most popular seaside destinations, the best news from the survey is just how many highly-rated destinations we have to choose from. Whether you want a village with a beach or a big town with all the fish and chips you can eat, there is a fantastic spot by the sea for you.

“Do your research and look beyond the big name destinations – and most importantly, book with a reputable provider with a generous flexible booking policy.”

Artist shortlist for national Windrush Monument revealed

The Windrush Monument will be a permanent tribute to a generation of arrivals from the Caribbean to Britain

Shortlists of four influential artists to design national monument at London Waterloo Station unveiled
Designs will be showcased around the country this summer
Winning design expected to be unveiled on Windrush Day 2022

The four artists in the running to design the national Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station have been revealed today (30 April 2021).

The Windrush Monument will be a permanent tribute to a generation of arrivals from the Caribbean to Britain – from the arrival of MV Empire Windrush in 1948 and in the decades that followed. 

It will recognise how the Windrush Generation have enriched our nation’s history and made invaluable contributions to all aspects of British life, from our health and transport services to our politics, businesses, literature and culture.

The four artists shortlisted to design the monument are all of Caribbean descent and include world renowned, established and up and coming artists working across the visual arts.

The four artists chosen to make up the final shortlist are:

Sculptor and painter Basil Watson has designed public sculptures and monuments across the world including statues of Martin Luther King, Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey. He was awarded the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2016 by the Jamaican government in recognition of his artistic accomplishments. His family is part of the Windrush Generation.
Jeannette Ehlers uses a mixture of photography, video, installation, sculpture and performance in her work. Her work addresses complex questions about memory, race and colonialism, influenced by her Danish Trinidadian heritage. In 2018 Ehlers was the co-creator of a significant public memorial in Copenhagen to Mary Thomas (a 19th century slavery freedom fighter), in collaboration with the Crucian artist La Vaughn Belle.
Daughter of Windrush generation pioneers, Valda Jackson works in sculpture, painting, printmaking and moving image creating complex narratives that reflect and question our past and present with intent on influencing our future. In 2017, her collaborative public art practice ‘Jackson and Harris’ won the Marsh Award for excellence in Public Sculpture from the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.
Recently commissioned by Hackney Council to create a permanent sculpture honouring Hackney’s Windrush Generation, Thomas J Price has significant experience of creating public artwork. The British-Jamaican artist works across sculpture, film and photography focussing on representation and perception in society.

London Waterloo Station is strongly associated with the stories of many members of the Windrush Generation. It stands at a point where thousands of Windrush pioneers first arrived in London before starting new lives across the UK.

The monument will be an ambitious public artwork that stands as a testament to the contribution of Caribbean pioneers in communities across the United Kingdom. It will create a permanent place of reflection and inspiration and be a visible statement of our shared history and heritage.

The artists unveiled today were selected by the Windrush Commemoration Committee (WCC), chaired by Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE.

Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE said: “We are entering a really exciting stage of this project with the realisation of the monument just round the corner.

“Our shortlist contains a vibrant mix of talented artists, all with lived experience of the Windrush legacy and we will now see proposals developed into a vision for the national monument to the Windrush Generation in London Waterloo Station.

“The monument will be a permanent place of reflection and inspiration for Caribbean communities and the wider public, especially children. It will act as a symbolic link to our past, and a permanent reminder of our shared history and heritage for generations to come.”

Communities Minister Lord Greenhalgh said: “Over 70 years ago, when the first passengers on MV Windrush disembarked at Tilbury Docks, it marked an extraordinary moment in the history of modern Britain.

“The Windrush generation and their descendants have gone on to play an important role in every area of British life, helping to shape the society we are so proud of today.

“I look forward to seeing the designs that these exciting artists will produce to celebrate and honour their contribution to our nation’s vibrant history, right at the centre of our nation’s capital.”

The artists will now be asked to develop their ideas into a maquette, model or drawings to illustrate their design. Each shortlisted artist will present their proposal via a short film, which will be shared nationally with a focus on the British Caribbean community.

UP Projects were appointed by MHCLG to manage the selection process and ensure the views of the Caribbean community in the UK were sought on what would represent a meaningful legacy.

A long list of 16 artists who matched the criteria of the artistic brief was put forward to the Windrush Commemoration Committee, chaired by Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE.

Over the summer the public will be encouraged to consider the proposals. UP Projects’ team includes a Caribbean Networks Consultant and a Curator & Caribbean Community Engagement Consultant, who will liaise with the Caribbean community as a major part of the public engagement strategy. This will ensure that a meaningful monument is commissioned to represent the Windrush Generation. Their views will be taken into consideration by the WCC as they make their final selection.

The winning design is planned to be revealed in Black History Month in October and the monument is expected to be unveiled on Windrush Day 2022.

Beefed-up police presence in Portobello to tackle ASB

Following an increase in antisocial behaviour in Portobello recently, local officers will be carrying out focused patrols this weekend.

Local community Sergeant Suzie Sandbach of Craigmillar Police Station said: “Officers responded to a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour involving groups of youths in Portobello last weekend.

“Dealing with disorder and antisocial behaviour is a policing priority in Edinburgh and I’d like to reassure residents, visitors and business owners in Portobello that there will be an increased police presence over the coming weekends to disrupt anyone intent on causing trouble.

“Our open spaces and beaches can now be enjoyed by the wider community and beyond, but sadly this can be ruined by the reckless behaviour of a small minority which is often fuelled by alcohol, and will not be tolerated.

“Local officers will continue to remain visible in the area, on mobile, foot or cycle patrol and I ask that if you see any criminality in the area help us hold offenders to account by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.”

Councillors yesterday gave the green light for £450K funding to install temporary public toilets in busy parks and other ‘hotspot’ areas in Edinburgh like the Meadows and Portobello.

Environment Convener Lesley Macinnes, said: “As the weather gets warmer and we ease out of lockdown our beautiful parks, beaches and other open spaces are going to be busier than ever.

“I’m really pleased Council agreed this funding today allowing us to respond so quickly to provide these much needed facilities over the summer months. We’ll publicise the list of temporary public toilets as soon as we have it.”

Scots are not looking after their bones, charity research reveals

TV’s Trisha Goddard takes up new role to raise awareness of healthy bones in response to new research

Presenter and Journalist Trisha Goddard is sharing her experience with breast cancer to raise awareness of the life-changing importance of strong bones, as new research reveals a worrying lack of action among the public.

Osteoporosis will affect half of women and 1 in 5 men over 50, but despite this, new research by You Gov and commissioned by the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) shows that only 40% of Scots under 55 actively try to prevent it.

The condition weakens bones, making them more likely to break and affects 3.5 million people in the UK.

In 2008, Trisha was warned that her bones would lose strength as a result of her breast cancer treatment – unless she took decisive action.

Today, Trisha is sharing the lessons from one of the toughest periods of her life as a message of hope for people of all ages: that by taking action to strengthen your bones, we can all live better in older age and avoid the pain and disability of osteoporosis.

Trisha said: “I never really gave osteoporosis or my bone density a thought until it came to my breast cancer treatment. My surgeon explained that the medication I would be on for the next ten years would affect my bones.

“While I was ill, the hospital tested my bone density and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that at the age of 50, it was still really good. All the weight training and powerwalking I had done for half my life had paid off. There was no need for me to be prescribed any additional medication to help preserve my bones through the cancer treatment.

“After five years of being on breast cancer medication, my surgeon checked my bone density again. Great news! I’d barely lost any of my bone density. My surgeon happily explained that this was a direct result of me continuing to weight train, power walk and stay active.

“All that time, my aim had been to stay physically and mentally strong. Without even realising it, not only had I maintained my muscle strength, I had also maintained my bone strength.

“I’m not going to pretend it was easy – far from it – but a little bit of exercise most days was what got me through cancer. I’ll always have worries about my health, but it gives me peace of mind knowing that I’m in control of my bone health.”

Despite the huge impact for individuals and society, the research shows that 54% of people living in Scotland have never even had a conversation about bone health. In comparison, 69% actively try to maintain a healthy weight.

Trisha continued: “The whole experience made me realise how important it is, not just for cancer patients, but for everyone to look after their bones.

“Bone health is so overlooked when it comes to wellbeing. It absolutely brought home to me that prevention is better than cure. That’s why I’m joining forces with the Royal Osteoporosis Society to raise awareness of the importance of bone health.”

The ROS has announced that Trisha is to become an Ambassador for the charity as part of its mission to bust myths and improve the bone health of the nation.

More people die of fracture-related causes than deaths caused by lung cancer and diabetes.

The disease costs the NHS £4.5bn per year, a figure set to rise as the population ages. The ROS has warned this may climb even higher following the effects of lockdown, as the research shows that worryingly over a third of people in Scotland (37%) have exercised less during the pandemic.

Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society said: “Trisha is living proof that the fatalism about osteoporosis and broken bones being just part of getting older is plain wrong.

“There are many things that can increase your risk of osteoporosis, and sadly some cancer treatments are one of them. Many people will need to take a drug treatment for their bones to counteract the effects of their cancer treatment which will reduce their risk of bones becoming fragile.

“Thankfully, taking weight-bearing exercise, getting enough vitamin D and eating the right foods can also make a big difference, not just for cancer patients but for everyone who wants to proactively manage their bone health.

“It’s typical of Trisha’s openness and can-do attitude that she’s sharing this inspiring message about how to age better and stop osteoporosis in its tracks.”

The popular presenter launched her 30-year career in television in Australia, before becoming a household name in the UK, where she fronted her celebrated BAFTA-winning talk show, which ran for 12 years.

Trisha is a life-long advocate for mental health services, and her time in the public eye has been characterised by her willingness to share candidly her own experiences to support people who are battling adversity.

Trisha is poised to return to our screens this summer as host of a new, more holistic version of Channel 5’s show, You Are What You Eat. Trisha will also be part of campaigning efforts by the ROS to raise awareness of bone health and work towards its goal of a future without osteoporosis.

Find out more about bone health at https://theros.org.uk/.

Morrisons Aperol Cocktail Box set to spritz up the bank holiday

– The new box delivers an alfresco aperitivo directly to your doorstep –

– Includes snacks and can be ordered for next day delivery –

Morrisons is answering spritz lovers’ prayers as it launches a new Aperol Cocktail Box. Landing in time for the bank holiday, the box has been created alongside Aperol and Mionetto to make it easy for customers to whip up the ever-popular aperitivo, the Aperol Spritz.

The box includes everything required to create the ultimate summer cocktail: a 70cl bottle of Aperol to mix up with the light and refreshing Mionetto Prosecco, before being topped with Morrisons Soda Water. There’s even a loose orange included to garnish the spritz.

To accompany the drinks, the box also includes Morrisons The Best Gruyere & Poppy Seed Twists, Morrisons The Best Lightly Salted Crisps and Morrisons The Best nocellara Olives; for a taste of an Italian piazza from the comfort of your back garden.

Liam Challenger, Food Boxes Trading Manager at Morrisons said: “The first May bank holiday feels like the start of the British summer – and with foreign holidays still off the cards, our Aperol Cocktail Box can bring a taste of the continent to gardens and parks across the UK.

“The box includes everything customers need to make the classic, refreshing Italian spritz with carefully selected snacks to serve alongside.”

Morrisons limited-edition Aperol Cocktail Box costs £35 including next day delivery and is available now on the Morrisons food boxes website:

https://www.morrisons.com/food-boxes/box/The-Aperol-Cocktail-Box

For more information on Morrisons Food Boxes range visit